www.iFourWinns.com

This is a newbee question. I have a 1993 180 freedom that is in storage right now. I want to bring the boat home in the Spring, but I need to put a trailer hitch on my towing vehicle. Do you you know the ball size of the standard FourWinns trailerfor a 180 Freedom?
Thanks for your help!

I would guess it would be 2 inches--but double check with someone more familiar with your model. A friend of mine once decided a 1 3/4-inch ball would be OK even though the trailer called for 2 inches. You can probably imagine what happened next. Not 3 miles from his house the trailer came off the ball and was bouncing all over the place (held only by the safety chains).

Note to self: If this ever happens--do not, I repeat, do not slam on the brakes. Needless to say my friend did and he ended up with the tounge of the trailer doing some pretty good damage to the back of his truck (one of many freak "accidents" this guy has had with his boats over the years).

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Norris Lake, Stardust Marina, Andersonville, TN
2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon 5.7L Volvo Gi/DP
2001 Maxum 1900SR 5.0L V8 (Sold)
2011 Nissan Armada Platnum

I think 2" is a safe bet. If you really want to be covered, get a Convert-A-Ball system, then you'll be ready for anything.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

2" is pretty standard for that size boat. Go buy a 2" and one size smaller but keep the receipt.

When you get there it should say on trailer what size. As stated above...only use specified size.

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2005 Horizon 210, 5.7L Volvo

Look on your trailer toung. It will tell you what size.

But that is my problem. My boat and trailer are in storage about 150 miles away.
I'm likely going to go for the 2" ball with the option to change sizes. I'm surprised at the cost though. Toyota quoted me about $1,200. A trailer shop will do it for about 1/2 of that.

I just looked up the owner's manual for that year on the four winns website. Under the trailer section, it says that all the trailers call for a 2 and 5/16th's inch ball. Kind of big by my standards, but that is what it says. In my boat's year, 1996, all boats went to the 2" except for my boat, the Sundowner 245, which stayed with the 2-5/16's. Hope this is accurate.

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Gary & Diane
1996 Sundowner 245
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

http://www.etrailer.com/p-902B.html

I love it. During the summer I put on the 2" for the boat. When boating season's over I put on the 2 5/16" for the marching band trailers I tow for my kids. And if I ever need a 7/8" for some little utility trailer I'm set for that too. (I have the stainless steel set, the nickel plated is shown.)

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

So now I feel kile a real idiot. I never thought to look up the info on the manufacturers website! Duhuh.
Thanks gslpro! I checked out the manuals for the 1993 series and got the same answer as you 2 & 5/16 ths. Who would have known!

And thanks to 230 Mike for the convert-a-ball suggestion. Even my Toyota dealer thinks that it is a good idea. Given that I have 2 trailers, it will be really helpful.

If you do it, consider the plastic storage box they make for the extra balls, its nice for storing them under the back seat or wherever.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I'd run to a tractor supply or trailer store and pick up a hitch with mulitple balls on it... Or, buy a few extra balls and bring a pipe wrench with you. You know you'll need the hitch to go in the receiver. Return the ones you don't use.

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-Tony
2016 Robalo R200 w/Yahama 200!

Previous boats:
2003 Four Winns 248 Vista - sold
1994 Sunbird Corsair 200 - sold
1980 Checkmate Predictor - sold

This is awesome...I just ordered a set. Thanks for the info....

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-Tony
2016 Robalo R200 w/Yahama 200!

Previous boats:
2003 Four Winns 248 Vista - sold
1994 Sunbird Corsair 200 - sold
1980 Checkmate Predictor - sold

@ 230 Mike

As soon as I seen that my head went to AC/DC with Big Balls.

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1992 Baja 38 Special Twin 502 Mags

03 Stingray 3.0
88 261 Liberator 460 King Cobras
95 Bayliner 1850 3.0
77 Fiber Form 20ft 350/385hp
70 Wescraft 1800 SS 455 Jet

Lead, Follow, or get the Hell out of the Way!

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

If you don't buy the plastic storage box as Mike suggests then they will be "always bouncing to the left and to the right."

I thought of AC/DC immediately as well

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Terry
Current: 07 Crownline 255 CCR cuddy - 350 Mag MPI/B3 "Casi Cielo"

Previous:97 245 Sundowner 5.7GI/SX

Tow vehicle: 1986 GMC 2500 Camper Special 454/TH400