Ideas on Not Losing the 2-1/2" Hitch Adapter

[Ron3rd]

I'm using my old Equal-i-zer hitch from my old Tundra which had a 2" receiver. Of course my 2016 Ram in my sig has the 2-1/2" receiver. I'm using the slide in adapter supplied with the truck. I've discovered it's very easy to slide out the Equal-i-zer shank and ball and forget about the adapter, meaning the adapter falls out somewhere on the road and you can't hitch up.

Has anyone come up with a trick to keep the adapter either with the shank or keep it in the receiver? I've thought of various things like tack welding, installing a set screw, etc, but was looking for some idea that I have not thought of.

[CharlesinGA]

Ron3rd wrote:

DutchmenSport wrote:
I keep mine in the sleeve all the time. I keep a locking hitch pin through it all the time. The reducer sleeve never comes out of the 2 1/2 inch shaft. Never.

Thought of that, but was afraid of theft. Could use a locking pin, but then must not lose the key! 🙂

https://www.boltlock.com/locks/5-8-inch-receiver-lock/5-8-inch-receiver-lock-chrysler

Charles

[rwess]

I changed my Equal-i-zer hitch to a 2 1/2 shaft to help get rid of the wobbles and it still wobbles!

[Grit_dog]

Walaby wrote:
Welded mine.

So you permanently attached a weaker part to your truck? Sweet!
If you sell it, the new owner will surely think that's awesome too.

[Walaby]

Welded mine.

[APT]

I would spend the $ on the correctly sized ball mount/shank. I have heard of a few other problems that are more important to me than losing the adapter.

Otherwise, I would tack weld the adapter to your current ball mount, not the truck's receiver. You may not have plans today to need/prefer a 2.5" ball mount, but there are far too many things you cannot control that I would not limit your future with that choice today.

[Grit_dog]

Or I almost forgot the easiest way to not loose it....take it out when not using the trailer hitch?

[Grit_dog]

Ron3rd wrote:
Thanks for the ideas. Trying to avoid dropping big bucks on the 2-1/2" shank if possible. The locking pin might be an idea.

If losing the adapter is an actual concern....
1. buy a spare
2. What other non issues are you "worried" about?
3. Buy the correct hitch shank for your receiver. *(For this one, you'll thank me when it is bigger bucks, or at least more of a pain the @ss to cut the rusted adapter out of the receiver or remove that bent pin from using a band-aid adapter and then have the holes wallered out on your receiver as a side gift for using the adapter.)

* Note: If you totally baby your truck/hitch and never tow heavy or accelerate hard, brake hard, hit large bumps or potholes or do anything else to stress the hitch pin connection then #3 may not be an issue for you. But it's easy to bend a pin with the adapter in use.

[1995brave]

Mine is a one key by Bolt Lock and uses the ignition/door key from my truck to lock and unlock. No need for extra keys to lose.

[Grit_dog]

1995brave wrote:
You can get a locking hitch pin that will program to your truck key. Got mine on Amazon.

Lol, junk, unless maybe you don't take your truck out of the sun belt down there.

[Ron3rd]

B.O. Plenty wrote:
Since I have no plans for anything bigger than a 2" shank I think a tack weld is in order.

B.O.

Considered that too.

[B_O__Plenty]

Since I have no plans for anything bigger than a 2" shank I think a tack weld is in order.

B.O.

[Ron3rd]

DutchmenSport wrote:

Ron3rd wrote:
... Could use a locking pin, but then must not lose the key! 🙂

I keep my key on the same ring as the truck ignition key. We have 2 sets of skeys, each is a complete set for the entire truck. She has one set, I have one set. We've never lost the hitch pin key this way:

1 ignition key that also works the tail gate lock and glove box lock, and box between the seats.
1 key for the doors for the truck bed cap. There are 3 locks.
1 key for the hitch pin lock
1 key for the bicycle carrier arm lock that locks the bicycles to the carrier. The carrier slides into the receiver. Hitch pin locks that in place.



Attached to this set of keys is the set of keys for the second vehicle at home and the house key. We figure, we can only be driving one vehicle at a time, so both sets are kept together. And if we are gone, we'll be in one of the vehicles, so the house key stays with this set also.

We keep a separate ring for the trailer keys (we have multiple locks there too). As we don't always have the trailer with us, we leave those keys on a completely separate ring and grab them (2 sets) only when we need them (or traveling).

So, long story short, we've never lost the hitch pin lock key this way.

Good info Dutch.

[Ron3rd]

Larry-D wrote:
Leave the adapter in the shank all the time with a locking hitch pin.

Things tend to grow legs and walk away around here.

[Ralph_Cramden]

elcheapo wrote:
Just mix up a little salt and water, coat the adapter and it will rust in place.

The Commonwealth of PA does that for us here, one of the perks of paying taxes. It usually only takes one winter to gauld that adapter in there harder than a wedding ____!