Trailer Ball Mount Height?

[Donald Gares]

Ok, a question for all of you with trailer hitches.

I just ordered the Class III receiver for my 1995 2500 4x4 Ram pickup
(one size over tires) but I did NOT order the ball mount because I
didn't know which one I needed. Of course until the received is
installed I will not know the exact height of it but once that is done I
can determine the drop that I need for the ball mount IF I knew what the
standard height above the ground that it should be.

Actually, I will probably only be using it to pull some implements
around the farm but I would like to have it near the standard height
just in case I do decide to sometime pull a trailer of some sort.

All in all, is there a STANDARD height that the ball mount should be
above the ground? Need several answers so I can average. :-)

TIA,

Don
--
Donald Gares - Broker/Owner
Creative Farm and Home Realty
Keosauqua, IA - Licensed IA & MO
http://www.crsales.com
319.293.6333

[DodgeMan...@hadesgate.com]

On Mon, 08 Apr 2002 22:00:28 -0500, Donald Gares <d...@crsales.com>
wrote:

<SNIP>

>
>All in all, is there a STANDARD height that the ball mount should be
>above the ground? Need several answers so I can average. :-)
>

If there is a standard height I'm not aware of it. I got 3 or 4
different ball mounts .. one is straight, one goes up, one goes down,
one goes WAY up with 2 7/8 (I think) ball for the camper.

A lot of it depends on the vehicle (receiver) height.
I would probably buy a straight and another with a 2 or 3 inch offset.
You can flip that one either way and make it raise or drop.

Gary

[Miles]

There isn't really any such standard. Different trailers are different
heights.
You also need to account for how much the back of your truck will drop
due to tounge weight. The important thing is that the trailer sits as close
to
level as possible. You really need to get your hitch installed and get your

trailer behind and then measure the needed drop.

Measure from the ground to the top edge of your reciever. Next, measure
from the ground to the inside top of the ball socket on the trailer with the

trailer sitting level. The difference between the two is the needed drop or

rise needed when buying a ball mount. Again, you'll have to account for the

amount your truck will drop due to tounge weight. Generally this is about
and inch or two.

[RedNeck TookOver Hell]

You will find that the "typical average" is "about" 16 to 18 inches and yes
that is "standard"
It is measured to the ball meets the mount
This is for your "typical average" trailer with the coupler mounted straight
off the "drawbar" of the trailer with the trailer loaded, hitched up to the tow
vehicle

[Stamey]

You can get your "average" height from the trailers you plan to pull. Just
get them as close to level as possible and see what the height of the
tongues are and average them. I don't know how much good it will do you
though. You can't really gauge it on the truck as you have different springs
tires sizes, etc. On mine, I borrowed a 4 inch drop when I picked up my
trailer so see how that rode. The front of the trailer is a little high
unloaded but it levels out nicely when the tractor is loaded on it. However,
if I load the trailer more I might need less drop....
If you pull a variety of different trailers and loads you may want to invest
in different drop heights so you have what you need.

Chris

"Donald Gares" <d...@crsales.com> wrote in message
news:3CB2594C...@crsales.com...

[DodgeMan...@hadesgate.com]

On Tue, 09 Apr 2002 04:26:09 GMT, "Stamey"
<Sta...@REMOVExME.Farther.com> wrote:

>If you pull a variety of different trailers and loads you may want to invest
>in different drop heights so you have what you need.
>

or a load leveling Reese type hitch.

Gary

[RedNeck TookOver Hell]

OR, you could just buy one of the adjustable drop ball mounts and dispense with
the load leveling crap <BG>

[Hellacious RedMan from Hell]

RedNeck TookOver Hell wrote:
>

Aww, Hell.

[Stamey]

Fine idea. Didn't know about that.

Chris

<DodgeMan...@Hadesgate.com> wrote in message
news:3cb273c6...@news.yadtel.net...

[Nosey]

I have a '99 2500 4X4 QC shortbed with the camper package and standard 245
tires. I use a 4" drop. Works very well with all the trailers I have towed.

"Donald Gares" <d...@crsales.com> wrote in message
news:3CB2594C...@crsales.com...

[DodgeMan...@hadesgate.com]

>Hellacious RedMan from Hell<
ROTFLMmfAO

Gary

[Ed J]

There is not a "standard" that I know of. Each trailer will have
a hitch height listed in it's specs. You then measure the height
of the receiver and get a drawbar that is higher/lower as necessary
to meet the trailer spec.

--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ed J e...@attglobal.net

[Andy S]

"Donald Gares" <d...@crsales.com> wrote in message
news:3CB2594C...@crsales.com...

> Ok, a question for all of you with trailer hitches.
>
> I just ordered the Class III receiver for my 1995 2500 4x4 Ram pickup
> (one size over tires) but I did NOT order the ball mount because I
> didn't know which one I needed. Of course until the received is
> installed I will not know the exact height of it but once that is done I
> can determine the drop that I need for the ball mount IF I knew what the
> standard height above the ground that it should be.
>
> Actually, I will probably only be using it to pull some implements
> around the farm but I would like to have it near the standard height
> just in case I do decide to sometime pull a trailer of some sort.
>
> All in all, is there a STANDARD height that the ball mount should be
> above the ground? Need several answers so I can average. :-)
>

Standard Height = the height when your trailer is level.

Other than that, it's not that complicated.

[Andy S]

"RedNeck TookOver Hell" <mopa...@aol.comedyhour> wrote in message
news:20020409011751...@mb-cp.aol.com...

> OR, you could just buy one of the adjustable drop ball mounts and dispense
with
> the load leveling crap <BG>
>

Some camping trailers require you to use a load leveling hitch.