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Old 01-17-2014, 09:49 AM   #1
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Heavier ball and ball mount for the Escape 21'

With the heavier tongue weight of 550# I have decided to upgrade my towing set up and ordered a 7500#/750#tw capacity ball mount and ball. My older set up was 6000/600 tw and I wanted a little more breathing room. The new ball mount is 2" longer to allow opening of my tailgate while hooked up. I also have a new tongue jack with a 2" smaller handle so between these two modifications I will be able to have easier access to my truck bed while towing.
Although I have the Andersen which is 10,000/1400 tw, I do not always use it on the Ram but mainly for the FJ Cruiser. The Andersen certainly can handle the Escape 21 spec's.
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Old 01-17-2014, 12:19 PM   #2
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Red face 21 hitch

Jim, the Anderson WDH does give me a little comfort after all the talk of trailers heading across country without me. I feel that I have two sets of safety chains in case something unforseen happens. In 50 years of trailers I've only had three bad things happen to me, once not enough tongue weight in a construction zone, once not a big enough wrench to tighten a ball nut and once at night when I couldn't see that I did not have the hitch down over the ball. My luck stayed with me each time and nothing bad happened. As I age I know I need to be more careful and use the check list every time. Maybe I'll even replace the old battery in my little trailer that approaches the 3000# loaded number that requires the brakes to work if it comes loose.
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Old 01-17-2014, 12:53 PM   #3
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Did you measure the tongue to get the 550lbs tongue weight? I see that ETI says 360 lbs "dry hitch weight," that's quite a difference. If that's what it really weighs, I think I'll do the same thing with the draw bar; (my stainless steel ball, (that I bought at Lowe's), is already rated at 7000lbs.
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Old 01-17-2014, 01:56 PM   #4
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Measured at the jack post, maybe 6" back from the tongue, will remeasure before hooking up next time.
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Old 01-17-2014, 02:41 PM   #5
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I assume you are using a Sherline scale. If you look at the example in the manual, you will note that the weight at the tongue is less than the weight at the jack ( gives you a conversion factor to work out ).
So, you're likely not as heavy as indicated.
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Old 01-17-2014, 02:53 PM   #6
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Great, I just loss 50 lbs……think I'll go out and drink some beer to celebrate ! !
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Old 01-17-2014, 03:23 PM   #7
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Hmmm...maybe I'll stick to my Curt draw bar. It's made in the USA and even though it's only rated at 6000lbs; I have a feeling that it's equivalent to the Chinese made etrailer bar, rated at 7500lbs.
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Old 01-20-2014, 09:56 AM   #8
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Jim, what did you use for your 19' when towing with your truck? I tow with my ford and with my current hitch, I cannot open my tailgate so I'm looking for a new ball mount ...
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Old 01-20-2014, 10:04 AM   #9
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The hitch hit my truck on the 19 and still does on the 21' so I'm planning on lengthening the stinger by an inch and purchasing a new jack with a smaller handle or a removable handle. That should eliminate the 3" overlap with mine. In addition, I believe with the Andersen set up it was long enough to miss the tailgate so that is an other option.
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Old 01-20-2014, 12:05 PM   #10
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If the rise and drop work for you.
Ball Mount 3/4" Rise or 2" Drop, Extra Long Curt Ball Mounts D-26
Ball mount is 12-5/8" long from center of pin hole to center of ball hole
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Old 01-20-2014, 12:38 PM   #11
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Tongue Jack - Use a Drill Modification

The tongue jack handle is in your way? Here is a method I found on the forest river forum for removing the jack handle and installing something called a coupling nut. The coupling nut is the same size as the corner jacks, so if you use a drill like I do for lowering corner jacks, the same system will lower your tongue jack.

A side benefit is, it is a bit harder for someone to steal the trailer.

I purchased the coupling nut but have not drilled or installed as yet.

Drill your jack

That might give you the clearance and an electric jack option.
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Old 01-20-2014, 01:32 PM   #12
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Good ideas. there is also a super long ball hitch as well.
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Old 01-20-2014, 01:32 PM   #13
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Have not tried it yet, going to snow 6-10" here tonite.
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Old 01-20-2014, 01:36 PM   #14
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Just remember that the longer stinger reduces your weight capacity. I also tried the power drill adapter bolt, but that requires taking the jack apart and some welding, if it was a direct replacement I'd go that route, but it is not.
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Old 01-20-2014, 02:04 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jubal View Post
If the rise and drop work for you.
Ball Mount 3/4" Rise or 2" Drop, Extra Long Curt Ball Mounts D-26
Ball mount is 12-5/8" long from center of pin hole to center of ball hole
My current set up is 12" distance, the new one is 13.25 distance Ball Mount 3/4" Rise or 2" Drop, 13-1/4" Long Brophy Ball Mounts BM20
and capacity is 10,000/1,000
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