How to Choose the Correct Ball Mount to Tow Multiple Trailers With a 2012 Ford F-250

Question:

I recently purchased a 2012 F250 4X4 and am trying to determine which ball mount will work best for me. Normally, the only things I tow are u-haul type enclosed trailers or a small boat. Since I dont want several ball mounts, I am trying to determine whether a 4inch or 6inch would serve my general purpose needs best.

asked by: Tim M

Expert Reply:

The best solution for you may be an adjustable ball mount. This type of ball mount will allow you to adjust the rise or drop so you can tow different trailers level. I have attached a link to all of our adjustable ball mounts for you to check out.

If you do not want to use an adjustable ball mount, then to determine which ball mount will work best for your situation, you will want to take a few measurements on your truck and trailers. The first measurement that you will want is the hitch height of your trailer hitch. When parked on a level surface, measure from the ground to the top of the trailer hitch receiver.

Next, on a level surface, measure from the ground to the bottom of the couplers on the trailers you plan on towing. If you occasionally rent a trailer, then I would recommend asking that company if they have an average coupler height for their enclosed trailers. Once you know the coupler heights of your trailers, you can subtract those numbers from your hitch height to find the drop that you will need in a ball mount. If the drops are different from the boat trailer and the enclosed trailer, then I would look for a ball mount that will allow you to tow the trailers as level as possible.

For example, if the drop for your boat trailer is 3 inches and the drop for the enclosed trailer is 5 inches, then you will be fine going with a ball mount that has a 4 inch drop. It is really going to depend on the coupler heights of the trailers you plan to tow. The key is to tow the trailers as level as possible.

I have attached a help article on how to determine the correct rise or drop in a ball mount for you to check out.

expert reply by: John H