Notices
All Things Towing Conventional, 5th Wheel, Toy Hauler, Flatbed, Gooseneck, Electrical/Brakes/etc.

Advice on hitch setup

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 11, 2022 | 10:40 AM
  #1  
idealtrucks's Avatar
idealtrucks
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 34
From: S/W Virginia
Advice on hitch setup

I'm setting up my hitch on my new truck and need some advice. In my old 03 250 out pulled great with the way it was setup. It was a little nose down though. Here's a pic of the new one. I left the hitch in the same place as it was and now with the wdh bars hooked up it's pretty much level. About a .5 inch low in the front as measured from my driveway. Think I should lower the ball some to get it nose down a bit more?

 
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2022 | 10:45 AM
  #2  
arnegrant's Avatar
arnegrant
Tuned
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 304
Likes: 77
From: St Paul MN
Nice rig.

I like it a little high like youve got it because in use it comes down (people and stuff in the bed and stuff in the camper)

Up to you, looks good
 
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2022 | 11:15 AM
  #3  
idealtrucks's Avatar
idealtrucks
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 34
From: S/W Virginia
Only issue with it as is in picture, is I have to have a block under the jack to get tongue high enough to get off ball
 
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2022 | 05:31 PM
  #4  
TCNashville's Avatar
TCNashville
Laughing Gas
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,244
Likes: 275
From: South Central Indiana
Looks pretty good to me as well. One thing to remember though is a slight nose down configuration will help mitigate sway. FWIW, I have to place a block under mine as well to get it off the truck.
 
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2022 | 11:58 AM
  #5  
SpencerPJ's Avatar
SpencerPJ
Fleet Mechanic
5 Year Member
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 417
Looks good to me, only one way to find out. Mine is fairly level and pulls good. I am usually on the nose down, but some say it affects performance. Long story short, I don't think there is a prefect answer for every application. I'd say you will pull great with that setup, if not drop a hole or alter the pitch if you have room to do so with the bars.
 
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2022 | 07:18 PM
  #6  
meborder's Avatar
meborder
Moderator
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,514
Likes: 670
From: Sioux Falls Area
Club FTE Gold Member
If it pulls good, don’t touch it. It looks really good in the picture


I carry a 6x8 guardrail block for the tongue jack. Just part of the cargo and lives in the camper just for that purpose. I wouldn’t let the need for a block influence my decision. I’ve never considered to not use a block. The jack is slow and I’m inpatient, and the block cuts a full 6” off the needed travel for the jack.
 
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2022 | 06:52 AM
  #7  
idealtrucks's Avatar
idealtrucks
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 34
From: S/W Virginia
Thanks for all the input. I'll probably go for a quick drive this week before heading out on the drive to the beach this weekend and make sure it pulls good.
 
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2022 | 05:35 PM
  #8  
mtnguy's Avatar
mtnguy
More Turbo
5 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 736
Likes: 225
Check the WDH instructions. The WDH setups that I have had suggest that the spring bars need to be parallel to the trailer frame and a minimum number of chain links between the bars and snap up brackets. If that is so, then you may need to tilt the ball mount back a notch or 2.

Also it appears that your hitch is on the bottom on the tongue frame. I have heard that a trunnion WDH works best for that setup, so that the spring bars are not so close to the road. The round bar setup is better suited for a hitch on top of the tongue frame.

OK, 1 more item. It appears that the truck has settled a bit in the rear or raised in the front. Unless there is a lift kit installed, I would think that a properly adjusted WDH on a Super Duty would be level or even slightly high in back.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now

 Brett Foote
story-2

This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-7

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 21, 2022 | 02:59 PM
  #9  
idealtrucks's Avatar
idealtrucks
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 34
From: S/W Virginia
I'm at my campsite after a 400 mile tow on interstate. Seemed to pull really good. Went through a storm with very high winds and had some sway there, but nothing when big rigs passed.
I don't have the instructions for the hitch. The truck doesn't have a level. I measured the sag at 1.75 inches
 
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2022 | 09:29 PM
  #10  
jfruser's Avatar
jfruser
Mountain Pass
15 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 131
Likes: 21
Originally Posted by meborder
If it pulls good, don’t touch it. It looks really good in the picture


I carry a 6x8 guardrail block for the tongue jack. Just part of the cargo and lives in the camper just for that purpose. I wouldn’t let the need for a block influence my decision. I’ve never considered to not use a block. The jack is slow and I’m inpatient, and the block cuts a full 6” off the needed travel for the jack.
I do the same thing for the same reasons. Plus, a big, wide block will help keep your jack from sinking into mud or sand or loose gravel or even just soft grass.
 
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2022 | 07:33 PM
  #11  
chadstickpoindexter's Avatar
chadstickpoindexter
Lead Driver
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 3
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 5,886
Likes: 3,512
From: Uh oh, CA
Originally Posted by jfruser
I do the same thing for the same reasons. Plus, a big, wide block will help keep your jack from sinking into mud or sand or loose gravel or even just soft grass.
I saw another member post these somewhere here on the FTE forums, so I picked one up. Granted, it wasn't cheap... but it is heavy and feels quite sturdy. I like that it has the squares in the top that capture the tongue jack foot (even though I didn't center it perfectly). I literally just unboxed this today and swapped out the cut down 4x4 that I had been using for this... so much better! I doubt the likelihood is very great, but being that the 4x4 was the same size as the tongue jack foot, I always pictured it rolling out from under the tongue jack... Plus, this does have a wider base so it provides more support, and it is taller, which is nice too.


 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
SoCal69
All Things Towing
7
Mar 29, 2019 08:36 AM
FARM69
All Things Towing
11
Jun 29, 2010 09:59 AM
WilliesSD250
Alaska Chapter
2
Jul 23, 2009 10:44 AM
97 HD
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
10
Sep 3, 2007 08:53 PM
biz4two
All Things Towing
20
Aug 3, 2007 09:23 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:24 PM.

story-0
10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition

Slideshow: 10 ways Ford is losing to the competition

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 09:52:01


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now

Some great targets in today's expensive world.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-15 09:35:19


VIEW MORE
story-2
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

Slideshow: The VelociRaptor Expedition gains a lift, upgraded suspension, Brembo brakes, and trail-ready equipment while retaining the stock 440-horsepower EcoBoost V6.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:01:55


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-4
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-6
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-9
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE