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iamalienru's avatar
iamalienru
Explorer
Sep 22, 2013

Nut backed off ball caused accident

I was heading up to santa cruz ca. in my 40' american eagle I had my motorcycle in tow on a utility trailer. Before I left I had tighten the nut on the ball with an air impact driver the kind that you take lug nuts off a car or truck it was tight lock washer in place. safety chain hooked up all was good. traveling down the 101 near north Hollywood ca. I saw the trailer jumping in my rear camera as I slowed the trailer let loose breaking the safety chain and hitting another car. what a mess. I have never had this happen before but the nut from the ball was laying there on the freeway. now I am having insurance issues on the trailer and coach it was the vacation from hell and it's not over. The only type of ball I will use from now on is one with a cotter pin going through the bottom of the shaft. Uhaul carries them. Sorry for the sad story but i hope this will help others. I still do not understand why that nut backed off
  • Dave_H_M's avatar
    Dave_H_M
    Explorer II
    Sep 22, 2013
    you sure the nut backed al the way off. maybe got loose and the pin broke?
  • jerem0621's avatar
    jerem0621
    Explorer II
    Sep 22, 2013
    Maybe the ball was under rated for the trailer you were pulling? Was the ball undersized for the coupler?

    What bad luck. Op. I hope it works out. Was anyone hurt?
  • carringb's avatar
    carringb
    Explorer
    Sep 22, 2013
    I had a ball come off too also with a utility trailer. I was able to bring it to a safe stop however. I attributed it to not greasing the ball. I didn't like the mess it made but since then I now use grease unless I'm using my hitch with UHMW-capped ball which doesn't need grease.
  • BenK's avatar
    BenK
    Explorer
    Sep 22, 2013
    What is your impact gun rated for?

    At what PSI?

    They do lose torque capacity over time...how old and how well maintained or used is it?

    Without a torque wrench or some such, calibrated tool...no one knows what the
    torque was on that nut.

    What is the torque required on that ball/nut? The info is on the label/package/etc
    it came in

    Another thread on this topic here at this link: How often do you need to tighen your hitch ball?
  • path1's avatar
    path1
    Explorer
    Sep 22, 2013
    Yep, cotter pin with ball threads, better known as a "Jesus clip" keeps you out of trouble. Or just drill your own, cheap insurance
    http://www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplies/Hitch-balls-mounts/Hitch-balls/2-Hitch-Ball-2-3-16-Shank-Length?id=750

    Here is a close up of a cotter pin in threads, if any folks never seen one before. See the pin in the threads? Nut can't back off or maybe I should say a lot harder to come off. Cheapest insurance you'll ever find.http://www.omninerd.com/assets/content/2/4_article_131_full_installed_hitch.jpg
  • SDcampowneroper's avatar
    SDcampowneroper
    Explorer
    Sep 22, 2013
    Sorry to read of your trouble. Next time weld the ball on, or the nut to the threads. Been doing it for years. After all, when does anyone change the ball? Even if they did need to, a grinder will cut out the weld.
    Nuts will come loose if the hole in the mount is bigger than the ball stem no matter how well torqued. Could that be the cause?
  • VintageRacer's avatar
    VintageRacer
    Explorer
    Sep 22, 2013
    That's why the instructions that come with the ball say to tighten the nut with a torque wrench, not an impact wrench. Totally your fault. Surprised you admit using an impact wrench on that. You have no idea of what torque you are developing with an impact wrench. Depending on the ball size the correct torque is up to 450 ft lbs.
  • WyoTraveler's avatar
    WyoTraveler
    Explorer
    Sep 22, 2013
    Tip the hitch sideways and slide it into the receiver. You don't even need a torque wrench. calculate your weight and length of pipe breaker bar you need and stand on it. 3/4" nut 160 pounds, 1" nut 250 pounds, 1 1/4" nut 450 pounds ft pounds. I personally wouldn't trust any air wrench for torque.
  • 352's avatar
    352
    Explorer
    Sep 23, 2013
    If you use a pipe wrench or a crescent wrench a 4 foot helper bar and lean into it you will never ever have a loose nut on your ball.
    nuff said

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