Does Length of Ball Mount Affect Tongue Weight on Hitch Ball

Updated 02/24/2017 | Published 02/23/2017

Question:

Does going with a Longer Ball Mount decrease the tongue weight exerted on the trailer ball by the trailer?

asked by: Drue B

Expert Reply:

The length of the ball mount used in a trailer hitch does not affect the amount of tongue weight (TW) applied to the hitch ball by the trailer, but it does affect the amount of stress applied to the hitch's receiver tube by the ball mount.

A very long ball mount would apply MORE pressure to the hitch tube than a shorter one, much in the same way that adding a cheater bar to a tire iron (to make it longer so you have more leverage) will allow you to put more pressure on the lug nut.

This same geometry consideration is why just about all hitch adapters will cause you to lose some of your hitch's rated capacity.

expert reply by: Adam R