Trailer hitch height

mommucked

mommucked

Endeavoring to persevere
Joined
Sep 26, 2011
Location
Rural Apex n.c.
I just winged it for the hitch on my new/used truck by measuring the bottom of the frame near axle on the trailer for my 1860 jon boat, in my gravel driveway. I bought a 4" drop and hooked it up. I pulled it out on the street and measured again. @ the hitch the trailer is 3/4" lower than the height @ the axle about 16' from the tounge. Took it for a drag,5 miles and it was smooth and stable w the bed of the truck and the boat empty of any extra weight. I can lift the tounge/trailer/boat w one arm, might have 150lbs on it level. I'm concerned that if the bed of the truck is filled w gear for hunting/fishing/camping etc. the tounge might be too low, and I might need a 3 1/4 drop hitch that would set the trailer level as is, but not drop inches lower when I load the the truck and trailer. Any advice is welcome.
 
Last edited:
Either live with it, or buy an adjustable, which I would think are Expensive. You might come up with a hitch [or make one] that you can flip over & have 2 different levels.
 
Fixed hitches are cheap. Buy one for unloaded and one for loaded. Swap the 4 inch for a 3 inch, because 1/4 above level is theoretically better than 3/4 below level, but either is actually fine.
 
Four link and bag the front and rear of the truck and call it a day.

Seriously though, It wouldn't bother me to use the insert you have, where it's 3/4" low empty. I mean, fully loaded, the truck shouldn't squat significantly.. (what, 400# of stuff?) If it bothers you, then get a 3" drop and roll on.. it's not like your boat is 10k trailer about to sway away on braking and cause a wreck with a bus full of people..
 
If it doesn't have tandem torsion axles, the trailer doesn't care about its attitude relative to the ground. I'd prefer to be a bit high at the hitch, just to minimize the possibility of dragging, but it doesn't matter.
 
Not to derail, but I met a family during my travels when I was in Idaho Falls that had a patent on one of the adjustable hitches. We had this conversation while standing in their private hangar, next to their private jet, with a 6 figure wakeboard boat sitting in the corner, and multiple other high end cars and toys. Looked like they used money for toilet paper and tissues.
 
shawn said:
If it doesn't have tandem torsion axles, the trailer doesn't care about its attitude relative to the ground. I'd prefer to be a bit high at the hitch, just to minimize the possibility of dragging, but it doesn't matter.
Click to expand...

Just to "aktually" you, .. unless it has a cambered axle. Also with an outboard or I/o boat it's generally better to have the tongue lower than to drag the skeg or prop off.
 
braxton357 said:
Just to "aktually" you, .. unless it has a cambered axle. Also with an outboard or I/o boat it's generally better to have the tongue lower than to drag the skeg or prop off.
Click to expand...
Ergo, the first 2 motors I had on my boat, did not have electric tilt/trim. And the old trailer had the 1 7/8 ball receiver. I built my own drop hitch, so I could use the boat ramp, with the motor down! I Did tilt & lock it in up position, for the road.
 
braxton357 said:
Just to "aktually" you, .. unless it has a cambered axle. Also with an outboard or I/o boat it's generally better to have the tongue lower than to drag the skeg or prop off.
Click to expand...

Actually, a few degrees off center isn't going to bother a cambered axle.

:flipoff2:
 
Thnx for the replies, I returned the - 4" set up to NT and got the 3 1/4" drop, w ball and pin for $14 less. I was concerned that the trailer might bottom out on sketchy ramps, also the NT ball had a long shank and I already stuffed it and the hitch in the ground backing into a parking space @ work.The new one has a short shank and prolly 3" higher than the other set.
 
Last edited:
Years ago, I bought an adjustable hitch at Uhaul, I rarely use it, but it was handy and I don't remember it being all that expensive.

From now on, a Weight distribution hitch and air bags make an adjustable hitch no longer an issue.
 
Back
Top