Hitch size

[cracker39]

It is just the luck of the draw. I've never had a trailer with a 2" coupler on it.

The trailers that use 1 7/8" balls are usually light weight trailers. 2" balls go on medium weight trailers, and 2 5/16" balls on heavy weight trailers.

I also put a 2" ball on my trailer because all of my other trailers use 2" balls. Finding a 2" coupler for a 2" square tube can be tough though. Most couplers that fit 2" square tubing atr 1 7/8"

My boat and trailer are quite heavy (17' aluminum bass boat/motor) and it has a 1 7/8" coupler. I haven't weighed the whole rig, but the tongue weight is 250 lbs, so I'm not sure where light weight trailers go to medium weight. And, I found both sizes of couplers in 2" tube and the V configurations. Some at WM, some at Tractor Supply, and some at a trailer builder/supply company.

[bledsoe3]

Gee, lots of opinions, but nothing notably scientific. You guys usually have a long list of factoids to share when a question such as this is being pondered. Where are all the engineers?

I bet Andrew has something!

[angib]

I bet Andrew has something!

Nope! Where Andrew lives, all tow balls are 50mm (1.97") diameter and so he doesn't understand why you'd want to have all these different sizes.....

But I suppose it matches all those different electrical connectors you use too....

Yurp has just introduced the first new (13-pin!) plug design in 50 years, so we do now have a theoretical choice of two, even if most people have only ever seen one.

Andrew

[JunkMan]

According to the Redneck trailer catalog:
1 7/8" balls have a capacity of up to 2000 pounds,
2" balls have capacities of 3500 pounds with a 3/4" shank, 5000 pounds with a 1" shank, 7500 pounds with a 1 1/4" shank,
2 5/6" balls have capacities up to 40,000 pounds with a 1 1/2" shank.

[Chris C]

Hey Junkman.............. That's what I'd expected a long time ago. Thanks. Think I'll stick with 1 7/8" for my needs.