by MMiller » Tue Mar 24, 2009 7:49 pm
Find a 2 5/16" ball with the large diameter shank on it, try and find a tall one, there is taller ones and shorter ones. Now have your welder buddy weld on a 2" wide plate that is about 3/8" thick, and about 8" long on to the ball, horizantal and flat, just so it will clear the floor of your bed. Then have him crawl under the truck and hold the nut. Install the ball and hit the bar repeatidly until the ball is tight. I prefer to have the bar on the ball pointed directly at the cab. Now weld the nut to the bottom of the channel or plate. Now, you can use your large hammer to un thread the ball whenever you need a flat bed floor, and then also install it the same way, by yourself. After that explaination, do you need pictures?
Also, I figure my max pin weight as the load rating of the rear tires on my pickup(3/4 ton single wheel), take this into account when looking at your current hitch(and buying tires for your truck). You may also choose to buy some new tires for the rear of you tow pig, that lessens your chances of blowing a tread off and ruining your dually fenders.
Also get a better ball then you have found. Even if you buy a 20-25' gooseneck with 7000# axles, it will likely weigh 5-6000# empty, then have a 6500# truck on it. You are already at 12,500, and the ability to haul up to 14,000# easily. You know my trailer weighs in at @ 7000# empty, and I can end up with over 20,000# real easy. You don't want a loose trailer bouncing around in the bed of your truck.
I know you are very money conscious, but spend extra money on good ball hitch, good brake controller, and good hardware to tie the load down on. If you buy right the first time, then you won't have to buy again, or replace the load lost.
If you still have my number Bill, give me a call, I broke my last phone and lost your number.
Michael
1993 W250, 3.55, NV5600 , Con O, bosch 185's, 4" exhaust, Super 40, pump tweaks, ground pin, Smokehouse air intake, Hamilton Cam,
1985 D350, Crew Cab, 92 cummins and a 518. 47rh to be built and installed along with 3.55 LS Dana 80