Will Longer Ball Mount Cause Trailer Sway

Question:

I have a very short tongued boat trailer and my hitch receiver does not extend much beyond the rear bumper facia of my SUV, and I fear contact between the bow of the boat and the rear/sides of the vehicle during tight cornering. Wondering if the use of a long ball hitch will increase the potential for trailer sway.

asked by: Grant

Expert Reply:

As long as the ball mount used has the correct rise/drop, using a longer than usual ball mount won't make the boat trailer any more likely to sway. The # EA40 ballmount is the longest one we offer, at 14-5/8 inches in length. The ball mount features a 4 inch drop or 3 inch rise, depending on which orientation it's used in. It has a 8000 lb capacity, for a 1-7/8 inch ball, use part # 19260 or # 63845 for a 2 inch ball.

Sway is typically caused by other reasons, such as trailer that's being towed out of level or that doesn't have enough tongue weight. Boat trailers typically don't have much tongue weight because of the motor and gas tanks being in the rear. If sway becomes an issue, using the correct weight distribution kit with an integrated sway control component would be your best bet, as the friction sway controls don't work well on boat trailers because they use pole tongues, not A-frame tongues. If you'd like, I'd be happy to make a recommendation if you'd care to reply with the tongue weight of your boat and trailer.

I've linked you to some articles about ball mounts and weight distribution that you might find helpful.

expert reply by: Mike L