Hitch height
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Hitch height
'98 Explorer XLT V6 SOHC 4X4 - all stock
I am adding a hitch to my truck later in the week (hopefully - it is in the mail). This is mainly for pulling a boat, which is a rental, I don't own one. The boat will be a 18ft '06 Sea Ray. I don't know what the ride height of the trailer is. The receiver I bought for the hitch has a 2" drop (3/4" rise). I know the info here is very limited, but does anyone have enough experience with this sort of thing to be able give me an idea if the ball height will be OK??? I am pretty clueless about this and it is difficult to judge without seeing the trailer.
Thanks!!!
I am adding a hitch to my truck later in the week (hopefully - it is in the mail). This is mainly for pulling a boat, which is a rental, I don't own one. The boat will be a 18ft '06 Sea Ray. I don't know what the ride height of the trailer is. The receiver I bought for the hitch has a 2" drop (3/4" rise). I know the info here is very limited, but does anyone have enough experience with this sort of thing to be able give me an idea if the ball height will be OK??? I am pretty clueless about this and it is difficult to judge without seeing the trailer.
Thanks!!!
Elder User
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From: Webster, NY
This only applies to my case, but I originally set my 2" ball for a 2" drop and found that for the larger trailers I have towed (one large box trailer, two times a U-Haul 6x12 box, and a 3500# boat + trailer) that the ball would have been too low in that configuration. I changed it after towing the U-haul the second time to a 3/4" rise and was much more pleased with how level the setup was.
The rear end of my Mountaineer is in good shape with leaf-springs set up for towing (they give a little more lift than stock springs to the back), but with the 3/4" rise the rear end is nice and level (and so is the drawbar back).
For my little utility trailer (with a 1-7/8 ball mount) I use the 2" drop to keep it happy. Ideally that one would be a little lower.. but I already have the 2" drop bar with that ball so I am not replacing it anytime soon.
In the end, I think you will need to measure and adjust (at least I had the luxury of having the correct size socket and breaker bar to be able to flip the ball over that one time).
The rear end of my Mountaineer is in good shape with leaf-springs set up for towing (they give a little more lift than stock springs to the back), but with the 3/4" rise the rear end is nice and level (and so is the drawbar back).
For my little utility trailer (with a 1-7/8 ball mount) I use the 2" drop to keep it happy. Ideally that one would be a little lower.. but I already have the 2" drop bar with that ball so I am not replacing it anytime soon.
In the end, I think you will need to measure and adjust (at least I had the luxury of having the correct size socket and breaker bar to be able to flip the ball over that one time).
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Thanks for the input! Based on your experience, I am wondering if I should flip mine over to get the 1/3" rise. I could show up with this configuration, and the rental shop could flip it if we need to. With a 2" drop, it would come in below the level of the ball on the step-bumper. If you have beefyer springs, it probably rides a little higher.
CO River Rat
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
If your existing ball mount doesn't allow that rented boat/trailer to sit level (always a good idea), you could spring for an adjustable ball mount to take care of it and any other trailers that might be in your future.
Steve
Steve
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You want it essentially level. Hook it up on a flat parking lot and set a level on the tongue if you are concerned about it. Usually you can just eyeball it. In my experience, only big full size trucks need a drop of any significance (with a typical boat trailer, they all sit at pretty much the same height), I use the 3/4" rise on my Ranger.
Last edited by bcjim; Jun 28, 2007 at 11:48 AM.
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Originally Posted by bcjim
You want it essentially level. Hook it up on a flat parking lot and set a level on the tongue if you are concerned about it. Usually you can just eyeball it. In my experience, only big full size trucks need a drop of any significance (with a typical boat trailer, they all sit at pretty much the same height), I use the 3/4" rise on my Ranger.
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From: Webster, NY
Well my buddy's getting a hitch onto his ranger soon, however in the process of doing it we compared the heights they would end up at. His hitch (99 ranger) will end up at least 2 inches higher than the one on my 97 mountaineer... so you might be OK with that 2" rise.
In the end I do not think you are going to get a satisfactory answer here. Can you call the rental place and ask them to measure the height of the coupler. That would get you close... maybe.
In the end I do not think you are going to get a satisfactory answer here. Can you call the rental place and ask them to measure the height of the coupler. That would get you close... maybe.
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You are probably worrying too much about it, esp for a short haul. Just make sure the lights work. You are probably going to be close to the tow limit on your truck unless you have a LS differential, then you may have some cushion. If the trailer has brakes, you're fine, if not, take it easy and s-l-o-w and leave lots of room to stop. My V6 Ex, non LS is only rated for 3500 I think, I never tow with it. An 18' Sea Ray and a trailer and gas will be in that neighborhood I would think.
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Yeah - I am getting a little OCD about it, I have a tendency to over-focus on some things.
It is a little longer haul than I initially thought.... about 30 min. city driving.
What is LS rated???
BTW: just to share the bonehead move I did..... I was organizing my tools and realized I was missing a socket and ratchet handle. I couldn't find it, looked all around again and again..... finally it occurred to me I may have left it under the truck (like under-inside). Sure enough it was wedged up under the bumper and cross member from where I was holding a bolt to torque down on the other side. Here is the kicker...... I got red lock-tite inside! I now have a perminate 19mm socket with ratcheting handle! AHHHHHH!!!!!! it was my new one too....
It is a little longer haul than I initially thought.... about 30 min. city driving.
What is LS rated???
BTW: just to share the bonehead move I did..... I was organizing my tools and realized I was missing a socket and ratchet handle. I couldn't find it, looked all around again and again..... finally it occurred to me I may have left it under the truck (like under-inside). Sure enough it was wedged up under the bumper and cross member from where I was holding a bolt to torque down on the other side. Here is the kicker...... I got red lock-tite inside! I now have a perminate 19mm socket with ratcheting handle! AHHHHHH!!!!!! it was my new one too....
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