Recommended Ball Mount and Trailer Hitch for 2017 Jeep Wrangler

Question:

Hi, I am looking for a hitch set up for a 2017 Jeep wrangler. I have a question about the . Do most people get an where the ball extends beyond the spare tire? Thanks.

asked by: Tom

Expert Reply:

For a trailer hitch on your 2017 Jeep Wrangler, I recommend the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver # 13432. This is a Class III, 2 inch receiver that will provide a gross trailer weight capacity of 3,500 pounds and a tongue weight capacity of 350 pounds. No drilling will be required during installation, however, keep in mind that the exhaust will need to be temporarily lowered and if there are any tow hooks present, they will be permanently removed. I have attached an installation video on your vehicle for you to check out.

Then when choosing the best ball mount for your towing setup, we will want to keep a couple of things in mind. The first thing we can look at is, as you mentioned in your question, clearance with the spare tire on your Jeep Wrangler. The Curt Trailer Hitch will have a distance of 11 inches from the center of the hitch pin hole to the outer most edge of your spare tire.

I recommend looking at the Brophy Heavy Duty Extra Long Ballmount # BH20. This ball mount measures 13-1/4 inches from the center of the hitch pin hole to the center of the ball hole, giving you plenty of clearance for your spare tire to avoid any possible interference.

Next, you will want to make sure the ball mount you choose has the correct rise or drop needed to tow your trailer level. There are a couple of simple measurements you can take to determine this. With your Jeep parked on level ground, measure from the ground to the top of the hitch receiver opening. Then with the trailer level, measure from the ground to the bottom of the coupler. You will select a rise or drop measurement that is closest to the difference between these two measurements.

Using the Curt trailer hitch recommended above, the measurement from the ground to the top of the receiver when installed on your vehicle is 20 inches. You will just need to measure from the ground to the bottom of your trailer coupler to determine what rise or drop is needed. The Brophy # BH20 has a 2 inch drop or 3/4 inch rise.

I have also attached an article dedicated to ball mounts that you may find helpful.