Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-14-2015, 11:05 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
mlangdn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Western Kentucky
Posts: 311
2.5" to 2" Reducer

I bought a 2.5" to 2" reducer today from Tractor Supply. It is a Reese brand, and it slid right in. It is not a tight fit and it does have just a bit of wobble. Other than the possible noise factor on bumps and stuff, will this be a problem with just a bit of woblle? It has about a 1/16th or so bit of play.

Oh yea, weight is not a factor since my current TT only comes in at about 7500 loaded
__________________
2014 Coachmen Catalina
243RBS 50th Anniversary
2013 F250 Lariat 6.7 Powerstroke
mlangdn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2015, 11:17 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Witch Doctor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Clarksville Va.
Posts: 10,422
Quote:
Originally Posted by mlangdn View Post
I bought a 2.5" to 2" reducer today from Tractor Supply. It is a Reese brand, and it slid right in. It is not a tight fit and it does have just a bit of wobble. Other than the possible noise factor on bumps and stuff, will this be a problem with just a bit of woblle? It has about a 1/16th or so bit of play.

Oh yea, weight is not a factor since my current TT only comes in at about 7500 loaded
I doubt if you will even know it when towing. 1/16" is nothing. If it becomes a problem slip a 1/16" wedge in between....Was it a Reese that you put it in? I would just go on my way and don't worry about it. I have more slop then that on my 5th wheel pin.
__________________
Coachmen M/H
Concord
2018 / 300 DSC

Witch Doctor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2015, 11:24 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
mcnabbwr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Lower Michigan
Posts: 1,471
There should be some play, if it was a tight fit I doubt you would be able too remove it after a short period of time.
__________________
Bill & Pam
2014 Trilogy 3650RE
2015 F350 PSD
mcnabbwr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2015, 11:28 AM   #4
Mod free 5er
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
You can drill and tap the collar to 3/8-16 UNC on the side and bottom and install a 3/8" gr 8 bolt with a tapered end and tighten it(them) to remove the slack. Also serves as a theft deterrent.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	Hitch tightener.jpg
Views:	180
Size:	81.9 KB
ID:	74236  
__________________
OldCoot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2015, 12:55 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
mlangdn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Western Kentucky
Posts: 311
Thanks guys - I just found out I'm gonna need a longer pin as well. At least 5 " long.

The Reese reducer is going in to a Pro Series WDH. The reducer has a bit of play, and I just put the WDH in and see that together there is about 1/4" of total play. The pin isn't long enough going through the 2.5" receiver to put the holding pin through the hole. I also need a bigger socket in case I have to move the ball. Back to the store...
__________________
2014 Coachmen Catalina
243RBS 50th Anniversary
2013 F250 Lariat 6.7 Powerstroke
mlangdn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2015, 01:23 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
thebrakeman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canton, Michigan
Posts: 1,348
Just be sure the reducer is rated for at least 7500 lbs. It's certainly not rated as high as your 2.5" receiver.
__________________
thebrakeman ('70), DW ('71), DD ('99), DD ('01), DD ('05)
2004 Surveyor SV261T (UltraLite Bunkhouse Hybrid)
2006 Mercury Mountaineer V8 AWD Premier
Equal-i-zer WDH (10k), Prodigy Brake Controller
thebrakeman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2015, 01:53 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
mlangdn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Western Kentucky
Posts: 311
The reducer is a sleeve that fits totally inside the 2.5" receiver. Its not an adapter that goes smaller. If I remember correctly, using the sleeve takes me from 14,000 down to 12,000 - the TT is well below that.
__________________
2014 Coachmen Catalina
243RBS 50th Anniversary
2013 F250 Lariat 6.7 Powerstroke
mlangdn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2015, 08:30 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
thebrakeman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canton, Michigan
Posts: 1,348
OK. I didn't understand what you meant by weight not being a factor. It's entirely possible that a 2.5" sleeve could be made by some low-grade steel/design, and only have a 5000 lb rating.

Seems yours is rated for 12,000 lbs. Great!
__________________
thebrakeman ('70), DW ('71), DD ('99), DD ('01), DD ('05)
2004 Surveyor SV261T (UltraLite Bunkhouse Hybrid)
2006 Mercury Mountaineer V8 AWD Premier
Equal-i-zer WDH (10k), Prodigy Brake Controller
thebrakeman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2015, 08:49 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Crockett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 847
c.r. brophy makes a shank that is 2.5" and reduces to 2" for the WD head if it gets to be a nuisance.
Crockett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2015, 12:45 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 106
I purchased a product called hitch-vise. I have a 5th wheel but I also tow a dump trailer and 20 ft. boat. There is no noise and it keeps the hitch pin hole from turning oval.
Hitch Rider Racks: Bike racks, trike carriers and no wobble tow carry racks
offduty11 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2015, 12:52 PM   #11
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: East Texas
Posts: 55
I have had a 2 1/2" receiver with the sleeve for over 2 years now. I have pulled a 11K TT as well as other trailers loaded about the same and have not noticed any noise or any other problems. My truck came with the sleeve but like you stated it does take a longer pin.
__________________
Steven & Tiffany
2015 Crusader 296BHS
2013 Chevy 2500HD LTZ CC Z71

Camp as often as we can
Steven379 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2015, 12:59 PM   #12
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 68
When I bought my 2013 GMC 2500 they have a reducer sleeve come with the truck stored in the middle console.
mb2011 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2015, 01:17 PM   #13
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: East Texas
Posts: 55
A little off OP but does anyone know why they have started putting the 2.5" Receiver on the trucks? I have not seen any 2.5" hitches and not sure I would want to pull more than the 2" receiver can carry on a bumper pull trailer.
__________________
Steven & Tiffany
2015 Crusader 296BHS
2013 Chevy 2500HD LTZ CC Z71

Camp as often as we can
Steven379 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2015, 01:48 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Southern Delaware
Posts: 201
Reducers

2'' receiver is a Class 4. 2.5'' receiver is Class 5. When you use a reducer, you're still pulling on the Class 5 receiver. The reducer just prevents sideways motion, and should not effect the towing capacity.
EdnKat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2015, 03:18 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 106
Quote:
Originally Posted by mb2011 View Post
When I bought my 2013 GMC 2500 they have a reducer sleeve come with the truck stored in the middle console.
Same here my 2012 Chev. 2500HD came with the reducer I just like the hitch-vise because it takes the slop out and saves the hitch pin hole.
offduty11 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2015, 08:29 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
gashog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Kansas
Posts: 343
When I bought my new Ram it also has a 2 1/2" receiver. Since it sits taller than my F150 I had to get a longer shank. I went with a 2 1/2" shank from this guy on ebay. Works great and no reducer needed. This shank is heavy around 40 pounds of solid steel.
5 5 8" Deep Drop 2 5" Shank Weight Distribution Hitch | eBay
__________________
2015 Rockwood Windjammer 3029W Diamond Package

2014 RAM 2500 Laramie Longhorn 4 x 4
6.4 Hemi 410 HP, 410 Rear Axle
gashog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2015, 08:36 PM   #17
Mod free 5er
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
Quote:
Originally Posted by EdnKat View Post
2'' receiver is a Class 4. 2.5'' receiver is Class 5. When you use a reducer, you're still pulling on the Class 5 receiver. The reducer just prevents sideways motion, and should not effect the towing capacity.
For $30-$38 I can drill and tap 2 holes for 3/8 bolts and not have any loose parts.
__________________
OldCoot is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:00 AM.