6 Best 2 Inch Trailer Hitch Balls For Towing A Small Teardrop Trailer Pros Use

You’ve just picked up your beautiful new teardrop trailer, the culmination of months of research and dreaming. You hook it up for the first time, check the lights, and get ready to hit the road. But have you given any thought to the small, unassuming steel ball that forms the single point of connection between your life on wheels and the vehicle pulling it?

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Why Your Teardrop Needs a Quality 2" Hitch Ball

That 2-inch hitch ball is the most critical, and most overlooked, piece of your entire towing setup. It’s not just holding the trailer’s tongue weight; it’s enduring constant stress from acceleration, braking, cornering, and every bump in the road. A cheap, poorly made ball can shear off under a sudden load, turning your dream rig into a highway nightmare.

Most teardrop trailers use a 2-inch coupler, making the 2-inch ball the industry standard for this application. But not all 2-inch balls are created equal. The difference lies in the material (carbon steel vs. stainless steel), the manufacturing process (cast vs. forged), and the quality of the finish (chrome plating vs. raw). Skimping here to save twenty dollars is one of the worst gambles you can make.

Think of it as the foundation of your towing system. You wouldn’t build a house on sand, and you shouldn’t trust your trailer to a piece of questionable metal. A quality hitch ball from a reputable manufacturer is tested to meet strict safety standards, ensuring it can handle forces far greater than your little teardrop will ever exert. It’s a small price for a massive amount of peace of mind.

CURT 40001: The Industry Standard for Reliability

If there’s a default, no-nonsense choice for a hitch ball, the CURT 40001 is it. You’ll find this chrome-plated workhorse in nearly every trailer shop and auto parts store across the country, and for good reason. It’s a reliable, tested, and affordable component that simply does its job without any fuss.

Built from high-strength steel and rated for a Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) of 6,000 pounds, it offers a huge safety margin for any teardrop trailer, which typically weighs between 1,000 and 2,500 pounds fully loaded. CURT products undergo rigorous testing to meet SAE J684 specifications, which means you’re buying an engineered safety device, not just a hunk of metal.

The primary tradeoff is the chrome finish. While durable, it can eventually chip or wear, especially with frequent use or exposure to road salt and de-icing chemicals. This can lead to surface rust. However, with a light coat of hitch ball grease before each trip and an occasional wipe-down, the 40001 will provide years of dependable service.

Reese Towpower 7008300: Chrome Finish Durability

Reese is another legacy name in the towing world, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with CURT in terms of reputation and market presence. The Reese Towpower 7008300 is their direct answer to the industry-standard chrome ball, and it’s an excellent choice for any teardrop owner. Like its main competitor, it’s built for strength and simplicity.

Where Reese often claims a slight edge is in the quality of its chrome plating. They emphasize a meticulous process designed to provide maximum resistance to scratches, chipping, and corrosion. For those who tow in wet climates or the wintery Rust Belt, this enhanced durability can mean a longer-lasting, better-looking component.

Functionally, the choice between a CURT and a Reese often comes down to brand preference or local availability. Both offer a 6,000-pound GTW rating and are built to stringent safety standards. You can’t go wrong with either, but if you’re particularly concerned about the cosmetic longevity of your gear, the Reese might have a slight advantage.

B&W Trailer Hitches BWHB94000: Forged Steel Strength

When you want to move beyond the standard and invest in absolute, uncompromising strength, you look to a brand like B&W. The BWHB94000 hitch ball is a step up because it’s typically machined from a single piece of forged steel. This manufacturing process creates a component that is fundamentally stronger and more resistant to fatigue and shear stress than a standard cast ball.

Is a forged ball overkill for a lightweight teardrop? Absolutely. And that’s precisely the point. It’s for the owner who wants to eliminate every possible point of failure, the person who values "buy it once, cry once" quality in their gear. This is the ball you buy if you plan on towing your teardrop down rough forest service roads or just want the psychological comfort of knowing your connection is bombproof.

Made in the USA, B&W products have a reputation for impeccable quality and a price tag to match. While it costs more than a standard chrome ball, you are paying for a superior manufacturing process and a level of durability that will likely outlast the trailer itself. It’s an investment in pure, unadulterated confidence.

