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New User
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Location: Leander, TX | I have a turnover ball in the bed of my truck, installed in 06, the shop I got it done at is no longer in business. The hitch is making a clunking noise when stopping, starting and accelerating, the ball is visibly moving back and forth when doing these things. When I unhooked the trailer, I can move the ball back and forth with my hand. Is this safe to tow like this until I can get it in next week? Could I just have the ball welded into the sleeve it sits in and it be strong enough to tow with? I pull a large, 3 horse living quarters horse trailer. I really can't afford to replace the hitch or do an expensive repair at this time and have never had need to remove the ball or turn it over, so would be fine if it is permanently welded into the truck. Please help, any advice?? |
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Expert
Posts: 1351
  
Location: Decatur, Texas | Originally written by JC1 on 2009-09-23 10:03 PM
I have a turnover ball in the bed of my truck, installed in 06, the shop I got it done at is no longer in business. The hitch is making a clunking noise when stopping, starting and accelerating, the ball is visibly moving back and forth when doing these things. When I unhooked the trailer, I can move the ball back and forth with my hand. Is this safe to tow like this until I can get it in next week? Could I just have the ball welded into the sleeve it sits in and it be strong enough to tow with? I pull a large, 3 horse living quarters horse trailer. I really can't afford to replace the hitch or do an expensive repair at this time and have never had need to remove the ball or turn it over, so would be fine if it is permanently welded into the truck. Please help, any advice?? What brand is it? Do not weld it! You can remove the ball and turn it a 180* and set it back in, this should take some slack out of it. (Did on my old truck) If it is a B&W brand you can contact them and they will tell another dealer close to you. |
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New User
Posts: 4
Location: Leander, TX | It is B&W. Is it bad to have it welded in there?? I can't afford another costly dealer repair right now, and have no use to remove the ball ever. I only use that truck for towing that particular trailer. |
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Expert
Posts: 2955
 
Location: North Carolina | A couple of things to check for. Is the ball greased? A dry hitch will cause noise as you described. It will also wear quickly. Are the mounting bolts tight? Get under the truck and put a wrench on every bolt. Last, Measure the play of the ball shaft and socket. Put a feeler guage between the ball shaft and the socket. The largest gauge you can insert is the play or clearance Do this at 90 degrees to see the side clearance. |
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 Expert
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Location: Northern Utah | How much movement are you talking about? You say you can move it by hand. Then you definitely have something loose. I would first look at the mounting bolts between the mountin plate and truck frame. If they are loose and allowing the mounting plate to move, that's your problem. If the bolts are not stripped, you could just tighten each bolt and the problem will be gone. If the bolts are damaged or missing, you will need to replace the bolt(s). And I would fix this before I towed any more. It doesn't matter whether you can afford it or not. If the trailer comes loose, IT WILL DO MUCH MORE DAMAGE than what the repair bill on the hitch will be. And welding the ball into the receiver will not fix this problem. If the plate is secure and the ball is just moving inside the receiver square, ( which I would be surprised to see) You have had some kind of wear to either the ball's Stud or the receiver tube itself. I can't imagine this would be a large movement. Just the ball rocking back and forth within the square channel receiver. If this is the case and the movement is just 1/8" or 3/16" , you are probably ok to tow. But as the range of motion increases so do the leveraged forces against the hitch. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 801
Location: Tenn/Ala. | JCI- What kind of truck is it? Year, make, model?? |
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New User
Posts: 4
Location: Leander, TX | The truck is a 2001 Dodge 3500 dually, diesel engine, 6 speed. The ball is what is moving in the receiver. It has a good bit of movement, but I haven't measured how much, but would guess at least 1/8 inch. I did have a friend crawl underneath the truck and he said all the bolts were tight.
Edited by JC1 2009-09-24 12:14 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 801
Location: Tenn/Ala. | On later Dodge's the B&W clamps to the frame, and can move a little with a large load. The older ones like yours bolt onto the frame if memory serves. You need to check two things here-
A) Look at the ball in the hole. Compare it with another truck if need be. I've been around a lot of B&W with high miles, and have never felt one was worn to the point of needing replacement. They all have a little slop.
B) Under the truck- How did he check the bolts? They are supposed to be torqued fairly tightly. If he put a long wrench on them and they're tight, great. Just looking- let's go back and look again. I'm suspecting your side plates are not tight to the truck's frame rails. This is the most likely avenue to pick up a fore/aft movement. |
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New User
Posts: 4
Location: Leander, TX | Thanks so much. As soon as the rain here quits, we'll check it again. I hope that is all it is. I'm hoping to haul with it this weekend. |
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Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas | Originally written by JC1 on 2009-09-24 2:12 PM
Thanks so much. As soon as the rain here quits, we'll check it again. I hope that is all it is. I'm hoping to haul with it this weekend. PM me your address, I think I have an extra ball that I pulled out of a truck that had an add on 5th wheel hitch and the customer did not want the ball. NO CHARGE! How can you beat that? And YES it will be a ball from a B&W hitch! |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | PM me your address, I think I have an extra ball that I pulled out of a truck that had an add on 5th wheel hitch and the customer did not want the ball. NO CHARGE! How can you beat that? And YES it will be a ball from a B&W hitch! What a thoughtful offer!!! It's a refreshing change from the norm prevalent today. We are fortunate indeed, to have such considerate forum members. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1871
Location: NY | this is why I like coming here and read and get advice from all of you  |
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Expert
Posts: 2955
Location: North Carolina | That's a grand offer from HTB ... But for anybody else with wear on the B+W ball. Just rotate the ball in the mount 90 degrees. The square post has several advantages. |
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Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas | Originally written by hosspuller on 2009-09-25 8:37 PM
That's a grand offer from HTB ... But for anybody else with wear on the B+W ball. Just rotate the ball in the mount 90 degrees. The square post has several advantages. I need to check my other ones, but the one in the truck I just bought only has 1 hole in the base, so I could only turn it 180*. Can not be turned 90*, there is no hole in the side of the base. |
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Expert
Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah | Mine has two holes. So it can rotate 90 |
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turnover hitch loose??
