Hitch & Ball Mount Ground Clearance When Towing with 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter  

Question:

Expert Reply:

There is no specific law regarding minimum clearance between the ground and the bottom of a trailer hitch receiver tube or ball mount. This is because there are so many factors that will affect this dimension. The vehicle itself may simply have a low stance, as do some minivans. Passenger load, cargo load, tire size, tire condition and inflation pressure also affect the ground clearance at the hitch tube, as does the condition of the vehicle's suspension. Naturally you want to avoid any contact between the ground and the hitch tube or ball mount.

Ball mounts like # C45036, which hold the hitch ball and slide into the receiver tube, come in varying dimensions of rise or drop that allow the trailer to remain level when hitched. Level trailers tow much better and so choosing the right ball mount is important. You might refer to the linked article for more on choosing the right ball mount.

When a tow vehicle exhibits rear-end sag from trailer tongue weight there are ways to compensate.
The linked page displays the rear-axle suspension helper kits that fit the various versions of your 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. These include air bags and rubber jounce spring kits.

Both types of suspension kit will help the van resist rear-end sag from trailer tongue weight. Rubber jounce springs are less costly, easier to install and require no maintenance. Air bag kits offer adjustability, which is great, but they are more complicated to install and have to be maintained with a specific minimum pressure at all times. For an install-and-forget option, go for rubber jounce springs.

For reference I have linked two articles on these types of suspension kits to give you more on how they install and operate.

expert reply by: Adam R

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