Does Using a High-Low Adapter With 8 Inch Drop In a Flat-Tow Setup Reduce Weight Ratings

Question:

This question applies to all hitches. I plan to tow a CR-V with my MH. I need an 8 drop hitch to keep the tow bar level. I have calculated that to stop my car in an emergency the towed vehicle will exert 2,500 lbs of force against the trailer hitch. If my tow bar went directly into my MH hitch which is rated for 5,000 lbs then I have no problem. But if it goes into an 8 hitch then that 2,500 lbs will translate into a twist and exert excessive downward tongue weight on the MH hitch which will far exceed its tongue weight and maybe break the MH hitch? Seems to me that using a drop hitch requires some re-calculation of combined hitch and tongue ratings.

asked by: Lou R

Expert Reply:

In order to obtain an 8" drop with a flat-tow setup we have two options for this, the Blue Ox High-Low Adapter part # BX88131 and the Roadmaster High-Low Adapter part # RM-048-8. As mentioned, these will both limit gross trailer weight and tongue weight ratings of the trailer hitch to 5,000 lbs and 10,000 lbs of gross trailer weight respectively. In regards to tongue weight, I am not sure where you are getting your figures from but there is little to no tongue weight in a flat-tow setup so this should not be a concern.

That said, I don't have any sort of formula for you to determine lbs of force but what I can tell you is that so long as you abide by the trailer hitch and high-low adapters listed weight capacities then you should not have any issues with your setup. Please note, the lowest rated component i.e. hitch/adapter is always the limiting factor.

expert reply by: Conner L