Choosing the Correct Ball Mount

Ball Mount Basics

Here's a typical fixed ball mount and additional parts, which are needed to tow a trailer. Hitch balls and pins and clips are usually sold separately.

Ball Mount Parts

Ball mounts connect your tow vehicle's hitch with the coupler on your trailer. To connect to the tow vehicle, the ball mount slides into the opening on the hitch and is held in place with a pin and clip. The ball mount has a platform with a hole in it where a hitch ball is attached.

How to choose the correct ball mount:

1. Determine how much weight capacity your ball mount should have
2. Make sure your ball mount fits your receiver and your trailer coupler
3. Determine the rise or drop needed to tow your trailer level
4. Decide whether you want these other features in your ball mount:
   • Adjustable ball mounts fit trailers of different coupler heights and sizes
   • Aluminum vs steel construction
   • Locks and locking ball mounts
   • Other special features

Ball Mount Weight Capacity

Ball mounts have two weight capacities: gross towing weight (GTW) and tongue weight (TW). The gross towing weight is the heaviest trailer and load that the ball mount can tow. The tongue weight is the maximum weight that can be allowed to push down on the ball mount.

Be sure to use a ball mount that has a capacity that meets or exceeds the weight of the heaviest trailer that you want to tow. You can often find the maximum capacity of a trailer displayed on a label on the trailer. The gross trailer weight (GTW - sometimes referred to as "gross vehicle weight rating" (GVWR) specifies the maximimum allowable weight of the trailer. The GVWR includes the weight of the trailer and its load. If you have a camping trailer, you need to know how much it weighs when it is loaded for camping, including water, your gear, and anything else you take in your camper.

The tongue weight capacity of a ball mount must also be greater than the tongue weight of the trailer that you want to tow. Tongue weight can vary based on how a trailer is loaded, although it is usually 10% - 15% of the trailer weight. If you're not sure of the tongue weight of a trailer, you can measure it. You can measure tongue weight with a tongue weight scale, with a ball mount that has a built-in scale, at a commercial scale, or with a bathroom scale.

Shop for a tongue weight scale

Ball Mount Classes

Ball mounts of similar sizes and capacities are grouped into 1 of 5 classes. The best way to start searching for the correct ball mount is to determine which class you need. You can see the sizes and capacities of the classes in the following table.

Note: The maximum capacity of a towing setup is limited to the capacity of the lowest rated component.

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What Size Is My Trailer Hitch Receiver?

Your ball mount must fit into the receiver on your tow vehicle and must accept a hitch ball of the correct size.

Hitch Opening Size

Ball mounts are designed to fit into one of the following three common sizes of trailer hitch receiver openings:

• 1-1/4" x 1-1/4"
• 2" x 2"
• 2-1/2" x 2-1/2"

Class I and Class II Ball Mounts for 1-1/4" Hitches

Because receiver hitches are usually made in one of three common sizes, finding a ball mount to fit is easy. However, if your hitch is 1-1/4" x 1-1/4", you'll need to know its class to ensure that you find a ball mount (or drawbar) that will fit. Hitches that are 1-1/4" x 1-1/4" are classified Class I or Class II. Because Class II hitches can carry more weight than Class I, some manufacturers design their Class I hitches so that Class II accessories (including ball mounts) won't fit into them. This incompatibility helps to prevent overloading a Class I hitch. If you have a Class I hitch, you'll have to make sure that any ball mount you consider fits Class I hitches. If you have a Class II hitch, you can use a ball mount that fits both Class I and Class II hitches.

Note: Manufacturers often recommend a specific ball mount be used with their Class I and Class II hitches.

If you don't know the class of your hitch, you may be able to determine it based on the hitch's maximum capacity. The capacity can be found on a sticker on the hitch, or it will be stamped into the hitch. The pictured hitch shows a typical location of a sticker. The maximum tongue weight of this hitch is 450 lbs. Most Class I hitches have a tongue weight capacity of 200 lbs, and most Class II hitches have a tongue weight capacity of 350 lbs.

Shop for Class I and II ball mounts

Ball Mounts for Class III Hitches

A Class III hitch is a very popular size. The opening is 2" x 2", and the capacity - some Class III hitches can tow up to 8,000 lbs. - lets you tow medium-size campers, lawn maintenance equipment, and medium-size boats. Different Class III hitches can vary quite a bit in maximum tow capacity and tongue weight, so you should be careful to choose a ball mount with sufficient capacity to match your hitch and the load that you want to tow.

