Trailering question

[adegiulio]

I have a few trailers that I use to move various stuff (boat, quads, tractor). I have the same hitch for all three, using a different ball as necessary. Something tells me that some trailers should have the hitch at different heights. What height should I be towing these different trailers at? Are there any "rules" I should be aware of for safer trailering?

Thanks

 

[dieselfuelonly]

You want to keep the trailer pretty much level, though the front being a little higher than the back is OK.

Use a drop down hitch for trailers that your truck keeps the front ends too high.

You always want a little more weight on the front of the trailer than on the rear, you do not want the trailer pulling "up" on your hitch. I think 60/40 is a good split, not positive on that one.

Hope this helps.

Dennis

 

[Jimbrown]

It is called LEVEL.

edit: Man you got to be fast around here.

 

[Bird]

Of course, the other guys are right; you want the trailer to sit as level as possible. As for weight distribution, you want 10-15% of the total weight to be tongue weight. And assuming you have a hitch receiver instead of a bumper hitch, almost any trailer hitch shop will have the hitch heads with different amount of "drop". You can always park the trailer on a flat level surface, have the trailer sitting level, then measure from the ground up to the top of the hitch, measure the height of your hitch receiver on the truck, and pretty quickly see how much drop (or rise for that matter) you need on your hitch head.

 

[daTeacha]

You can also find a rotating multi-ball hitch to fit the common 2" reciever. That will save you a lot of messing around. Some of them are also adjustable for different heights.

 

[john_bud]

This is a simple way to tell what you need. Measure the height of the rear bumper of your truck without the trailer. Write that down. Put on the trailer and load it. Measure the back bumper. You want it to have dropped 1-2" - depending on the load and the HD nature of the truck. My 3/4 ton with 1000# on the bumper will drop about 1-3/4" - 2". With the load in the trailer the trailer should be as level as possible. Measure the amount of drop or lift needed to get it to level from the center of the receiver. This is for non-weight distributing hitches.

HTH,
jb

 

[jayhaitch]

Check out the link. Great description and photos of how to measure the proper drop or rise of the ball mount for your specific trailer/vehicle combo.

|| REESE PRODUCTS ||

Click on "Products" at the top left, then click on "Ball Mounts."

 

[Tororider]

I had a landscaping company and the problem that you will run into is if it isn't level, you will wear either the front or back tires at a much faster rate than the other, depending on the tilt of your trailer(this would be for a two axle trailer). I also found that it was more important to keep the weight distribution even left to right, than worrying about front to back. I understand that if you have all your weight in the back the trailer will drive a bit squirrely, but if you are out of whack left to right, again you will mess up your tires.