Have a small galvanized boat trailer with 1 7/8" coupler. Long story but has been sitting for 5-6 years and I have to move it ASAP. Put new tires on it and hubs spin free. Problem is the ball coupler is missing the mechanism that locks coupler onto ball. Only need to move a short distance but have to figure out how to hold it onto the ball.

Anyone have a hack to strap or hold it down on ball for short trip?

Get some rope and lash it down?
A round lash will allow it to pivot a bit without getting loose.

pics if it helps..

Got a grinder? Get a fat hex bolt, grind it semi-round, run it up through the bottom against the ball, secure with nut on top? Just spitballing here.

Maybe drill holes low under where the ball fits in and put a bolt through the tongue Perpendicular?

That could bounce loose pretty easy. Any pothole or bump. Maybe ratchet strap it down really well, or wrap a bunch of bungee around it to hold the hitch down. Might make sharp turns difficult.

As a female I have to say NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Let us know how it turns out.

Buy an Atwood coupler and swap the lock.

Jobabby way would be to strap a couple of concrete blocks on the tongue to hold it down, and go slow.

Swipe the lock off a u haul?

Haul it on another trailer. You likely don't have legal tags on it anyway.

The 1 7/8" unicorn

sell it on ebay and buy a 2"

or get a fat guy to sit on the bow

How does it attach to the frame? If it's bolted take it off and go buy a replacement coupler from a trailer supply or harbor freight. Or weld a new one on, they are cheap.

Got it moved the short distance I needed - FYI - used 3 big hose clamps through the hole on coupler down around the ball (had a Tri-ball so clamps could go around them). It worked in a pinch and the drive went fine. Had to back the trailer a little - that didn't go as well 2 of the 3 clamps snapped.
Learn something new everyday - Had no idea the mechanism was that simple and repair kits available at TS. I thought the mount hole on mine was out of shape, but guess it is not supposed to be round...
Thanks everyone.