How Do I Know How High The Ball Should Sit Above the Ground

Question

Question:

How many inches above the ground should the trailer hitch ball be?

asked by: Dan H

0

Expert Reply:

This will depend on the hitch used and the height of the trailer coupler. You want the trailer to be as level as possible. We have a page on calculating hitch height and coupler height to help you find what ball mount would work best.

Most light duty trailers are 16-17 inches in coupler height, so we recommend ball mounts on the hitch pages that will give that particular vehicle 16-17 inches on the ball mount. The ball mount that provides 16-17 inches height for a 2008 Hyundai Entourage is part # 2753.

expert reply by: Patrick B

0

Rob T.

4/10/2020

I have a fairly steep driveway. Before I purchase a trailer I would like to figure parameters for when my hitch might bottom out. I suspect it has to do with the angle of the driveway and length of trailer from coupler to axle? An illustration on what to find to figure out would be ideal.

Reply

Chris R.

4/11/2020

This is a difficult question to answer because of all the variables involved. There isn't really a set formula or diagram you can use for it. If bottoming out is a big concern, your best route will be to actually mock up a trailer setup with your tow vehicle on the driveway to see where it bottoms out, and what needs to be changed to prevent it. The driveway angle, actual coupler height when hooked up (the rear of your vehicle will likely sag a bit upon hookup), angle you actually come up or down the driveway, etc will all factor into play.

Reply

Ed F.

6/19/2024

@ChrisR I am in a similar situation and have made a pyramid shoring set that will decrease the angle, it takes an extra step to place them in the low spot but works fine for raising the trailer axle 4''

Reply

Answer 1

You can absolutely trust the manufacturer ratings for the ball mounts we have available, regardless of whether or not they feature a solid or hollow shank. Ball mounts and other towing products are typically tested well beyond their actual listed…

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Answer 2

We don't have a combo of the Curt Hitch Ball #C40008 and Curt Ball Mount #C45340. The ball mount is extremely heavy-duty, rated up to 17,000 pounds. I think it's safe to assume you don't have a torque wrench rated up to 450 foot pounds…

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Answer 3

The ideal height will actually have to do with how tall the coupler of the trailer is from the ground. The Draw-Tite #76020 will sit at 13 1/2 inches from the ground to the top of the hitch when installed on a 2016 Mazda CX-9. From what I could find…

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Answer 4

Both rise and drop are measured from the top of the drawbar's shank to the top of the hitch ball platform. The length of the drawbar is measured from the center of the hitch pin hole to the center of the hitch ball hole. I've added a link to…

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Answer 5

Curt recommends the use of 250 ft/lbs of torque when tightening the nuts of their hitch balls with a 1 inch diameter shank like the part #C40034 that you referenced. The general rule is for a 3/4" shank tighten to 150 ft/lbs For a 1" shank…

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Answer 6

Many of the ball mounts we offer that we offer that fit 2 inch receivers like part #2753 which has a 2-3/4 inch rise or 4 inch drop, that are designed to be able to use in a rise or drop position by simply turning it upside down, without losing any…

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Answer 7

We aren't manufacturers of those parts, and we don't have the testing ability in house, so I reached out to a couple of our manufacturers to see what information they could provide to try and help. I reached out to my contact at Curt…

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Answer 8

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 9

You can absolutely use the Redarc Tow-Pro Liberty Brake Controller #RED24FR in your 2023 Subaru Outback. But you will need the Universal Wiring Harness for Redarc Tow-Pro Trailer Brake Controllers #RED69FR for installation. There may be a few more…

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Answer 10

There isn't a specific distance you want to have between the bumper of a vehicle and the hitch ball, but in general you'll want more than an inch. This will give you additional leeway when hitching up the trailer so that you don't slam…

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Answer 11

I'd say an inch would be a good safe amount of clearance if the bike rack is one of the more stable options out there, but if it's a rack that has a bit more movement to it the safer measurement might be more like 1-1/2 inch to 2 inch.…

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Answer 12

We have the Bulletproof Hitches Shackle Hitch for 2-1/2" Receivers #ED25SHACKLE which fits 2.5 inch hitches. This has a 30,000 lb weight capacity. I attached a review video for this for you to check out as well.

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How Do I Know How High The Ball Should Sit Above the Ground

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