RE: European trailer hitches

[bearbvd@domain.elided (Greg Hermann)]

Fact is, there are three standard US trailer ball sizes-- 1-7/8", 2", and
2-5/16". There also used to be a 2-1/8" size that was a U-Haul "exclusive",
but they have phased those out.

Sounds as though the European 50mm ball is an interchange for the US  2",
just as is the case with nominal pipe sizes.

And that doesn't even begin to address the different options in ball stem
diameter  and how they match up with ball diameters and trailer weight
ratings !!!

Greg

At 8:49 AM 7/2/02, Mark Battley wrote:
>Bill Bain asked..
>>OK, my '83 Spider now sports a true trailer hitch, complete with the US
>>standard 1 and 7/8" ball.  The European bike rack that a Dutch friend gave
>>me (still has the Dutch license plate riveted to it!) is intended to mount
>>over the trailer hitch ball, *but* the US standard ball is a bit too big.
>>Questions:
>>
>>What is the standard European size ball?
>
>To which Chris Sweetapple replied:
>>The standard European tow-ball is 50mm.
>
>Which doesn't explain why the US standard ball is a bit too big - 1&7/8" =
>47.6mm, so if the rack is designed for 50mm, it should be too big, not too
>small!!??
>
>We have the wonderful situation here in NZ that BOTH sizes are used, the
>50mm is supposedly replacing the  1&7/8". A 50mm coupling will fit (but
>loosely, dangerously, and illegally) on a 1&7/8" ball, but not the other way
>around. I carry a spare ball of the other size and a big spanner in the boot
>of the car so I can change when needed. My boat trailer is 1&7/8", my
>father's boat, caravan and small trailer are all 50mm, my father in law's
>two are 1&7/8", and anything I hire can be either, although 1&7/8" is still
>more common.... great eh! We also have two "standards" (round and
>rectangular) for the wiring plugs/sockets, so I carry an adaptor for that
>too.
>
>My locally made bike rack fits either size.
>
>Mark Battley
>Auckland, New Zealand.
>
>1973 Alfa Romeo 2000 GT Veloce
>1989 Fiat Uno Turbo
>1989 Fiat Croma (tow vehicle)
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