Towing Ball Height Question

[Sportdog]

Just got a new truck and need to purchase a new tow ball set up. Any magic to ball height and if so what do I need to achieve the proper height? Level trailer? Tongue weight? Am I overthinking this? 😊 Thanks for any advice.

[RMBin303]

These are pricey, but you will never buy another hitch.

https://smile.amazon.com/Hitches-TS1...NsaWNrPXRydWU=

[REW]

Sport,

The easiest thing to do, is to take a straight hitch with a ball on it and then hook it to your rig.

Put in the approximate weight that you would normally have in the boat when towing.

Then, put in the approximate weight that you would have in the boat if being pulled.

Then, measure the then current height of the bottom of the ball with a straight hitch.

Then, drop a tape down from the bottom side of the ball to the position that the ball would be if the trailer frame were level.


This distance is the amount of drop that you need to have on a tow bar for your boat.

Most trucks pulling average heavy rigs need drops of 4-14 inches -- depending on the truck and the boat rig.

Take care

[tandm]

The recommendation is to have a level trailer when towing an average load. Easiest way I have found is to take any available receiver, hook your boat trailer, with boat on and average payload, lower the trailer until the jack has no load and measure the distance from ground to the bottom of the trailer. Then, using a level for reference raise, or lower, the tongue until the trailer is level. The difference is the amount of rise or fall you need with the receiver hitch.

[Snowking]

Might help if you post what truck you bought.

[clawman]

Originally Posted by Snowking

Might help if you post what truck you bought.

What is the relevance of that?

[Snowking]

People that have the same truck. Might know what ball drop they used. Say 2 inch drop for gmc. 4 inch drop for ford. It always seemed that Fords are a little higher up then other trucks.

[Sportdog]

2018 Ford 150 XLT with only 8k miles.

[HenryPF2531]

The top of the hitch bar should be around 17" from the ground, 20" to the top of the hitch ball.


https://www.etrailer.com/question-7121.html

[Snowking]

They also make hitch balls that have one inch risers. Say 2 inch drop is not enough. 4 inch is to much. You would end up at three with the one inch riser hitch ball.