Towing and Hauling / RV Discuss towing and hauling here. Share your tips and tricks. RV and camping discussion welcome.

Hitch Drop?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-13-2005, 11:44 AM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
turbo_2500's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Columbia Maryland
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hitch Drop?

How do I find out what size drop I need fromm the reciver hitch to put a ball in? I have the hitch the came with the truck under the towing group (class IV)
Old 08-13-2005, 12:07 PM
  #2  
P.J
Banned
 
P.J's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Port Deposit, MD
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
(Trailer depending) you will want to end up in the 17.5-19" range.
Which equals about an 8" drop on my truck.
Weight makes a difference here too, if you are tounge heavy you may need to be in the 6" range.
Old 08-13-2005, 01:45 PM
  #3  
Registered User
 
kandgo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,075
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
As pj stated depends on the trailer and how it is loaded, make sure it rides as level as you can. Goodluck,,Rick
Old 08-13-2005, 02:15 PM
  #4  
Registered User
 
TxDiesel007's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Laredo
Posts: 3,411
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I keep the trailers leveled

18 inches is usually the height I go with, which in my truck with the bumpers and everything comes out to a four inch drop... or a level sittin dual purpose pintle..

Tx
Old 08-13-2005, 02:29 PM
  #5  
Registered User
 
Patrick Campbell's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Central VT
Posts: 1,787
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Totally depends on the trailer... and the truck too. 4x4 will be taller than a 4x2.
Old 08-13-2005, 02:44 PM
  #6  
Registered User
 
xyzer's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Oregon
Posts: 389
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Buy one of each size....!!Just kidding! It seems like that is what I ended up with!
Between horse trailers, boat trailers, utility trailers, and car hauler! Seems like you get a collection! LOL !!! I have made a guess at the drop... Just tighten up the ball without the lockwasher so it doesn't chew it up so it still looks like new?!..set the trailer on it.. figure how much lower or higher it should be to be level.. Take it back for what you need!
Old 08-13-2005, 03:02 PM
  #7  
Registered User
 
Flashdancr's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Native Texan now traveling the Beautiful USA
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have a weight distribution hitch that is adjustable up and down. But you may not need one that heavy duty.
Old 08-13-2005, 03:31 PM
  #8  
Registered User
 
Tiny's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Salem, Ohio
Posts: 542
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I run a 6" drop on mine, everything from utility trailer, a little nose high, to car hauler which sets almost level. Put a car on it and it rides like a dream.
Old 08-13-2005, 08:11 PM
  #9  
Registered User
 
mnengr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Guion, AR
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have an adjustable rated to 6000/600. gives up to an 11 inch drop from the top of the reciever and adjusts at 1" incriments. works preaty slick when every one seems to have a boat or something needing hauling and they is all different. Started cause I was hauling a coleman popup and it was way low.
Old 08-13-2005, 08:34 PM
  #10  
P.J
Banned
 
P.J's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Port Deposit, MD
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Seriously though, Load up like 750 lbs. in the back end of the bed, wheel your trailer up close to the reciever and measure to the lower side of the square. I tend to think that a little too high (a little, now) is better than too low. The drop I have is the 1.25" shank style, which is usually the heavier style. Trailer empty, all was good, trailer loaded with 5K tractor with aprox 1500lbs of front end loader, not so good. Lesson here is that (duh) your trailer is going to sit differently depending on what you have loded and how. I'm going to bet that a 6" drop will be a safe choice for ya.
I use the 8" for my boat, maily because the axles are so darn far back it makes it sit more level with the extra drop. (not because I've drug the rudder and prop on the asphalt pulling into the driveway or anything)
Old 08-13-2005, 10:24 PM
  #11  
Registered User
 
Buckshotmckee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: God's Country (Castle Rock, Co)
Posts: 1,489
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
This is how I answered the same questions.

http://www.tjtrailers.com/store/product11798.html

Rapid Hitch!
Old 08-14-2005, 01:45 PM
  #12  
Registered User
 
Patrick Campbell's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Central VT
Posts: 1,787
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Those are nice! Expensive though. I bought a $30 Putnam POS rated to 8000#.

http://www.truckperformance.com/prod...mber_PUT30029/
Old 08-14-2005, 01:50 PM
  #13  
Registered User
 
Buckshotmckee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: God's Country (Castle Rock, Co)
Posts: 1,489
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally posted by njoverkill
Those are nice! Expensive though. I bought a $30 Putnam POS rated to 8000#.
Yes they are quite pricey. I paid $140.00 for mine @ an farm and ag show. It was the display model , but who cares, the price was right.
Old 08-14-2005, 02:20 PM
  #14  
P.J
Banned
 
P.J's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Port Deposit, MD
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Okay, those things are cool. I thought before I clicked the link it was going to be the one I see everywhere with the nut on top. They don't even look safe to me, but what do I know.

I see 10K, thats about as good as I think you'll ever get on a drop.
Old 08-14-2005, 05:02 PM
  #15  
Registered User
 
Buckshotmckee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: God's Country (Castle Rock, Co)
Posts: 1,489
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally posted by P.J
Okay, those things are cool. I thought before I clicked the link it was going to be the one I see everywhere with the nut on top. They don't even look safe to me, but what do I know.
The heaviest that I've had on mine was a 16ft, tandem dump trailer with 5 yards of dirt in the back and it never buckled. I figured that alone was close too or even a little more then the 10k rating.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Ron R
3rd Gen High Performance and Accessories (5.9L Only)
5
09-16-2008 11:09 AM
surfram
3rd Generation Ram - Non Drivetrain - All Years
8
06-06-2004 09:38 PM
Denis
1st Gen. Ram - All Topics
2
02-17-2004 07:54 PM
pinzgauer
Towing and Hauling / RV
22
09-19-2003 11:17 AM
rattle_rattle
Towing and Hauling / RV
14
04-25-2003 09:30 AM



Quick Reply: Hitch Drop?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:09 AM.