Determining What Size Hitch Ball to Use

Published 01/31/2008

Question:

How do I determine the size ball I need for a given job? I have a ball for the 4500 lb travel trailer and now I am shopping for a horse trailer. It will probably weigh in at 6500 lbs. What size do I have, what size will I need, and how do I find out?

asked by: Caryl

Expert Reply:

There are a few parts when talking about a trailer hitch and towing.
1. The square receiver opening on your vehicle. It is either a 2 x 2 inch opening or a 1-1/4 x 1-1/4 inch opening.
2. The ball mount/drawbar. This is the piece that slides into your square opening that you mount your ball to. The hole that the ball attaches to is called the shank hole and it will either be 3/4 inch, 1 inch or 1-1/4 inch.
3. The ball. The ball attaches to the drawbar. It will have a shank diameter of 3/4 inch, 1 inch or 1-1/4 inch and the ball size will either be 1-7/8 inch, 2 inch or 2-5/16 inch.
4. The coupler. The coupler is what receives the ball on the trailer. The coupler will have the size ball that it takes stamped on it. It will read 1-7/8 inch, 2 inch or 2-5/16 inch.
Without the trailer, there is no way to determine which size ball you need.

expert reply by: Amanda