Shop for a Class III ball mount

Ball Mounts for Class IV Hitches

These hitches have the same opening size as Class III hitches but have a higher weight capacity - up 12,000 lbs Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) and 1,200 lbs Tongue Weight (TW). Be sure that any ball mount you use in a Class IV hitch has enough capacity to handle the loads that you want to tow.

Shop for a Class IV ball mount

Ball Mounts for Class V Hitches

Class V hitches have the largest capacity of all the trailer hitches - up to 20,000 lbs towing capacity and 2,000 lbs tongue weight. Most of them have 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" openings, but a few have 3" x 3". A few Class III ball mounts are 2-1/2" x 2-1/2".

Shop for a Class V ball mount

Hitch Ball Fit

The most basic ball mounts do not come with a hitch ball, so you must supply your own. (Many adjustable ball mounts, however, do include 1 or more hitch balls.) If you have to supply your own hitch ball, you must make sure that the diameter of the mounting hole of the ball mount is made to fit the diameter of the hitch ball shank. You can install a hitch ball with a shank that has a smaller diameter than the ball mount's opening, but you should use a hitch ball bushing to take up the empty space and to create a safe, tight fit.

Most Common Shank Diameters

Most hitch ball shanks are 1 of these 3 sizes:

3/4"	1"	1-1/4"

Shop for a reducer bushing

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How to Measure for Rise and Drop

With the many different tow vehicles and trailers out there, it's rare that any vehicle and trailer line up perfectly for towing. To help match up tow vehicles with trailers, ball mounts are made in a variety of sizes. They come with different amounts of rise and drop to compensate for differences in height, and they come in different lengths to position a trailer closer to or farther from the tow vehicle. To find a ball mount with the proper dimensions for your tow vehicle and trailer, you need to measure. Read about how to measure, below.

Measure Hitch and Coupler for Height

For safe and comfortable towing, the trailer should always be as level as possible. A level trailer handles well, promotes even tire wear, and minimizes strain on both the trailer and tow vehicle. To help you tow your trailer level when trailer and vehicle heights differ, some ball mounts are made with a built-in rise and drop. See how to determine whether you need a ball mount with a rise or drop, below.

With the tow vehicle parked on level ground, measure from the ground to the top of the receiver opening.

With the trailer level, measure from the ground to the bottom of the coupler.

If the hitch height is greater, use a ball mount with a drop; if the coupler height is greater, use a ball mount with a rise. Select a ball mount that has a rise or drop measurement that is closest to the difference between the hitch and coupler heights.

Determine Ball Mount Rise and Drop

Rise is the distance from the top of the shank to the top of the ball platform when the ball mount is oriented for greater coupler height.

Drop is the distance from the top of the shank to the top of the ball platform when the ball mount is oriented for lower coupler height.

Determine Ball Mount Length

The length of a ball mount is measured from the center of the ball hole to the center of the pin hole. This length will determine how much clearance is available between the vehicle and the trailer. A longer ball mount may be needed to clear a spare tire on your vehicle or to allow you to open a truck tailgate while a trailer is hooked up.

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Ball Mount Types

Basic, fixed ball mount		The simplest, least expensive ball mount is a fixed (doesn't adjust) ball mount that has holes for a hitch pin and a hitch ball, and is made of steel.
Adjustable Ball Mount		An adjustable ball mount lets you match different tow vehicle and trailer coupler heights with just 1 ball mount. One adjustable ball mount can be more convenient than multiple, fixed ball mounts.
Steel vs Aluminum		Most ball mounts are constructed of steel or aluminum. Steel ball mounts are usually less expensive. Aluminum ball mounts are more resistant to corrosion, and they weigh less.
	Class I Class II Class III Class IV Class V	Ball mounts are grouped into 5 different classes based on hitch opening size and towing capacity. Class I - 1-1/4" x 1-1/4", 2,000 GTW (Gross Towing Weight) Class II - 1-1/4" x 1-1/4", 3,500 GTW Class III - 2" x 2", 7,500 GTW Class IV - 2" x 2", 12,000 GTW Class V - 2-1/2" x 2-1/2", 20,000 GTW

Towing Different Trailers

If you need to tow different trailers, you should consider an adjustable ball mount. These ball mounts are made to help you switch between trailers of different coupler heights and ball sizes. They can adjust in height, and some have 2 or 3 balls to accommodate different trailers. Adjustable ball mounts can save you the trouble and expense of using a separate ball mount for each trailer.

