When Installing New Coupler on Trailer Can There Be Gap Above Trailer Frame

Question:

Bought this item a couple weeks ago as a replacement on a 2001 Tracker Trail Star boat trailer. It installed easily, but I have a couple questions: 1. The mounting holes lined up perfectly in the 3inch spacing direction, but there is a gap of approx. 1/4inch between the top of the trailer tounge and the coupler. This is apparently because the coupler has a 1inch spacing from hole centers to the inside of the top surface of the coupler and the existing holes in the trailer tounge are set up for 3/4inch spacing on the original coupler. Is the 1/4inch gap acceptable? If not, should the gap be shimmed or is there a different coupler I need to buy? 2. The instructions call for using Grade 5 bolts for mounting. I like to use Stainless Steel instead, Is this acceptable? Thanks,

asked by: Dick A

Helpful Expert Reply:

If you wanted to shim the space you have between the top of your trailer coupler and the bottom of the coupler # F343000301, you could, but if you have the bolts torqued down and you aren't overloading the coupler's 5k capacity you should be fine.

expert reply by: Jameson C