How Much Ground Clearance Does A Reese Pro Round Bar Weight Distribution Hitch Need
Updated 12/22/2025 | Published 10/20/2024
Question:
So I followed the instructions to a T. I have a 2018 Chevy Silverado with no lift. I have a transcend one trailer, 19.3 foot total length. I went to a parking lot level, set it so that the ball was 1 inch higher than the coupler adjusted and installed the components as instructed and measured the truck once everything was installed and hitched. The result, virtually no sag! I measured the trailer front and back still virtually perfectly level. Here’s the catch. The bottom of the sway bars are only eight or 9 inches from the ground. Is that too low? Is it better for the nose of the trailer to be up a little bit so that the sway bars are higher or is following instructions to the T with this result acceptable. It tows perfect, no sway, can be bouncy at times when the road is bouncy I am adding sumo springs this fall. It has bottomed out on the bars 2 times but both times, it would have hit the bottom of the draw bar regardless of set up.
asked by: Jesse S
Expert Reply:
Hey Jesse,
What you're describing is the main design flaw of round bar weight distribution hitches. There's no set height listed for clearance for the Reese Pro Round Bar # RE34FR but if you're consistently bottoming out you could consider switching to a trunnion-style hitch like the Fastway # FA92-00-0600 for more ground clearance. I will say that 8" is typically better than what I've seen
Adding the SumoSprings would also help, but depending on the incline/decline you're on you could still run the risk of the spring bars hitting. There's a lot of debate on whether it's better to be nose up or nose down, but it's honestly best to just get it to ride as level as possible. Trailer manufacturers are putting a lot of engineering into the design of the trailer nose now to help with aerodynamics so it's best to keep with their design to help prevent wind drag.
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on Weight Distribution Hitch
Kate F.
12/22/2025
Hey Jesse, sounds like your setup is dialed in pretty well with that Reese Pro Round Bar hitch. How has the ground clearance been since you added the SumoSprings? Your update could make it easier for others fine-tuning a similar towing setup.