Shop for your favorite brand of adjustable ball mount, below.

Most Popular Adjustable Ball Mounts
Brand	Advantages
	Built-in tongue weight scale Solid aluminum construction offers good looks, light weight, and high strength Variety of rises and drops available 2" and 2-5/16" stainless steel interchangeable hitch balls with each ball mount
	Stowable design lets you store ball and mounting platform underneath vehicle 2-Ball, 3-ball, and single ball with pintle hook options available Variety of rises and drops available Chrome-plated steel balls, powder coated shank
	2-Ball, 3-ball, and single ball with pintle hook options available Chrome plated and zinc coated balls are available Powder coated shank
	Aluminum and steel shanks available Variety of rises and drops available Locking option is available Greaseless balls are available
	2-Ball and 3-ball options available No-ball platform models let you supply your own hitch ball Chrome plated steel balls and powder coated steel shank
	2- and 3-Ball options Chrome plated steel balls Powder coated steel shank
	Available in a range of drops (can be used in drop position only) Included pin and clip has a handle for easy installation and removal 2-Ball options Chrome plated steel balls Black powder coated shank
	Wide range of options available Aluminum shank is made of aircraft grade aluminum billet Highly polished finish complements any vehicle Locking models available Anti-rattle models available Wide range of rises and drops Stainless and chrome-plated steel balls available 2-Ball and 3-ball options
	Cushioned shank eliminates bounce and vibration - protects vehicle's driveline and hitch assembly Ball not included Powder coated steel
	Ball not included Powder coated steel
	Ball not included Powder coated steel Sway control tab option available for use with sway control systems

Compare Steel and Aluminum

Most ball mounts are made of either steel or aluminum. Aluminum ball mounts are usually machined from a solid piece of aluminum. They are lighter and more resistant to corrosion than steel ball mounts - important considerations if you are changing ball mounts frequently or operating in a marine environment. Most steel ball mounts are made of welded steel plates and painted to prevent corrosion. However, the ball mounts with the highest capacities are made of forged solid pieces of steel.

Aluminum ball mount

Steel ball mount

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Security

Ball mounts are usually held in place on a hitch by a pin and clip. A pin and clip is easy to use but not secure - anyone could pull out the pin and take your ball mount. To help prevent theft, you can use a locking hitch pin, or you can consider a ball mount with a built-in locking pin.

Locking ball mount

Locking hitch pin

Shop for a locking ball mount or a locking hitch pin

Special Features

The standard types of ball mounts are fixed at a set rise and drop and have a hole to mount a hitch ball and another for a hitch pin to secure the ball mount to your hitch. But some ball mounts are made with additional features to help make them more useable and convenient. See some of these features, below.

Built-in anti-rattle devices keep the ball mount tightly attached to the receiver so it doesn't shift around and clunk or rattle.

To tow safely, you should have your trailer's weight distributed so that 10% - 15% of the total weight is pressing down on the hitch ball. Rather than take a chance estimating the weight, you can depend on the built-in scale in the ball mount by Weigh Safe to be sure the weight of your trailer is distributed properly.

A cushioned ball mount acts as a shock absorber to reduce bounce and vibration, protecting your vehicle's driveline and hitch assembly, and your trailer s contents.

A dual purpose ball mount lets you take a hitch-mounted accessory and tow your trailer at the same time. This type of ball mount is great for taking your bikes along while towing your camper.

Combination ball mounts allow you to haul with a ball or pintle hook.

Adjustable ball mounts let you change the height of the hitch ball to match the heights of different trailers, saving you time, expense, and inconvenience when compared to using multiple fixed ball mounts.

Ball mounts with multiple balls let you switch among different trailers that have couplers of different sizes. They are available with either 2 balls or 3 balls.

Ball mounts with built-in locks can lock onto your hitch to help prevent theft and to free you from keeping track of a separate lock.