2-1/2" WD Shanks???

JBarca wrote:
And yes, the 2 1/2" to 2" adapter de-rates your 2 1/2" receiver to 1,200# WD hitch with 12,000# pull rating. At least for Reese it does. John

I finally took the time to look through my '13 Chevy owners manual. The only thing I found stated not to exceed the tongue weight rating for the hitch (1500lbs for my truck), but no mention of the adapter sleeve anywhere I could find.

Regardless, I plan on getting the new 2.5" shank, but though it was interesting not to find any info about the adapter sleeve.

TY again to all!

I currently have a deep drop, solid shank Reese (2x2), so it shouldn't weigh that much more, maybe a few lbs. Just want to make sure whatever I buy will last. Which it sounds like John has had good luck with the Reese cast shank. New curve ball though, we are seriously talking about a new trailer after this season (fall- next spring), so may wait to see what we get before buying the new shank. Don't want to buy one, then need a different drop!

Lynnmor,

TY for the link. May look into just how much it weighs, and price.

John,

That is a heavy set up you have. Sounds like it is set up well though from all the post I have read!

I keep the adapter sleeve in the bed so I don't hear it rattling with the pin in it.

TY again for all the feedback!

For those that might want a 2-1/2" solid steel shank, they are available at: Weaver.

You might need a forklift to install it.

Need-A-Vacation wrote:


The bent 5/8" pin makes sense. Any idea how heavy the fellow forum member was towing?

You do have one of the heavier trailers regarding tw. What is your ready to roll trailer weight?

I do not recall the forum members TT weight. It was not over 10,000# though, that I remember.

My camper weighs loaded with water when I have to haul it, 9,900# with a 1,600# loaded TW. Or 16% loaded TW. I have a tongue mounted bike rack that adds 110# to the TW with 2 adult bikes

It is a rear living area layout. That nice big rear window and swivel rockers does not do much for counterbalancing the front of the camper. This floor plan loads cargo over the axles and towards the tongue for the most part. The good news is my fresh tank is right over the front axle so it is neutral for all practical purposes to TW when full or empty.

Forgetting the adapter sleeve...oh yeh. That is why it now lives with a spare pin behind the back seat.

John,

TY!!!! A 2-1/2" shank is definetly on the "grocery list".

The bent 5/8" pin makes sense. Any idea how heavy the fellow forum member was towing?

You do have one of the heavier trailers regarding tw. What is your ready to roll trailer weight?

Another reason for the 2-1/2" shank: so when you removed the adapter sleeve a couple days earlier (keep it in the bed- have a truck cap) to haul a few pieces of lumber, and forget the darn sleeve when you go to pick up the trailer since the hitch is kept over with the trailer!!! Luckily it's only aboiut a 10 min driver each way. Still aggrevating though!

TY again to all!

I have the Reese 2 1/2" shank. Both of them for different trailers.

In may case I need the tongue weight rating to use with my 1,700# WD bars on the camper in our sig. (1,600# loaded TW, heavy bugger I know)

I use the 6" drop shank on my tilt bed trailer and use to use this on our smaller TT before we sold it.

As far a solid steel, heads up, solid if you can find it is going to weigh a boat load. The cast steel one I have is heavy enough with the hitch head on it. The only solid steel 2 1/2" I have ever seen was by Steve Rankin here on the forum who had a machine shop make him one.

And yes, the 2 1/2" to 2" adapter de-rates your 2 1/2" receiver to 1,200# WD hitch with 12,000# pull rating. At least for Reese it does.

The only reason that made any sense came when we found a forum member using one and he bent the 5/8" pin getting to stuck in. Heck of a time getting it out. The "belief" is the sleeve only takes up air space and provides no structural pull rating. So the 5/8" pin is only supported by the 2 1/2" receiver pin box, yet the shank is pulling on the 2" center. The pin ends up hanging out in that 1/4" space per side unsupported and can bend like a loose bolted joint. I say this is "belief" as it was the only explanation that had any merit to it I could come up with. It came to me when the other guy bent his 5/8" pin when towing with the sleeve.

Here are my shanks in action.




On the camper in my sig with 1,700# bars


On the flat deck with the 6" drop shank, 1,200# bars


On the smaller TT, 1,200# bars


If you are towing heavy, my 2 cents, skip the 2" and go to the 2 1/2". Throw the adapter sleeve and a spare longer 5/8" pin behind the back seat in the cab when you have to haul something small again on a 2" shank in weight carrying mode.

Hope this helps

John

TY for the replies guys!!!

Never found anything in the Chevy manual about a lower tw/ tow rating when using the adapter, but then again I didn't look real hard when we bought the truck.

Have a few project going on at the house right now, but I will try to get a new shank this season.... Never enough time!!!!

TY!!!

I have the Reese 2.5" shank with my Reese 1700/17K WD trunnion hitch (66075). I originally bought the 54977, but had to return it. I couldn't get the right hitch height, it was either too high or too low due to the bend/drop. I returned it and got a 54976 which has worked just fine. Make sure to measure your hitch height and find one that will get you there. I got everything from trailer.com.

My truck ('15 F250) has a lower tow rating with a 2" shank.

I looked at Dad's 2 1/2" shank yesterday, no labels. He got it when he upgraded receivers and WDH. His WDH is Reese Titan I believe.. perhaps the local welding shop that did the install sourced it locally?

It is not cast, it is solid steel (not hollow tube) the various parts welded together.

Sport45 wrote:
I keep reading solid or cast. I thought cast Is solid. Maybe the question is cast or forged? Maybe cast or square tube?

I'm used to seeing the cast vs forged debate on revolver forums, not here. :)

Guess I should have kept refering (like in the original post) to the solid shank as "welded" to not confuse some...

One like this welded shank, which is a "solid" 2"x2" (or 2-1/2"x2-1/2" like I am looking for) horizontal piece:



Then refered to this as "cast", which has a weight saving design which is not a "solid" 2-1/2"x2-1/2" (or 2"x2" depending on the model) piece of steel:



The "welded" and "cast" is how Reese describes them on their website.

Not sure if there is a wd hitch shank available which is a "square tube". I have only seen the cast and welded ones. Though I do have a Reese 2-1/2"x2-1/2" square tube ball mount that is rated for up to 1,300 tw/13k lb trailer weight.

Hope this clears any confusion.

And TY to those who have given feedback between the two!