How to Increase Height of Trailer Hitch Ball to Allow Boat Trailer to be Towed Level

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Question:

I have a boat and trailer and a car hitch with 2x2 receiver currently rated for 5900 maximum tow 900 max tongue weight. Boat is roughly 5000 lbs. I need to increase the height of my ball to tow the trailer properly 6 to 8 inches. is there any product you recommend?

asked by: Emilio E

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

Ideally a hitched trailer will be level to the ground. We often recommend starting off with the hitch ball being a bit higher - an inch or so - than the top of the coupler on the level trailer since once hitched there will be a degree of squat in the rear of the tow vehicle from the trailer tongue weight. This is perfectly acceptable.

You can select a different ball mount for your hitch that gives you additional height (rise) by using the link provided at right. For example, if you want 8-1/4-inches of rise you could use the Curt 2-inch Class III ball mount # C45112. This requires a ball with a 1-inch diameter shank such as # 63845, which has a 2-inch hitch ball.

If you find that your MDX sits too low in the rear when hitched you might consider a weight distribution system. Weight distribution systems are recommended whenever trailer weight exceeds 50-percent of the tow vehicle weight, when the tow vehicle rear sags when the trailer is hooked up, if the tow vehicle headlights point upward or if steering and braking performance are not what they should be. The linked article explains the whys and whats of weight distribution; note that your hitch must specifically be rated for use with such systems and this will be indicated on its safety sticker.

expert reply by: Adam R

1

Ellie

4/14/2020

There is a ball hitch on my truck but it is to high to hitch my trailer correctly. Is there something that goes from ball hitch s down to another ball hitch

Chris R.

4/15/2020

That's really one of the downsides of using a bumper hitch ball. There's just not any adjustments you can make to create a level ride, and as you're experiencing, the ball is typically higher than the trailer coupler. For a truly level ride your only option will be to utilize the hitch (or install one if you don't have one already) and use a ball mount with the right rise or drop for the trailer. I linked a really good article on this subject below, along with our complete selection of ball mounts that you can look through.

Helpful Links

dept-pg-trailer_hitch_ball_mount.aspx

faq-ballmount.aspx

Answer 1

Hi Martin! I will admit to not knowing 100% what you mean, but the Convert-A-Ball Ball Mount for 2" Hitches - 10-3/4" Rise, 12" Drop - 7,000 lbs #AMSC12 you were looking at does indeed have 12" of drop. It's actually the only…

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Answer 2

Curt ball mounts #C45112 and 45110 are essentially the same with a slight difference in overall length. The C45112 is 14 inches long and the 45110 is 13 inches long.

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Answer 3

While the shank of your current Lock N Roll articulating hitch would fit into the hitch opening of the #3371802225 we can't recommend you go that route as it was not intended for use in any other way aside from with the adjustable ball mount…

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Answer 4

Hey Ely, a ball mount with a rise of 8 inches like the adjustable BulletProof Ball Mount part #MD206 would not reduce the capacity of the hitch it is installed in. While it does seem like it would add leverage it's not a significant enough amount…

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Answer 5

Hi Jordan, Ok, I think I can clear this up for you, and just to get the final answer for you, the maximum COMBINED weight a cargo carrier and its luggage can weigh in your current setup is 175 lbs (also, apologies for the caps but they don't…

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Answer 6

Hey Matt, welcome back! You are correct. The threaded hole on the Weigh Safe 180 Hitch 2-Ball Mount for 3" Hitch item #WS34MR ball retainer, is to make removing the pin easier. You can insert a 1/4"-20 screw to get additional leverage to…

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Answer 7

I was able to get a dimension sheet from my contact at Curt for the Curt Hitch part #C15800 that you referenced. See attached pic. I also attached a set of the installation instructions for this hitch.

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Answer 8

We definitely have some options available for your 2021 Audi Q8. With your trailer sitting right at 24 inches tall and the hitch sitting at 17 inches, I am going to suggest going with 7 inches of rise. The Curt Ball Mount for 2" Hitches #C45448…

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Answer 9

The main difference between the Hitch Extender For 2" Trailer Hitch Receiver 7" part #HE06 and Curt Hitch Extender for 2" Hitch Receivers part #C45791 is length and they are made by two different manufactures. Brophy does most of their…

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Answer 10

Hey Steve, thanks for the pictures. That's normal. The Dexter vault hubs popping out slightly like that shows the system is pressurized. It'll pop out all the way if there's a leak or a problem. I would check the other one though. It…

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Answer 11

Hey Chris! The black wire on the etrailer Electric Trailer Jack #e23ZV is just a ground wire. Realistically you can ground it however you want but I would say running it to the frame with a self-tapping screw as indicated in the instructions is the…

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Answer 12

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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How to Increase Height of Trailer Hitch Ball to Allow Boat Trailer to be Towed Level

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