Finding a Ball Mount with the Right Rise to Tow a Yakima Rack and Roll Trailer Level

Updated 08/03/2020 | Published 04/19/2013

Question:

I note the recommended ball height on the Yakima trailer is 22. That is much higher that the ball height on my Suzuki SX-4 Crossover, which is about 12inch or so. Will this trailer work on a lower-ball height hitch and, if so, how well? .

asked by: Jim

Expert Reply:

When towing any trailer, you will want to tow it level. To do this all you need is a ball mount that offers the correct rise or drop (rise in your case). To determine the correct amount of rise you will need, park the SX-4 on level ground and measure from the ground up to the TOP of the receiver opening.

If that measurement is the 12 inches you mentioned then you will need a ball mount with a 10 inch rise. I have included a link to an FAQ article that explains how to measure for the correct rise or drop for a ball mount.

However, on Class I and II trailer hitches with 1-1/4 inch receivers you must use the ball mount that is recommended by the trailer hitch manufacturer. This is because the hitch was tested with and has been given its rating using that one specific ball mount. Going with a different ball mount can void the hitch warranty.

In this case you would have to tow the trailer nose down. Normally, that would make the tongue weight heavy but with a Rack and Roll trailer, even if fully loaded, it will not be too much tongue weight. The back of the trailer will be a little lighter than normal and you might get some bounce when not loaded.

expert reply by: Michael H

Randall N.

7/27/2020

I am buying a Yakima Rack and Roll trailer and towing it with a class 3 hitch (2") on a 2016 Subaru Cross-Trek. I measured ground to top of receiver and got 14". Yakima says 22" is needed. I take that to mean I need an 8" rise. What mount do you recommend? I prefer a fixed, versus adjustable one.

Chris R.

8/3/2020

You're exactly right - for ideal performance and a level setup you'll want a ball mount that provides about an 8" rise. The Curt # C45112 will work perfectly for this application.