How much hitch drop
Prolocutor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13,618
Likes: 1,247
From: Western MA
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 706
Likes: 6
I have the 10" drop weigh safe and have been using it at the 8" mark right now for my small utility trailer. This is with the 18" wheels and 33" at tires. When I move up to 35" or 37" tires I will be close to needing the full 10" drop. I have also been to quite a few ohv parks and on a bunch of forest service roads pulling the trailer and haven't had any issue with ground contact from the hitch.
Edit* a lot of those forest service roads are 5mph or less speeds with some crazy pot holes
Edit* a lot of those forest service roads are 5mph or less speeds with some crazy pot holes
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 260
Likes: 2
And this was my argument... I'm coming from an F150, with a 4 inch B&W Tri- ball. I love it. I am unsure of getting the 3 inch weigh safe, or the smaller one. I guess I'll go big or go home? Haha. Now to decide between the 10 or 8 inch drop. I ordered an F350 CCLB with the Camper package. I will put air bags on it, so squat is not an issue. I wonder if I should get the 10 or 8 inch drop?
Prolocutor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13,618
Likes: 1,247
From: Western MA
And this was my argument... I'm coming from an F150, with a 4 inch B&W Tri- ball. I love it. I am unsure of getting the 3 inch weigh safe, or the smaller one. I guess I'll go big or go home? Haha. Now to decide between the 10 or 8 inch drop. I ordered an F350 CCLB with the Camper package. I will put air bags on it, so squat is not an issue. I wonder if I should get the 10 or 8 inch drop?
I went 8". EpicCowlick did a huge investigation on this and even with his bigger tires, etc. there are very few trailers in existence that require more than a 8" drop. Don't forget, if you go Weigh Safe, we get a 10% FTE discount at Trunk Monkey Parts on any Weigh Safe hitch. Free shipping too.
WeighSafe Hitches for Trucks
Coupon code: FTEWEIGH
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 260
Likes: 2
I went 8". EpicCowlick did a huge investigation on this and even with his bigger tires, etc. there are very few trailers in existence that require more than a 8" drop. Don't forget, if you go Weigh Safe, we get a 10% FTE discount at Trunk Monkey Parts on any Weigh Safe hitch. Free shipping too.
WeighSafe Hitches for Trucks
Coupon code: FTEWEIGH
WeighSafe Hitches for Trucks
Coupon code: FTEWEIGH
Love that guy. He is a pioneer, for sure.
Speaking of him, I wonder if he has rub with the 35x12.5 with the leveling kit. I would like to put 35x12.5x18 on my truck. I will level, but don't want any rubbing.
Edit- Just realized he has 37's.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 706
Likes: 6
It all depends on the trailers you are going to pull. Use the trailer jack to get the lowest trailer tongue you own to a level point on level ground. Measure how tall your tongue has to be off the ground to be level. Then measure your truck height and see how much drop you will need based on your lowest trailer. I needed 8" with my small utility trailer/truck setup currently. If I adjust the height of the truck with taller tires or any rear end lift I will need more than 8" which was my decision for getting the 10" drop. I know I will be getting bigger tires eventually so planned accordingly.
New User
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
I was expecting the need for a 8" drop till I measured the height of my receiver hitch on my seemingly tall 17 f250 4x4 and found it to be identical in height to my escalade. Who would of thought? I went with a six inch drop and am glad I did as it seems like a 8" with a double ball system would be close to scraping on a steep curb drop.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 495
Likes: 6
From: Snohomish, WA
There is a CERTAIN amount of truth. Ferrous materials have a limit that if not exceeded, seem to have a nearly unlimited number of stress cycles. Aluminum does not have this threshold, aluminum will always ultimately fail. That's why large aircraft have a design life of pressurization cycles, landing cycles etc. When you design something out of aluminum you must consider the load and how many cycles you need to achieve. If you had a large bar of aluminum and you tried to flex it by hand one day it will fail, it might be a trillion, trillion years from now. I'm guessing your 3" aluminum shank was designed to last many lifetimes at rated load. One thing to consider, don't abuse it, even nicks can shorten the life hugely.
New User
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
For the weigh safe application and an enclosed trailer and or an rv how has the load distribution and no anti sway felt in high winds and passing 18 wheelers with out DRW?
i just moved up from f150 to f350 SRW with camper/ 5th wheel kit .....
i tow a 30 ft x 7.5 tall enclosed with car .... about 10k ....
sway being my primary concern...?
thx
i just moved up from f150 to f350 SRW with camper/ 5th wheel kit .....
i tow a 30 ft x 7.5 tall enclosed with car .... about 10k ....
sway being my primary concern...?
thx
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 495
Likes: 6
From: Snohomish, WA
For the weigh safe application and an enclosed trailer and or an rv how has the load distribution and no anti sway felt in high winds and passing 18 wheelers with out DRW?
i just moved up from f150 to f350 SRW with camper/ 5th wheel kit .....
i tow a 30 ft x 7.5 tall enclosed with car .... about 10k ....
sway being my primary concern...?
thx
i just moved up from f150 to f350 SRW with camper/ 5th wheel kit .....
i tow a 30 ft x 7.5 tall enclosed with car .... about 10k ....
sway being my primary concern...?
thx
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,824
Likes: 39
From: Boise
I can tell it's the 2.5", by way of the small chain receiving hoops. The 3" receiver has hoops that are actually large enough for standard chain hooks.