The heavier duty one I linked has a 2" ball.

Also, HF sells some 2" couplers to replace the 1-7/8". For example.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Oh wait - I have a 2" ball hitch; the trailer spec requires a 1 7/8" ball. Will this work with a 2" ball ...

Hardly. 1-7/8" ≠ 2". They have to match. You need either a 1-7/8" ball for your hitch receiver or a 2" coupler for the trailer.

[]

Thanks. Wasn't sure how loose the tolerances were. 1/8" matters I guess.

Seems like it's opposite to me though - 17/8" ball might take a 2" receiver (although not supposed to; and not advised because of the supported weight differences it seems). But I should be allowed to use a 17/8" receiver on a 2" ball - the ball/hitch is over rated relative to the receiver.

In any case, seems like I need to get a 17/8" ball.

An 1/8” matters. My dad could tell you about the time his trailer passed him down the road, veered into a parking lot, and sideswiped a van.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
An 1/8” matters. My dad could tell you about the time his trailer passed him down the road, veered into a parking lot, and sideswiped a van.

Was almost on the receiving end of that when I was in HS.
Had just gotten to the end of our driveway & got lucky that I stopped a bit short, as a small utility trailer sailed across the driveway, tongue dug into the ditch & it cartwheeled into the yard.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Thanks. Wasn't sure how loose the tolerances were. 1/8" matters I guess.

Seems like it's opposite to me though - 17/8" ball might take a 2" receiver ...

First of all: A "receiver" is the thing on the tow vehicle side into which a ball mount slides. The trailer-side part that mates with the ball is the "trailer coupler." See: Towing 101: Parts of a Trailer Hitch.

Secondly: No, you cannot use a 2 in. trailer coupler on a 1-7/8 in. ball.

Don't think of the system as a hitch so much as a crude universal joint-ish kind of a coupling with three degrees of freedom. (Roughly: Up/Down, Right/Left, Rotation.)

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Thanks. Wasn't sure how loose the tolerances were. 1/8" matters I guess.

Seems like it's opposite to me though - 17/8" ball might take a 2" receiver ...

First of all: A "receiver" is the thing on the tow vehicle side into which a ball mount slides. The trailer-side part that mates with the ball is the "trailer coupler." See: Towing 101: Parts of a Trailer Hitch.

Secondly: No, you cannot use a 2 in. trailer coupler on a 1-7/8 in. ball.

Don't think of the system as a hitch so much as a crude universal joint-ish kind of a coupling with three degrees of freedom. (Roughly: Up/Down, Right/Left, Rotation.)

I hate 1-7/8" and wish they'd get rid of it. It's too damn small of a difference to for many people to eyeball and the "savings" is penny wise and pound foolish.

I've helped lift a trailer off the ground after being saved by its safety chains. The culprit, 2" coupler on the trailer and 1-7/8" ball on the hitch. They traveled less than a 1000', hit a bump, and the trailer popped off.

The Harbor Freight foldable trailers according to their web site "Require Assembly" so be ready on how to transport from store to home. ............ on the plug in platform carries have a tendency to have unsprung bouncing weight like at then end of a long lever which can add to rear weight behind the vehicle axle which could cause the front axle to "get light" and want to "float" instead of hug the road.....And as far as the current 2"ball if you have the receiver hitch plug get one with multible size hitch balls for multible applications ..............

I don’t have any advice to add.

Just wanted to say thanks to the OP for posting the question and this forum always comes through.

I am looking to acquire a cargo hitch setup for going to the beach (keeps the same out of the JEEP) and didn’t even know what it was called until now.

We have a folding hitch carrier for vacations if we run out of room as in 7 people in a GMC Envoy with their luggage for a week. The folding lets you leave it on the car and it stays mostly out of the way to drive around once on location. I do have to fold it down to open the rear hatch but I ain't gonna carry it up to a hotel room! We stack totes on it. Found some that fit perfect. Works pretty good but keeping the cargo dry can be an issue. We put everything in large garbage bags in case the totes leak. Weight was never an issue but the older Envoy is built on a half ton truck frame.

I would not buy one to move a table... I bet they have volunteers that would pick it up. Also, everyone I know owns a truck, ask around.

Sorry, dumb question. For a flat bed trailer like the Haul Master, seems like I would have to buy some plywood to use as a platform floor.

But how do I tie down objects to the trailer?

Do I just install something like this?
https://www.etrailer.com/E-Track/etrailer/e85VR.html

Or a bunch of these?
https://www.etrailer.com/Tie-D...ors/Brophy/RR05.html

Or something different?

I have the D-rings on the floor of mine which work well for hauling my side-by-side. I also welded some plain steel rings to the top of the fence to strap down other stuff (tarp, netting, etc.) and I use ratchet straps on all of it.

I had a folding trailer from Northern Tool that was pretty similar. I could attach a ratchet strap to the steel that supported the wood floor.

Be careful not to overload the trailer. Know what the axle is rated for and remember that the rating includes the weight of the trailer and the stuff on it.