There are times we need to tow a trailer. However, if the trailer is not perfectly leveled, it can be a tough job to do.
If the trailer is leveled, it will easily reduce tire wear. On the contrary, it will lessen the strain on the trailer too!
And to make your towing experience better, today, we will tell you how to measure trailer hitch drop! Have a look!
Why Measuring Trailer Hitch Drop is Important?
If you think that you will get a universal size that will fit all the trailer height, you are completely wrong!
If you go through the market, you will see several sizes of this. These come with different drops and rise so that you can deal with the height variations.
But if you want safe level rowing, you must learn how to measure trailer hitch drop! Let us know how it works!
Requirements for Measuring Drop Hitch
Before you go for messing drop hitch, you have to ensure that your tow vehicle is exactly on level ground. It is better if you get the tow vehicle loaded with cargo.
No matter you are measuring the drop hitch for lifted trucks or other vehicles, this trick can be helpful.
You can go for any sort of weight that you will carry when you will run it. Also, don’t forget to load up the trainer too. In this process, getting an accurate measurement is easier.
Keep the trailer at sitting level. As so, in this situation, you will need a trailer jack. Trailer kickstand can also do the work.
All you need to do is prop up the trailer tongue so that it reaches the perfect height! That’s all you need to start the process!
Step by Step Guide for Trailer Hitch Drop Measurement Process
Step 1: Measuring the Hitch Height
First of all, you have to measure the hitch height. For this, you have to make sure that your vehicle is parkers.
You have to measure the hitch height of the tow vehicle that is parked on level ground.
From the ground, measure the height to the top of the height receiver opening of the vehicle. This is the hitch height.
Step 2: Measuring the Coupler Height
After you are done with measuring the hitch height, you have to move to check the coupler height.
For this, go through the trailer level. You always need to remember that you have to measure the hitch height and the coupler height from the ground.
Start from the ground and go to the bottom of the coupler. This measurement will be the coupler height.
Step 3: Finding the Greater Measurement
Now that you have measured both heights, you have to differentiate between them. One of the heights must be greater than the other to find the one.
All you have to do is determine which height is greater between the hitch height and the coupler height.
And now, all you have to do is find the difference between these two measurements!
Step 4: Drop and Rise Measurement
After you have found out which one is greater, all you need to do is subtract one from the other.
If the height of the hitch is greater, you have to subtract the height of the coupler from it. As a result, you will get the hitch drop height.
However, if the coupler height is greater, you can subtract the height of the hitch from it to find the rise.
Let us memorize this in short:
Hitch Height -Coupler Height= Drop
Coupler Height – Hitch Height= Rise
Step 5: Selecting the Ball Mount
When you see that the hitch height is more than the coupler, you have to settle for a ball mount with drop.
However, if the coupler height is greater and the height of the hitch is smaller, you have to go for a ball mount with a rise.
Step 6: Ball Mount Measurement
Picking up the proper measurement of the drop or rise is necessary. For instance, the difference between the hitch height and the coupler height is A.
When you are selecting the ball mount, make sure that you are picking up the measurement that is closest to A, which is the difference.
If you imagine that the hitch height is about 12 inches and the coupler height is about 4 inches, the difference between them is 4 inches.
And so, you need to go with a ball mount that has a 4-inch drop. In this case, go for a 4-inch rise if you see that the hitch height is 8 inches and the coupler height is 4 inches.
Standard Hitch Size
If you think that there is any universal size of the trailer hitch, you are in a dilemma. You have to understand that there are hundreds of vehicles and hundreds of models.
In this case, the rides of the different vehicles will be of different heights. And so, the perfect trailer hitch height will be unique for every vehicle.
However, the boat trailer hitch sizes are usually 17 inches. And so boat trailer guides will help you a lot for loading the boat. But in terms of other vehicles, it can be a little difficult.
During the engineering of the hitch, the height from the ground is an important issue to deal with.
It is because if the ball mount and the trailer hitch are not high enough from the ground, there will be scraping.
You will not only see scraping on the body but also on the potholes and the bumpers!
Pro Tips
Figuring out the rise or drop is easy. But do you know how to match the drop hitch with the rise or drop distance?
Here, you have to remember that flipping a tow ball mount or a drop hitch can be an option for you.
So, you will be able to utilize the same equipment for providing you a drop instead of the rise or vice-versa.
You can also flip that adjustable tow ball mounts along with the drop hitches. And in this way, you make it more versatile for several trailers!
Wrap Up
Now that you have learned how to measure trailer hitch drop, you are never going to miss a perfect towing! All you will get is a safe towing experience and faster results!
Check out the method we have mentioned. This is the universal method for measuring the trailer hitch drop. Follow it and let us know how it worked! Comment below your experience!
