Should Hitch Ball Angle Be Adjusted Up and Down or Angled to the Rear Using Weight Distribution

Question

Question:

I have a adjustable hitch. Should the ball be mounted straight up and down or slightly angled to to the rear?

asked by: Bill T

0

Expert Reply:

The hitch ball angle adjustment on weight distribution systems is designed to provide more or less distribution of the tongue weight on your trailer hitch to the trailer and vehicle axles. If you adjust the ball angle farther away from the towing vehicle, you will angle the weight distribution spring bars down toward the ground and that will distribute more weight. Angling the ball forward towards the towing vehicle puts less angle on the spring bars and therefore less weight is distributed.

We have an FAQ article (see link) that explains weight distribution, and a video that shows how to go about setting the system up (see link) for proper weight distribution and the best ride when towing.

When towing without weight distribution, the hitch ball should be straight up and down.

expert reply by: Robert G

0

Answer 1

Weight distribution heads are adjustable to get the spring bars level or just below level with the trailer frame. Depending on the trailer frame, the head may need to be set at 90 degrees, it also may need to be tilted down as far as possible to keep…

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Answer 2

Yes, a trailer that is nose up can cause big problems. A level trailer is ideal and worth working toward for safety. The good news is that you can get the trailer almost exactly level with switching ball mounts. This is where an adjustable ball mount…

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Answer 3

When you tilt the ball of a weight distribution system rearward on your hitch (toward the trailer) you are changing the physics of the system and therefore also the tension on the rear of the trunnion spring bars. Tilting the head rearward will take…

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Answer 4

Weight Distribution lift brackets can sometimes interfere with a trailer's structural components or with certain frame-mount accessory items like propane tanks. Reese offers a set of chain hangers that bolt on to the sides of your trailer frame,…

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Answer 5

The installation instrucutions of many of the weight distribution systems will tell you how far back on the trailer frame the lift brackets would attach. For instance, with the Curt #17301, the bracket would attach approximately 30 inches rearward of…

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Answer 6

If the trailer is less than 1 inch off of being perfectly level either up or down then it will be perfectly fine. Having it slightly higher would be better because presumably the tongue weight of the trailer will pull it down a little. You could also…

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Answer 7

The Replacement Spacer Rivet and Washers for Equal-i-zer Weight Distribution Head #EQ95-01-9450 will work with all Equal-I-zer systems. I've attached the installation details of the Equal-i-zer Weight Distribution System #EQ37100ET where you will…

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Answer 8

Ideally a hitched trailer will be level to the ground. We often recommend starting off with the hitch ball being a bit higher - an inch or so - than the top of the coupler on the level trailer since once hitched there will be a degree of squat in the…

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Answer 9

I do have a solution for you, but you will need to use a weight distribution shank that is compatible with your Equalizer #EQ37100ET weight distribution system and not one that has been altered. I recommend using the Equal-i-zer Weight Dist Shank -…

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Answer 10

Although we do not have one that comes with it under a single product number like the #EQ64FR, it is simple enough to put it together. The Equal-i-zer Weight Distribution #EQ37141ET does not include a shank so you can add whichever one you need. We…

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Answer 11

Yes, you can use a 2-1/2" to 2" trailer hitch sleeve adapter with a weight distribution system. I recommend the Trailer Hitch Receiver Reducer Sleeve part #e33YR which has a 3" to 2-1/2" and a 2-1/2" to 2" for this. The…

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Answer 12

The reducer sleeve does need to be a bit smaller than the interior dimension of the receiver or it could become stuck. Typically a bit of 'slop' between the shank and the receiver or in this case, the reducer and shank isn't much of a…

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Should Hitch Ball Angle Be Adjusted Up and Down or Angled to the Rear Using Weight Distribution

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