Learn how to know what size drop or raised hitch you need for your vehicle and trailer. Here a quick way to know what size drop or rise you need to get for your receiver hitch to tow a bumper (tag-a-long) trailer. If you have a lifted truck or taller than stock pickup and need to know what size drop ball mount you need to get for a level towing experience with your pickup and trailer. Here a quick way to know what size drop you need to get for your receiver hitch. If you have a camper with a taller trailer tongue, you may need to get a raised ball hitch for your receiver hitch. Here is a quick and a detailed what to determine the amount of drop or rise you need for the hitch for your receiver hitch. If tow vehicle receiver hitch height at the top is greater than the trailer coupler height at the bottom of coupler, you will need a drop hitch. If tow vehicle receiver hitch height at top of receiver is lower that trailer coupler height at bottom of the coupler, you need a a hitch with rise also called a raised hitch. By dialing in the adjustment with of your tow hitch and trailer, you create a level connection that improves handling and safety. Accuracy here makes all the difference in how comfortably your tow rig and trailer tows together.
Having a level towing set up is important. If your ball mount is set too low, that can take the weight off the front of your vehicle and put too much tongue weight on the set up, resulting in poor steering and breaking. If your ball mount is set too high, It will displace the weight putting too much on the rear trailer tires causing your trailer to sway. That is why it is so important to have a level towing set up between your pickup or tow vehicle and the trailer you are towing.
Fastest Method of Knowing How Much Drop or Rise You Need
- Measure to Top of Vehicle Receiver Hitch (Vehicle Should Be Level)
- Measure to Bottom of Trailer Coupler (Trailer Should Be Level)
- Math: Top of Receiver 24″ | Bottom of Trailer Coupler: 19″ | Subtract 1″ for Height of Hitch Ball Shaft. (24″ – 19″ = 5″) – 1″ = 4″ of Drop Needed
*Note: Most Hitch Balls has a 1″ shaft from base to bottom of ball. If you have a more than 1″ shaft, then change the height of the hitch ball.
Detailed Method of Knowing How Much Drop or Rise You Need
Step 1.
- Go to the back of your pickup and measure from the ground to the top of your receiver tube.
- Make sure your pickup or tow vehicle is on level ground.
Step 2.
- Measure from the ground to the base of the hitch ball (the flat part of your ball.).
- Make sure tow vehicle is on level ground.
Step 3.
- Go to the trailer, measure from the ground to the bottom of the trailer coupler.
- Make sure your trailer is on level ground. Add one inch to account shaft height for the hitch ball. Most hitch balls have a 1″ shaft from base to bottom of ball. If yours is taller, you would change this to the height of the shaft.
- If the trailer coupler height at the bottom of the coupler equals the top of the receiver tube on your tow vehicle with you add 1″ for shaft then you tow vehicle and trailer are tow level.
- Math: Receiver Tub Height – Hitch Ball Height + 1″ for Hitch Ball Shaft Height = Current Drop or Rise.
- Example of Drop: 23″ from Top of Receiver to Ground – 19″ from Bottom of Coupler to Ground – 1″ Hitch Ball Shaft Height. (23″ – 19″ = 4″) – 1″ = 3″ Drop.
- Example of Rise: 20″ from Top of Receiver to Ground – 22″ from Bottom of Coupler to Ground – 1″ Hitch Ball Shaft Height. (20″ – 22″= -2″) – 1″ = -3″ Drop, which means you need 3″ of Rise
- Note: One thing to consider is the back of the truck is going to come down with you hook up the trailer coupler to the hitch ball because of the weight that the trailer tongue is putting on your tow vehicle. If you have air suspension, just add air to level. If you don’t you would raise the ball the amount of inches the tow vehicle squats.
Step 4.
- Attach your trailer to your hitch and stand back, is it level?
- If not, you can use the adjustable ball height to raise it an inch or drop it an inch as needed.
- Note: One thing to consider is the back of the truck is going to come down with you hook up the trailer coupler to the hitch ball because of the weight that the trailer tongue is putting on your tow vehicle. If you have air suspension, just add air to level. If you don’t you would raise the ball the amount of inches the tow vehicle squats.