Draw-Tite 63845: A Trusted Name in Towing Gear

Draw-Tite has been a cornerstone of the towing industry for decades, and their reputation is built on consistency and reliability. The 63845 2-inch ball is a perfect example of their philosophy: make a solid, dependable product that meets all safety standards and sell it at a fair price. It’s a true workhorse, just like its counterparts from CURT and Reese.

You’ll often find Draw-Tite components installed as original equipment from vehicle and trailer manufacturers, which is a powerful testament to their quality control. They aren’t flashy, but they are predictable and safe. This ball features the standard chrome-plated finish over carbon steel and a 6,000-pound GTW rating that provides a massive safety buffer for your teardrop.

Choosing a Draw-Tite ball is a safe bet. It’s a product from a company with a long history of getting people and their trailers to their destinations safely. It does everything you need it to do, and you can find it almost anywhere towing supplies are sold, making it a convenient and trustworthy option.

CURT 40038 Stainless Steel Ball: Corrosion Resistance

For those who battle humidity, coastal air, or salted winter roads, the constant fight against rust is real. The CURT 40038 offers the perfect solution: it’s made from solid stainless steel. Unlike a chrome-plated ball where a chip can expose the carbon steel underneath to the elements, a stainless steel ball is inherently corrosion-resistant through and through.

This ball will never rust, peel, or pit. Scratches and dings are just cosmetic marks on a solid piece of stainless steel. This makes it the ultimate low-maintenance option for people who value longevity and appearance. After a long winter in storage, it will look just as good as the day you bought it, with no rusty surprises.

The main tradeoff is cost. Stainless steel is a more expensive material, and the price of the hitch ball reflects that. While its GTW rating of 6,000 pounds is identical to its chrome sibling, you’re paying a premium for the material’s rust-proof properties and the "set it and forget it" convenience it provides.

Trimax T-2SS: Maximum Security Stainless Steel

Trimax brings a security-focused mindset to the world of high-quality towing gear. Their T-2SS stainless steel hitch ball combines the corrosion-resistant benefits of stainless steel with the brand’s reputation for theft prevention. While the ball itself doesn’t lock, it’s designed to be the foundation of a complete, secure towing system.

Like the CURT stainless model, the Trimax T-2SS is machined from a solid piece of stainless steel, guaranteeing it will never rust or corrode. It’s a premium product for the owner who wants top-tier materials across their entire setup. This is the ball you pair with a Trimax locking hitch pin and a "puck" style coupler lock for maximum protection at the campsite or trailhead.

Choosing the Trimax is about investing in an ecosystem. You’re buying into a brand that prioritizes both material quality and robust security. For the teardrop owner who frequently unhitches their trailer in public places, building a system with high-quality, security-oriented components like this ball provides invaluable peace of mind.

Matching Shank Diameter & GTW to Your Teardrop

Picking a great brand is only half the battle; you have to get the specs right. Two numbers are non-negotiable: the shank diameter and the Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) rating. Getting either one wrong compromises the safety of your entire rig.

First, shank diameter. This is the diameter of the threaded bolt at the bottom of the ball. It must match the diameter of the hole in your ball mount (the metal bar that slides into your hitch receiver). The most common sizes are 1 inch and 3/4 inch. A 1-inch shank is stronger, but it’s useless if your mount has a 3/4-inch hole. Never use a bushing to fit a smaller shank into a larger hole; this creates a dangerous weak point. Check your ball mount first, then buy the ball to match.

Second, Gross Trailer Weight (GTW). This is the maximum total weight the ball is certified to pull. Your teardrop’s GTW is its empty weight plus all the gear, water, and supplies you load into it. Your hitch ball’s GTW rating must be higher than your trailer’s fully loaded weight. Thankfully, most quality 2-inch balls are rated for 6,000 pounds or more, easily exceeding the needs of a teardrop. Just be sure to confirm the rating, which is always stamped on top of the ball. Remember, your true towing capacity is determined by the lowest-rated component in your system—be it the ball, the mount, or the hitch receiver itself.

In the end, your hitch ball is a tiny component responsible for a massive job. It’s the handshake between your tow vehicle and your home on wheels. By choosing a quality ball from a reputable brand and ensuring it’s correctly matched to your equipment, you’re not just buying a piece of hardware—you’re buying confidence for every mile of your adventure.