size of hitch ball for keystone hideout

[archer75]

I'm picking up our first trailer this weekend, a 2015 Keystone RV Hideout West Coast 24BHWE. I've never towed anything in my life. Any idea what size hitch ball I need for this? And what height to the top of the hitch ball this trailer is?

I ordered a Equal-i-zer hitch off of amazon however the dealer said they wouldn't install it. I was thinking at the very least I could get the hitch ball and shank setup and then just have them torque it to spec and drive it home like that. Then install the rest of the WD bars and brackets at home.

[chuckster57]

Welcome to the forum.

The dealer refuses to install? Anyway, ball is most likely 2 5/16", and when your tow vehicle is setting level the top of the ball should be about 20" off the ground

That should get you in the ball park. If they don't help much at delivery, feel free to post here or PM me for detailed instructions on setting up the W/D and sway.

[archer75]

They will only install products purchased from them. Something about liability.
The install for the equalizer looks simple. I just need the use of their torque wrench and a massive socket for the hitch ball.
I could see if they mind me hanging out in their parking lot doing the complete install myself. I'd just rather do the bulk of it at home.

[chuckster57]

Make sure the ball shank is the proper diameter, I don't use or advise spacers.

The nut for the ball size escapes me at this moment, but I will look in my tool box first thing and post. IIRC the torque is in the neighborhood of 180 lb/ft. I have a 3/4 drive air impact rated at 600 lb/ft.

When you get the ball height set, use the top adjustment to tilt the angle of the ball away from the bumper about 10-15 degrees. The bolts that hold the head to the shank should be self locking and are 1 1/16" I believe. I crank on them until the head starts to compress against the shank.

Are you installing sway control?

[bsmith0404]

I believe the shank required on the equalizer is 1 1/4". If it is, the socket is 1 7/8 " and the torque spec is most likely 450 ft lbs. Most places do not have a torque wrench rated that high. I also use an impact rated up to 600 ft lbs of breaking power and 450 ft lbs of torque. Milwaukee makes a great electric impact rated for these specs. I recommend everyone have the ability to recheck their torque on their hitch at home or on the road. Believe it or not, they do come lose. For towing a regular trailer, I have multiple shanks for my receiver hitch, one with a 1 7/8" ball, one with a 2", and one with a 2 5/6". All of them are torqued to proper spec based on manufacturer recommendations, and then tack welded to keep the nut from coming loose. Obviously I do not do this with a WD hitch due to cost of multiple heads, but I do check the torque on a regular basis (each use).

[archer75]

The ball itself has to be torqued to 430ft lbs. The shank bolts to 320ft lbs.

[Larry1013]

FYI

E-Trailer has some videos on how to install and adjust the equalizer hitch. One of them I found very useful a few years ago. I forget which one it was.

http://www.etrailer.com/tv.aspx?prod...20Distribution

[hankaye]

archer75, Howdy;

I needed to change one out when I was using an eqi-lizer.
The socket needs to be a thin wall. A socket with a regular
wall thickness won't fit.

hankaye

[dylana40]

Bought equalizer hitch. Real easy to install just follow directions they send you

[dylana40]

Only problem is finding a torque wrench thats go that. High

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by dylana40

Only problem is finding a torque wrench thats go that. High

That's why I use my 3/4" drive air impact. My 3/4" drive clicker wrench only goes to 300.

[bsmith0404]

Originally Posted by dylana40

Only problem is finding a torque wrench thats go that. High

Originally Posted by chuckster57

That's why I use my 3/4" drive air impact. My 3/4" drive clicker wrench only goes to 300.

And the reason I bought the Milwaukee electric impact with a 1/2" to 3/4" adapter.

[archer75]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

Welcome to the forum.

The dealer refuses to install? Anyway, ball is most likely 2 5/16", and when your tow vehicle is setting level the top of the ball should be about 20" off the ground

That should get you in the ball park. If they don't help much at delivery, feel free to post here or PM me for detailed instructions on setting up the W/D and sway.

I picked it up and got it home. The trailer sitting level had the top of the coupler about 16" off the ground. I had to buy a shank with the most drop that Equal-i-zer sells and mounted the hitch head at the lowest position. This thing looks pretty damn close to the ground. My truck isn't lifted at all. Just thought it was strange the trailer sits so low.

[bsmith0404]

That sounds low, double check the frame height at the front and back. Most hitches need to be set up between 20-22" to the top of the ball/coupler. My flat bed utility trailer was 17" but I've never seen an RV that low.

[archer75]

Originally Posted by bsmith0404

That sounds low, double check the frame height at the front and back. Most hitches need to be set up between 20-22" to the top of the ball/coupler. My flat bed utility trailer was 17" but I've never seen an RV that low.

I did. Measured the frame front and back to ensure it was parallel to the ground. Both at the dealer and at home.

The bottom of the frame to the ground is 22 1/2". The V in the front with the coupler is welded onto the bottom of the frame making the coupler lower. Even on the lowest position with the included shank the trailer was noticeably angled.

[archer75]

Here's a picture of it. It is level in this pic. To be parallel to the ground the front end would have to come down a bit.

[bsmith0404]

interesting, not often you see the couple at the bottom of the frame.