I have been looking for an adjustable ball mount, tired of buying different sizes over the years. Prefer aluminum so it doesn't rust. Check this one out... locking hitch pen deal is part of the hitch so it can't get stolen.. very clean design. So should I buy it.. see any flaws in the design?


http://www.prodistributing.biz/Diversitech-Hitch_Products1.htm (http://www.prodistributing.biz/Diversitech-Hitch_Products1.htm)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/D-T-Self-Locking-Adjustable-ball-mount-6-FREE-SHIPPING_W0QQitemZ250161577648QQihZ015QQcategoryZ5 0072QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://www.randpcarriages.com/ebay/6duallock01.JPG

I see those things all over the place......they look expensive.

Those are nice, and expensive. Cheapest I've seen is on E-bay. They go for about $300.00-$500.00 new.

They are $200 on ebay for a 6" drop. Can decide between that one or this steel one with all 3 balls...

http://www2.northerntool.com/product-1/245756.htm

Personally, I would never trust an aluminum trailer hitch. Even a high grade of alloy has half the strength of steel, and it has a much lower fatigue life than steel, so every time it flexes, it's one step closer to a catastrophic failure...which is never good when you're towing a trailer:eek:

Just my 2 pennies

is it true that in a situation that exceeds the drawbar's strength that an aluminum one will snap while a steel one will just bend?

I dunno, but they had to get the 10K trailer weight / 1.5K tougue weight rating from somewhere... if they weren't safe them and the more popular rapid hitch would be long gone.

That would be more of a dependence upon the brittleness of the material in question. Aluminum isn't very brittle in general, but a load that would bend a steel would possibly snap aluminum. It would depend on how great the loading was.

Jmann, I have that hitch in red and its great. It is solid steel, no hollow areas. The only problem is that it sticks out about a foot and a half, so you will need to extend the wiring for your trailers. But it is a great adjustable hitch.

Jmann, I have that hitch in red and its great. It is solid steel, no hollow areas. The only problem is that it sticks out about a foot and a half, so you will need to extend the wiring for your trailers. But it is a great adjustable hitch.

Do you have the aluminum one I posted first or I assume you are talking about the tri ball one I posted.. http://www2.northerntool.com/product-1/245756.htm

It sticks out 18" huh.. jeez.

I have the B&W Tri-ball adjustable hitch. I havent had any problems with it and this thing is heavy so it should be strong. I paid $200 bucks at O'riely.

I have the B&W Tri-ball adjustable hitch. I havent had any problems with it and this thing is heavy so it should be strong. I paid $200 bucks at O'riely.

How far does it stick out? Did you have to extend your trailer wiring?

I didnt have to do anything differant with any one of my trailers. I dont think it sticks out too far, but I guess that is personal taste. I dont have my camera today but could take a pic of it tommorow morning if needed.

i got mine for 160 at a camping world...

i wouldnt trust aluminum esp if your in cold climate.

I dont have one of those but a guy i know does and it hasnt broken yet but the recever is bent down and that hitch hasnt show any sign of stress

Well I bought it... I really liked the way it locked to the hitch w/o a hitch pen and the ball part is locked to the ball mount. We'll see how it works out.

To me, it falls in the bling catagory.
I will stick with the pintle hitch I have as well as my trailer guide/anti-tailgater and rotate my balls...

i wouldnt trust aluminum esp if your in cold climate.

why?

I do, mines rated 1500 tongue and 13,000 towing.

It's solid aluminum which is a lot stronger than the 1/4 wall steel tube crap.

yes solid steel is going to be stonger than solid aluminum but your going to rip your hitch up before the aluminum is going anywhere.

I dont like them!
Give me the Titan V anyday and I will drive all night long with 12k plus back behind me and not even think about it!

They look great, but I'd never buy one, a solid steel one is about $80. You can buy lots of paint for another $100.
Plus that piece takes an unbelievable beating, I'd wait to see how they hold up at other people's expense.
Think of all the dents its going to get if you use it lots.
My steel one is hammered to hell, can only imagine what the aluminum one would look like.

I have the aluminum hitch on the first picture ,had it for about a year it works great no need for separate locks or pins plus they weigh about half of the steel one.

I wouldn't trust an aluminum hitch. Not to mention it looks like it just snaps in, with what, a spring? The idea scares me. I've towed boats that cost 3 times what my truck did. Aluminum is a lightweight soft metal.

I really dig mine from B&W. I think they make a few different size drops for you fellas with lifts.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v200/Gobotts/DSCN0485-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v200/Gobotts/DSCN0484.jpg

I am not a structural engineer, but I do weld stainless, carbon steel, and alluminum for personel projects, and the two inch alluminum receiver should handle the weight to pull 12,000 lbs. But those receivers take the pull in all directions. From pulling to stopping, to frost heaves/ pot holes and tight turns.
Correct me if I am wrong, but Alluminum will sheer not bend in a side load situation as mentioned where steel will give more under certain conditions. If you come across a frost heave or uneven road you can multiply the tongue weight on your hitch. If you are set to the limit or close to for your tongue weight before travel you stand a big chance of failure.

I have one, its great, I only have to carry 1 hitch stinger now. It is rated at 10k towing and I dont remember the tongue wt rating, I will check.