How to Determine Correct Ball Mount and Trailer Ball for 2015 Honda Pilot  

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Expert Reply:

Your 2015 should already have a trailer hitch installed, a square receiver opening near the back bumper. I'm guessing you're needing the proper ball mount and trailer balls for your Pilot, is that correct?

To determine the rise of drop of ball mount you'll need, you'll need to take two measurements and do some arithmetic (remember when Mrs. Jones told you in third grade that this stuff would come in handy some day?).

Measure from the inside top of the receiver tube to the ground. Then, with the trailer jacked up so it's perfectly level to the ground, measure the distance from the underside of the coupler to the ground. The difference between these two measurements is the rise/drop of ball mount you'll need. If the hitch on the vehicle is higher than the coupler, you'll need a ball mount with a drop. If the trailer coupler is taller than the hitch on the vehicle, you'll need a ball mount with a rise. Ideally, you'll want the trailer towing perfectly level, but if you're an inch to an inch and a half off, you'll still be okay. I'll link you to an FAQ that shows how to make those measurements, as well as to the ball mounts we offer. Just use the filters on the left margin to narrow down your choices.

To determine which ball you'll need, the correct ball size should be stamped into the metal of the trailer's coupler. For a trailer your Pilot would tow, a 1-7/8 or 2 inch ball size would be typical. Make sure to choose a trailer ball whose shank diameter matches the diameter of the ball hole in your ball mount. For instance, if you chose the # BM20 ball mount, you'd want to use a ball with a 1 inch diameter shank, like part # 19260 for a 1-7/8 inch or # 63845 for a 2 inch trailer ball.

expert reply by: Mike L

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