Distance From Top of Curt Shank to Center of Topmost Adjustment Hole

Updated 10/25/2025 | Published 10/21/2025

Question:

Hi - I’m trying to determine if the 17100 shank will work for me. Can you tell me the measurement from the center of the top shank hole to the top of the cross member that extends from the hitch receiver?

asked by: Mike

Expert Reply:

Hey Mike!

I went out to the warehouse to check, and there actually is only 1/8" from the center of the topmost adjustment hole to the top of the shank for the Curt Adjustable Weight Distribution Shank # C17100. Check out the attached photo to make sure I measured what you were wanting to know.

Will this work for you?

expert reply by: Jon G

Distance from Top Hole to Shank on Curt Shank
(click to enlarge)

Mike

10/24/2025

Thanks for the helpful info. That’s certainly less than it appears in the photo. I’m not confident this will work for me based on that info. I have an Equalizer WDH and the instructions say to set the top of the hitch ball 0 to 1” higher than the top of the trailer coupler when the trailer frame is level. The only way I can get the hitch ball at the right height with the current standard shank I have is to have it installed with the long length of the shank going down towards the ground with the hitch ball unit bolted at the topmost position. But this setup causes the shank to scrape my driveway. I’m looking for a shank I can flip so the long length goes up towards the sky and allows the hitch ball to be set at the right height when bolted at the lowest setting in that configuration to clear the driveway. By my calcs this shank, in that configuration, would have the ball about 5/8” too high. Any other ideas of something that might work? I don’t see shorter shanks or shanks where the bottom most hole (when shank is installed to go up towards sky) would be lower than this.

Jon G.

10/24/2025

@Mike I was surprised at how close it was as well. I looked at it multiple times just to be sure I was seeing things correctly haha Does this put the top of the hitch ball at 1-5/8", or just at 5/8" above 0?

Mike

10/24/2025

@JonG It would put the top of the hitch ball 1-5/8” above the top of the coupler. The instructions say to set it at 0 to 1” above.

Jon G.

10/24/2025

@Mike That makes sense. I don't have any with the exact profile you're looking for, but I have the Blue Ox Weight Distribution Shank # BLU76ER that's smaller but will work with the Equal-i-zer system, or you can use the Weight Distribution Shank # 325-GH-0352 and Stacked Receiver # 325-GH-314 to adjust things as-needed. Do either of these look like something you'd want to try?