Does a Trailer have to be towed Level or Can it be Off Up or Down
Updated 06/02/2025 | Published 03/13/2016
Question:
I cannot get my Trailer Tongue perfectly level when hooked up to my Class lll Ball Mount which has a 2inch Drop / 1inch Rise. It either angles up slightly or down slightly, just not quite perfect. Slightly = just a tad off dead center bubble using a 2 foot level. Which would be the best, slightly up or slightly down? The TW on my Class 3 hitch when perfectly level is 200#. My boat, motor, trailer, full tank of gas and all gear weighs 2200#. My tow vehicle is rated for 5000#. I could move my boat forward to increase TW if necessary. Your input would be greatly appreciated.
asked by: Mike
Expert Reply:
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 look into different ball mounts with different rise or drop specs. I have included a link to our ball mount main page for you.
Tongue weight on a trailer is usually 10 to 15 percent of the gross trailer weight. But it can be less on a boat trailer because the motor at the back is so heavy. Moving the boat forward a little will add a little more tongue weight and help to get you to level. This will also help to prevent trailer sway.
Product Page this Question was Asked From
2" Hitch Ball - 1" Diameter x 2-1/8" Long Shank - Chrome - 7,500 lbs
- Trailer Hitch Ball
- Trailer Hitch Ball
- Standard Ball
- Chrome-Plated Steel
- 6000 lbs GTW
- 2 Inch Diameter Ball
- 2-1/8 Inch Shank Length
- 1 Inch Diameter Shank
- Tow Ready
more information >
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on Trailer Hitch Ball
Tony
6/1/2025
Result: The back end of my 30fy travel trailer is down should the front end be down?