im_jess_sayen
California
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Joined: 10/26/2011
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I've seen the cushioned ball mounts advertised. Anybody use them? Like them? Good idea? Bad idea?
http://www.etrailer.com/Ball-Mounts/Convert-A-Ball/AMSC2.html
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bfourman
Vincennes, IN
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Joined: 09/20/2009
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I used one back when we had a small popup that had a tendency to bounce on the interstate due to the expansion joint spacing. It reduced the TV's jerking back and forth, but didn't completely solve it. On other roads it acted just like a regular ballmount.
02 Chevy Avalanche 5.3L - 3.73s, P3, 227k and still tows like a champ!
06 Aerolite 26QS TT - Quad bunks, rear slide, 6000lb GVWR.
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five'er
Canada
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Joined: 09/25/2006
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Hmm.. I think this is a bit of a gimick. This is the first I've seen them but my first thought is this.. A direct solid, tight connection (As I have on my standard hitch) doesn't produce any bumping or bucking or thumping or apparent "Play". That would suggest to me that there is no real risk of damage to any drivelines as the site you provided suggested. I would assume that any potential damage would be a hitch system that has room for slack, a sudden JOLT, truck absorbing all the weight at once.. It would appear to me that THIS hitch would introduce that slack. I would give this a pass. Great idea, I'm sure many will "Bite" but not me.
Actually.. Would this not negativly effect braking action on a trailer equipted with hydro brakes?
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acadianbob
St. Paul, MN
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Joined: 02/05/2008
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I have one and I love it. No forward/backward jerking motion at all.
Bob & Wendy; Spanky & Piper the Fox Terriers
2012 Race Red FX4 Ecoboost, Max Tow, Luxury Pkg
Surveyor 235RKS
Reese Dual Cam
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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A properly sized and adjusted weight distributing system is more effective than cushioning the mount itself. A weight distributing system is basically a big spring that not only transfers weight but cushions the bounce while towing. Using too stiff a spring though or too soft either, will prevent this from working properly.
Good luck / Skip
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
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TexasATM
Ft. Worth
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Joined: 10/11/2010
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I have the first hitch listed in the below link and have been using it on my boat and other utility trailers for years. It definitely helped to take the clunk out of the trailers and does not negatively affect the surge brakes on the boat at all.
http://www.schuckhitches.com/
2011 Jayco 32BHDS
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cpaharley2008
york,pa
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Joined: 03/27/2008
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I have 2 different varieties of the cushion mount and they work on those set ups where there is a loose fitting receiver/hitch set up. The remove the clank and bang for those non w/d set ups.
2009 Dodge Ram Hemi 4x4 11,300miles- lifetime warranty
2012 Toyota FJ-500 miles
2012 Escape 19'
nights camped already=14
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dalehelman
Liberty Lake (Spokane) Wa.
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I guess it depends on what you are towing. In my case the "Clunk" comes from slack in the receiver. Since I use a tow bar there is very little tongue weight. My guess is if you have very little tongue weight the spring type will probably not help much. You did not specify what you were towing. When I tow our jet skis the extra tongue weight eliminates the problem.
Dale & Sandi
2006 Jeep TJ 4.0 w/33s 4" lift
2008 Winnabago Adventurer 38T
Liberty Lake (Spokane) WA.
DIY Manual replacement for Workhorse Auto Park emergency brake.
Stay In Play Duo Toad Braking System
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profdant139
Southern California
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I never heard of this before! Looks interesting. I really like the model where the tongue sticks out and moves around, so that you don't have to back up as precisely. I am going to look into this, in terms of price and durability and so forth.
Anyway, here is a clickable link:
Schuck Cushion Hitch Thing
2012 Fun Finder X-139 "Boondock Style" (axle-flipped and extra insulation)
2013 Toyota Tacoma Off-Road (semi-beefy tires and components)
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About our trailer
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profdant139
Southern California
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Here is another device that apparently does much the same thing -- the discussions of this item on the Web are generally positive:
peciality-hitches&Itemid=63">Convert a Ball 4 Way Cushioned Ball Mount
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