How to Determine Rise or Drop for Ball Mount

Updated 03/04/2020 | Published 03/03/2020

Products Featured in This Question

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

(377)

$166.94

Curt Towing Starter Kit for 2" Hitches - 2" Ball - 2" Rise, 4" Drop - 7.5K

(781)

$87.44

Question:

Hello! I have a 2008 Toyota Tacoma two wheel drive extended cab pick up. I just installed the Curt hitch yesterday, and now I need the ball mount and ball. I’m assuming I would want to stick with the Curt brand for the ball mount. I will be pulling a 48“ x 40“ Ironton trailer. This is a “trailer in a box” that has to be put together. Your website certainly has a significant amount of information, and it is probably addressed somewhere, but I think I got overwhelmed looking for the information! Apparently I also have to think about the height of the hitch and the height of the trailer tongue. I’ll search for that on your website as well! Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated! Thank you very much!

asked by: Bryan

Expert Reply:

You're right, the information for getting everything correct is pretty overwhelming but you seem to have it down pretty well! In order to determine the correct rise or drop you need for your ball mount, all you have to do is measure from the top of your receiver to the ground and from the bottom of your trailer coupler to the ground and find the difference. You can use the cut outs of the linked help article on "How to Measure for Rise or Drop" I added.

For example, the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver # 13323 on a 2008 Toyota Tacoma we found it was 18-3/4" from the top of the hitch to the ground. Let's say the bottom of your coupler was 16-3/4" high and it accepted a 2" ball. If that was the case you would want the Curt Towing Starter Kit for 2" Hitches - 2" Ball - 2" Rise, 4" Drop # C45554.

I have added a link to that help article for you which I strongly recommend reading, as well as a link to our entire selection of ball mounts that fit a 2" trailer hitch.

expert reply by: Kyle S