Upgrading WDH hitch, Shank question.

Most shanks are interchangeable.

Lynnmor wrote:
Most shanks are interchangeable.

I had assumed so I was just looking for someone to confirm my suspicions.

Thanks!

Humbert810 wrote:
Currently have the Pro-Series 12,000LB 1,200 Round Bar hitch set-up

My question is if I upgrade the the Reese 1,500 LB Trunnion Bar hitch, with the capability to add DC sway control later. Will my current shank have the same hole spacing or will I need to purchase a complete new shank for the new head?

Thanks
Humbert

I have upgraded a number of times and still use the same couple of shanks. Hole spacing is pretty much standard so as long as you have the height adjustment that you need no new shank should be required.

Virtually all shanks have 3/4 holes spaced 1¼ inch apart. Most hitch heads attach using two holes with one unused in between. Some of the Reese hitch heads attach to the shank with two holes and two unused in between (not sure how else to describe it). I discovered this when I was looking for shims to use on my Blue Ox Sway Pro to keep from crushing the mounting ears in toward the shank. (either the shank is a little narrow, or the ears on the hitch head are a little wide (both were Blue Ox parts). In any case, I ended up with Reese Pro Series shim p/n PS58444 which has 2½ inch hole centers and worked well on the Blue Ox just fine (0.042 thick). I also discovered the Reese 58207 that has 3-3/4 inch hole centers which is somewhat unusual. The Blue Ox and Equalizer have the 2½ hole spacing.

To make a long story short, the shanks are pretty universal, the differences being how many vertical holes they have (rise or drop), how long the shank is from the receiver pin to the vertical row of holes (8 to 12 or so inches), and the size of the receiver portion of the shank (2 inch or 2½ inch).

Charles