I I have noticed that The hitch ball is not angled toward the trailer and that the weight distribution doesn't seem to be as effective. It looks like the bolt has allowed the hitch ball part to move when the weight distribution is engaged, pushing it more upright. Can I just loosen that bolt, move it back into position, and retighten it?
You need to replace the washers on both sides of the bolt for each bolt. They are special washers with teeth that grip into the metal and are concave so that as you torque it down it flattens against the hitch. Make sure you check the torque specs on your unit. I just installed mine this weekend and the torque on these bolts was 250 foot pounds. It seemed insanely high, but after torquing it down, I could see that the washer flattened and the teeth gripped into the metal. That thing is not moving at all.
There should be a hardened pin with hardened washers between the hitch head and shank. Below that should be a preload bolt. This pin and preload bolt must be tight to prevent exactly what you are experiencing. If you do not have these, the toothed conical washers on the upper horizontal bolt will not be sufficient to prevent hitch head movement under load.
Yes
No, that bolt/washers are not the primary means of supporting the head angle. You should have a stack of washers/spacers up high and a large set screw (bolt) at the bottom of the assembly. Those are what you set your angle with. This washer is there to supplement things and reduce any play as things shift and settle. Your set screw is not tightened which is why this slipped.
Dont like these hitches. They should use 3 bolts in a triangle pattern. Two bolts just provides a pivot point for stuff to move.
KCB5:
There should be another bolt on the bottom of the hitch head that holds the head away from the shank. I’m not talking the thumbscrew on the top. There should be another on the bottom of the head. Pull the directions off the web for your specific hitch.
Source: Issue with WDH
