Purpose of Small Ball Mounted to Side of Trailer Tongue

Updated 04/02/2025 | Published 09/30/2017

Question:

I baught tgis small trailer from my buddy and i noticed it had this knob welded on the side of the tongue. Someone said it might be a place to mount a spare tire but i have no idea. Could you tell me what its for? Pictures are included.

asked by: Jimmie D

Expert Reply:

The small ball mounted on the side of your trailer's tongue is probably for a friction-style anti-sway device like those shown on the linked page. All of these sway-control devices use a friction bar to help stop trailer sway, for example Reese part # 83660.

Please note that all such friction sway-control devices MUST be disengaged before backing up the trailer or the unit will be damaged.

expert reply by: Adam R

click to enlarge

Jeremy P.

3/30/2025

I have a similar setup on a large travel trailer, but I have a ball mount on both side of the tongue. It is a 36ft travel trailer. My questions are, are the balls like this all the same size? and can you use 2 of these Reese sway arms on the same trailer, or is there a different system that comes with two?

Kate F.

3/31/2025

@JeremyP Hello Jeremy, great question. Yes, the sway control balls used for friction-style sway bars (like Reese or Curt) are typically 1-1/4" in diameter. Both the trailer frame side and the hitch side usually use that same size ball for mounting the sway control bar. If you would like to replay back to the email with some pictures I am happy to try to better identify your set-up.

Jeremy

4/2/2025

@KateF Thank you for the reply. My only follow up to this is what factory WDH head does Reese make that allows connection of 2 friction sway control bars? Can I use different brand head with the Reese bars (I assume they are not interchangeable, but never know if you don't ask)?

Kate F.

4/2/2025

@Jeremy Hello Jeremy, I am very sorry, my information was a little out dated. Now you would just need one Reese Friction Sway Control Kit - Economy - by Draw-Tite, Reese and Hidden Hitch # 83660, you do not need to 2 of them. You would need 2 spring bars for a regular set-up, but with the friction bar you just need one. You could add the friction bar to your ball mount with the Reese Sway-Control Bracket for 2" Ball Mounts - Class III and IV # RP26003. I do not know of any systems that now use the 2 ball mount brackets on the trailer, it would just be the one. It might have been an older system that was on their before as things are constantly changing in the towing world, or just in the word in general. Once again, my apologies.

Helpful Links

tv-review-reese-sway-control-bracket-rp26003.aspx