Abstract: The ball element of a ball type trailer hitch is separated along a horizontal plane of bisection and into two substantially hollowed out ball halves. The threaded outer perimeter of a wheel type vertical load measuring transducer is threaded to the inside of the ball halves at the horizontal plane of bisection. The base of the trailer hitch has a vertical stud which extends through a vertical cylindrical bore in the lower ball half and is attached to the center of the transducer. The ball element moves vertically downward under loading. This movement causes elastic bending of the spokes of the transducer. Such elastic bending is measured by strain gauges attached to the spokes.