Nut backed off ball caused accident

[iamalienru]

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

[carringb]

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.

[Supercharged]

Did it have a lock washer on it?

[jerem0621]

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?

[Dave_H_M]

you sure the nut backed al the way off. maybe got loose and the pin broke?