Does Tongue Weight Sag Get Factored In When Picking Out Rise/Drop Ball Mount

Published 11/26/2019

Products Featured in This Question

Curt Ball Mount for 2" Hitches - 1" Rise, 2-1/4" Drop - 7-5/8" Long - 7,500 lbs

(3838)

$26.94

Convert-A-Ball Ball Mount for 2-1/2" Hitches - 4-3/4" Rise, 6" Drop - 18,000 lbs

(1353)

$151.69

Curt Ball Mount for 2" Hitches - 6-1/4" Rise, 7-1/2" Drop - 13" Long - 5,000 lbs

(3838)

$44.94

Curt Heavy Duty Forged Ball Mount for 3" Hitches - 4" Rise - 6" Drop - 21,000 lbs

(810)

$135.60

Question:

Should the tongue weight be factored into the towing tongue height? I have a F250 super duty, top of hitch is 23.25, bottom of trailer tongue is 15inch for a total of an 8inch drop. If I put tongue weight on the 18,000 lb. hitch will the back of the truck enough to put the tongue too low? Thanks

asked by: Bruce H

Expert Reply:

This is a really great question! So ideally you have the trailer sitting as level as possible when you are towing. So that means that if your vehicle suspension is going to sag with the tongue weight of your trailer on the ball mount you'd want to compensate for that with the amount of rise/drop ball mount you select.

How this normally works out is that you determine the drop needed (in your case 8 inches) and then go with a ball mount slightly higher like the Curt part # C45100 which has 7-1/2 inches of drop. But in your case your trailer is going to have quite a bit of tongue weight since the trailer is 18,000 lbs.

The Convert a Ball part # AMSCV-6 is a really great choice as it has an 18k capacity, has 6 inches of drop and fits 2-1/2 inch hitches. Your 2019 Ford F-250 might have a 3 inch hitch though so instead we have the Curt part # C45431 which fits this hitch size.

expert reply by: Jameson C