I have a 1-7/8 hitch ball installed in the bumper of my 2010 Silverado 1500 for light towing.
The hitch nut is located inside a tight area within the bumper.
How can I hold/secure the nut so that the nut doesn't spin when tightening the hitch? (preferably, using a tool that doesn't need to be held in place by hand, freeing up both hands for wrenching the ball with an adjustable wrench)
What I tried:
If I was using a proper drop hitch that wouldn't block the nut, I'd use 18-inch adjustable wrenches for both the ball and nut. But in this case, the adjustable wrench doesn't fit between the nut and the steel sides of the bumper.
I purchased a 1-1/8 and 1-1/2 in Trailer Hitch Ball Box Wrench. The 1-1/2" end would otherwise fit the nut, there is room on the sides of the nut, but not enough room at the back of the nut.
As a last resort, I jammed a chisel between the nut and the side wall. I need both hands for the adjustable wrench (otherwise, the wrench wants to slip off the ball), so I strapped the chisel in place using a ratchet strap.
That worked, but it made it awkward to use the wrench because the strap was in the way. Unfortunately, I don't have anyone to help hold the chisel.
In the future, is there a better way to hold a nut in place in a tight spot, without needing an extra hand or person?
