Recently bought an 18ft alum bass boat with a Load Rite trailer. When driving down the road and hitting a big pothole or bump, I can hear the coupler and ball bang against each other - makes me wonder how easy it would be for the coupler / ball to come unconnected. Any need to worry about this or try to find some sort of reinforcement? Definitely a greenhorn question so thanks for any feedback.

Make sure you have the right size ball.

thisthis

If you are using the proper size and connected it properly, it is pretty secure. I had a damaged coupler years ago that had a slight twist in it. It seemed to connect well but one day driving over some railroad tracks, the boat came disconnected and I watched as it passed my truck down the road.

Best way to check it is to hook it up and jack up the tongue of the trailer with a good jack, if it comes off something is wrong.

Even if the ball is correct size it could be worn, this is common on our work trucks that pull trailers a lot.

If you are using a reciever hitch the slide in ball mount may be a little loose in the reciever, most are, and can cause noise.

There ya go. Good catch, receiver clunk. I get this with light trailers.

Check the NUT underneath the coupler......adjust if needed

Just thought of a couple more things that I have seen in the past.....check that the ball is TIGHT and that the hitch is bolted tight to the tow vehicle.

Great feedback - thanks for taking time to comment. I'll be following up on all the suggestions.

I have to say - I love Bobby's comment, "the boat came disconnected and I watched it pass my truck down the road". Not something I want to see first hand!

you likely wouldn't if you have proper safety chains attached. .....just sayin

LOL, reminds me of a time we were in a dunebuggy flying down a beach when a tire and wheel passed us..... it looked very familiar took several seconds to realize it was one of our rear tires....

Been 20 years ago and had them but they either came loose or snapped. Was young and stupid and obviously didn't have it maintained to where it should have been. Taught me a good lesson.

LOL. Nothing like watching and wondering what is going to happen and there's nothing you can do about it. The nose of the trailer went about 2 houses down the road with sparks flying, caught a curb and turned into someones drive and came to a halt.

Get a bulldog type and never have to worry. The regular kind come off all the time.
Johnny

another common mistake is make sure you have the proper shank diameter. A hole that is more than a 1/16' larger diameter that the shank is asking for trouble. Buddy put one on his truck that was just a little small and it worked loose. Nut fell off and the then trailer.