Would you use an aluminum ball mount?
02-20-2007, 08:43 PM
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02-20-2007, 10:19 PM
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Hey...Byrdman's back! Hadn't seen you post in a while 
Not so much a weight thing, the lock is something I haven't seen on a steel mount and caught my eye at SEMA a few months ago. I was liking the aluminum though since I'm here in salt water, and thought the combo of aluminum ball mount with stainless ball would be nice. I found a 2 5/16 w/1" shank rated at 10k; but at $45 maybe I'll stick with a chrome plated ball. The mounts are offered in both shank sizes, so the ball is the limiting factor.
As for aluminum bending or not, it depends on the material and if it's been hardened, that process. While no guarantee, I'd probably feel OK with something "Made in the USA".
Not so much a weight thing, the lock is something I haven't seen on a steel mount and caught my eye at SEMA a few months ago. I was liking the aluminum though since I'm here in salt water, and thought the combo of aluminum ball mount with stainless ball would be nice. I found a 2 5/16 w/1" shank rated at 10k; but at $45 maybe I'll stick with a chrome plated ball. The mounts are offered in both shank sizes, so the ball is the limiting factor.
As for aluminum bending or not, it depends on the material and if it's been hardened, that process. While no guarantee, I'd probably feel OK with something "Made in the USA".
02-20-2007, 10:22 PM
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Does somebody actually make a R&P in aluminum? there might be some magical material and process combination that could make one last but I agree, stick to good steel in those parts.
02-20-2007, 10:26 PM
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Buck
02-20-2007, 11:09 PM
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If it's not rated for the loads you tow than it wouldn't matter if it's metal or aluminum. A metal 10k ball mount isn't going to meet your needs either.
Buck
02-21-2007, 08:11 AM
#18
Hey...Byrdman's back! Hadn't seen you post in a while
Not so much a weight thing, the lock is something I haven't seen on a steel mount and caught my eye at SEMA a few months ago. I was liking the aluminum though since I'm here in salt water, and thought the combo of aluminum ball mount with stainless ball would be nice. I found a 2 5/16 w/1" shank rated at 10k; but at $45 maybe I'll stick with a chrome plated ball. The mounts are offered in both shank sizes, so the ball is the limiting factor.
As for aluminum bending or not, it depends on the material and if it's been hardened, that process. While no guarantee, I'd probably feel OK with something "Made in the USA".
Not so much a weight thing, the lock is something I haven't seen on a steel mount and caught my eye at SEMA a few months ago. I was liking the aluminum though since I'm here in salt water, and thought the combo of aluminum ball mount with stainless ball would be nice. I found a 2 5/16 w/1" shank rated at 10k; but at $45 maybe I'll stick with a chrome plated ball. The mounts are offered in both shank sizes, so the ball is the limiting factor.
As for aluminum bending or not, it depends on the material and if it's been hardened, that process. While no guarantee, I'd probably feel OK with something "Made in the USA".
I don't like that aluminum integrated lock drawbar, as its not solid material.
I have a Putnam solid steel drawbar rated for 14K lbs., ( www.putnamhitch.com ), and I bought this:
http://www.etrailer.com/mm5/merchant...gory_Code=B114
30K lbs. made out of solid black steel, and it has NOT rusted, and looks as good as the day I installed it.
02-21-2007, 08:25 AM
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These drop hitches scare the crap out of me. I can't for the life of me understand how in the world these guys get these things certified and DOT approved for 10,000#, 1500# tongue weight.
I don't know what the hell kind of aluminum they're using, I'm sure it's a common commercial grade, but even if I assume it's a high-strength grade something like a 2024-T4 or a 7075-T4, with Ftu's approaching 70,000psi, there's no way in hell they can have positive margins......Even in a simple load case, like 10,000# forward (light braking = 1G), 1,500 down, and a slight side load for good measure, I'm seeing negative margins which equals failure!
Add to this the fact, that these things live a hard life with dents, scratches, corrosion, stress corrosion cracking (especially in aluminums), fatigue, dynamic cyclical loading, the occasional crater pothole, etc., etc.....
Not for me thanks.
I don't know what the hell kind of aluminum they're using, I'm sure it's a common commercial grade, but even if I assume it's a high-strength grade something like a 2024-T4 or a 7075-T4, with Ftu's approaching 70,000psi, there's no way in hell they can have positive margins......Even in a simple load case, like 10,000# forward (light braking = 1G), 1,500 down, and a slight side load for good measure, I'm seeing negative margins which equals failure!
Add to this the fact, that these things live a hard life with dents, scratches, corrosion, stress corrosion cracking (especially in aluminums), fatigue, dynamic cyclical loading, the occasional crater pothole, etc., etc.....
Not for me thanks.
02-21-2007, 09:43 AM
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Nick, thanks for the quick analysis And I agree, I wouldn't want to test that adjustible height setup at full load rating. But what about the one I posted a link to in my first post? FWIW, I'd be using it in the "rise" position for my setup which is max 9k lbs.
Brian, which one isn't solid, the adjustible or fixed? I held these things in my hands at SEMA and they're solid; machined out of a billet block. I'd say the fixed height unit weighs more than a comparable hollow steel piece. I do like that hitch ball you linked; THAT would be worth the money.
And I agree, I wouldn't want to test that adjustible height setup at full load rating. But what about the one I posted a link to in my first post? FWIW, I'd be using it in the "rise" position for my setup which is max 9k lbs.Brian, which one isn't solid, the adjustible or fixed? I held these things in my hands at SEMA and they're solid; machined out of a billet block. I'd say the fixed height unit weighs more than a comparable hollow steel piece. I do like that hitch ball you linked; THAT would be worth the money.
