Trailer coupler reducer

[SteveF]

I work with an animal rescue that has a small Featherlite stock trailer which, for some reason, was built with a Bulldog 10,000 lb coupler needing a 2 5/16" ball. This is a pain in the tail as it is pulled by several different vehicles and even though I got them a ball mount with a 2 5/16" ball, there is a correct drop issue or they misplace it or hook up on a 2" ball. I was going to replace the whole coupler but was wondering if anyone has ever heard of a reducer of some sort to fit inside the ball mount that could permanently make the coupler sized for a 2" ball?

Steve

[old mart]

Your best bet is a shop which sells trailers and caravans, if the reducer exists, they will know.

[reggie_obe]

Is the size couple and ball related to the weight rating of the trailer?
I've always found this company helpful: https://www.weaverd.com/
Might want to call vs. an email.

[Ohio Mike]

What is the GVW of the trailer? In my experience any trailer 7500 lbs GVW or more will be 2-5/16.
Any farmer, which is the principle buyer of this type of trailer, is going to pissed with anything that has a cheesy 2" ball coupler. Virtually all trailers in ag country are 2-5/16 even if they don't need to be (like log splitters and lawn mower trailers) so they don't have to swap balls. Another good reason is there are a VERY wide variety of 2 inch balls. Just because you have a 2 inch ball doesn't mean its good for your trailer. They can range in capacity from just 3500 to 10,000 lbs.

[SteveF]

Its a 1200 lb trailer that could possibly, rarely, have 1000 lbs of animals in it. Yes, it was probably built for a person with several large trailers who didnt want to deal with one trailer having a 2" ball. Just like I'm finally going to swap out the 1 7/8" coupler on my little utility trailer with one of those spiffy Titan couplers that will work with either a 2" or 1 7/8" as I'm tired of looking around for the mount with the small ball. My choices are either swap the coupler or make this one able to work with a 2" ball.

[Ian B]

Steve,

Fwiw, and considering that it's not an especially heavy trailer, I'd simply swap the coupler for the size that you need.

Ian

[Doozer]

Cut the coupler off and weld on a new one.
Might take a 1/2 hour. Easy job.

-Doozer

[kendall]

I don't believe a reducer available would even be legal.
I would switch the coupler over to a 2", which would be far more convenient.
I have 6 trailers here, 3 are 2" two are 2 5/6, 1 is 1 7/8 that one needs some work on the tongue, so is getting swapped to 2" in the spring. The 2 5/16 are staying as they are because one is a portable workshop/tool shed the other is an office and not many people carry 2 5/6 balls so it's an added bit of security. For me swapping the ball mount out isn't an issue because I don't leave them in the receiver.

[OaklandGB]

I don't believe a reducer available would even be legal.

You might consider yourself to be a lucky guy. But the last thing you need is to get a post accident letter from an attorney asserting that you are personally liable for damages that your insurance company won't cover due to "altered equipment" that the trailer manufacturer and their insurer, did not specify. You take on the liability for your action.

Correctly sized trailer balls and hitches that match the trailer's design, cost peanuts compared to defending a negligence suit, even if you prevailed in court.

I'm not a lawyer either.

[SteveF]

Or it could just come off the hitch because a volunteer was pulling it on a 2" ball which has been done and why safety chains were invented. Thankfully the Bulldog is bolted on, although getting a wrench on the nuts will be a bitch, and Demco makes a bolt on which is very similar. I'm also getting a Titan Multi-fit for my utility trailer and get rid of the 1 7/8" ball issue.

Steve