Trailer motor mover

**Saltfever** · Aug 4, 2024, 02:57 AM

Your hitch-ball-standpipe is a simple lever (or moment arm). Its pivot point is where it is attached. The trailer weight (load, brakes, incline, etc.) is a force. When the ball moves, the trailer force reacts against it and wants to rotate it around its attach point. The wheels on the ground resist this movement until the force is great enough to start lifting the other end. The ball is not located in the center of the chassis so the tipping force will vary depending on the direction. I believe your "lock" restricts rotation of the ball, greatly minimizing the tipping effect. This is why I am interested in your locking mechanism.

**thehomeengineer** · Aug 4, 2024, 03:10 AM

Originally Posted by Saltfever

Your hitch-ball-standpipe is a simple lever (or moment arm). Its pivot point is where it is attached. The trailer weight (load, brakes, incline, etc.) is a force. When the ball moves, the trailer force reacts against it and wants to rotate it around its attach point. The wheels on the ground resist this movement until the force is great enough to start lifting the other end. The ball is not located in the center of the chassis so the tipping force will vary depending on the direction. I believe your "lock" restricts rotation of the ball, greatly minimizing the tipping effect. This is why I am interested in your locking mechanism.

I have posted a link to the hitch lock located at Trailer motor mover ball locking mechanism
Hopefully will help

**LeeHael** · Aug 16, 2024, 03:36 AM

The setup looks solid, especially with those heavy-duty wheels and the locking mechanism. For the winch switch issue, replacing the plug with a higher quality one sounds like a good move.

**thehomeengineer** · Aug 21, 2024, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by LeeHael

The setup looks solid, especially with those heavy-duty wheels and the locking mechanism. For the winch switch issue, replacing the plug with a higher quality one sounds like a good move.

The plug and socket has now been upgraded to a Plessey which has solved the intermittent fault. On close inspection, the plug was very loose in the socket which I believe was causing the fault rather than loose or damaged wire.