Hitch Height on 2009 Acura MDX and Ball Mount Compatibility

Updated 02/28/2018 | Published 02/27/2018

Products Featured in This Question

Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2"

(470)

$264.15

T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector

(126)

$36.50

2" Hitch Ball - 1" Rise - 1" Diameter x 2-1/8" Long Shank - 6,000 lbs

(3874)

$25.31

2" Hitch Ball - 2" Rise - 1" Diameter x 2-1/8" Long Shank - 6,000 lbs

(3874)

$29.78

Question:

Hi- Im about to pick up a boat trailer that requires the tow ball to be 17inch off of the ground to the centerline of the tow ball. I am away from my vehicle, but can you confirm the hitch on a Curt III hitch on a 2009 MDX is 17? and would i need a 1/2 inch to have the center of the 2 inch ball be at 17?

asked by: Jack B

Expert Reply:

When we installed 2-inch Curt Class III hitch # 13354 on a 2009 MDX we found that the top of the receiver opening was indeed 17-inches above ground, although this can vary slightly from car to car depending on the amount of tread wear and factors like passenger and cargo weight.

Since all tow vehicles will exhibit some degree of rear-end squat when a trailer is hitched to them, it is a good idea to have the starting height of the hitch ball on the MDX about 1-inch HIGHER than the top of the level trailer's coupler. This helps compensate for that normal rear squat. So when the unhitched trailer is level and the car is next to it the top of the hitch ball should be 1- to 1-1/2-inches taller than the top of the trailer coupler.

Ball height can be changed through use of different ball mounts but you can also sometimes simply use a high-rise hitch ball like # C40033 or # C40034 that adds extra height.

If you need a 4-pole wiring harness for the boat trailer you can use # 118424.