What Ball Mount and Suspension Kit for Towing 2000-lb Trailer with 2013 Toyota Highlander SE Model  

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Expert Reply:

A ball mount with rise or drop is helpful in matching the different heights of the trailer hitch on a tow vehicle and the coupler on a trailer. It is important that your trailer frame be level when hitched to your Highlander to ensure stability when towing. Please note that a different height ball mount will not reduce rear-end sag in your tow vehicle; but we do offer suspension products that will help.

We offer a wide range of both fixed and adjustable ball mounts (the adjustable type is great if you will tow multiple trailers of different heights). I have provided a link to our department page for fixed ball mounts for 2-inch hitch receivers, which is the size that is on your Highlander. You can determine the exact amount of rise needed by measuring the height difference above ground level of the bottom of the trailer coupler (when the trailer frame is level) and the top of the hitch receiver tube. Please refer to the attached article.

On the left hand side of our product page you can use the filters to select the amount of rise needed. For example, if your measurements show a height difference of 3 inches, you can use the filter to select ball mounts with that amount of rise, for example, Draw-Tite # 4281. With this ball mount you can use either a 2-inch hitch ball, part # A-90, or a 2-5/16-inch ball, part # 19286. Your trailer coupler will indicate the ball size required.

Once you have towed your trailer you will have a better sense of whether any rear-end sag you might experience requires a suspension enhancement product.

If so you can choose a suspension enhancement product to help correct this sag. There are a variety of types of suspension kits available for this purpose: air bags, leaf springs and rubber/foam springs. Each offers a different mix of benefits. Air-spring kits are more complex to install and require regular checks to maintain their required minimum pressure, but offer adjust-ability to suit changing tow and cargo loads. Rubber springs are not adjustable but do offer progressive resistance as the load increases, are simple to install and are very cost-effective. Helper leaf springs offer both suspension support and anti-sway functions, and some adjust-ability at the time of installation, but are a better option when towing daily. I have linked two suspension articles to help illustrate the differences between these products.

In your case I would recommend a foam spring kit. These are very cost-effective, simple to install compared to air spring and leaf spring kits and require no maintenance. Your Highlander can use the Super Springs kit # CSS-1195R. This kit will provide additional rear-end support when you are towing, but will not affect your ride quality under regular driving conditions. They do not increase the weight-carrying capacity of the vehicle but will help stabilize the rear suspension when you tow or carry cargo in the truck bed.

If your truck exhibits severe rear-end sag you might need to use a weight distribution system. This is added to the trailer hitch (provided that it is rated for use with one) and works to move some of the tongue weight of your trailer to the front wheels of your tow vehicle. I have included an article on such systems for your review.

expert reply by: Adam R

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