How to Measure for Rise or Drop Needed to Choose a Ball Mount to Tow a Trailer Level

Question:

I have a 2013 Silverado 1500 ext. cab and planning to buy a Wells Cargo enclosed trailer. Itll be a 12foot tandem axle . the spec. sheet on the trailer states 18inch hitch to top of ball- I have a 2inch ball mount I slid in hitch and comes out almost perfect with a 2inch drop. The trouble is the 2inch drop mount I have is under rated for trailer. Trying to figure out if 2inch drop is enough when trailer actually sits on mount. The trailer isnt built yet so dont want to buy the wrong mount. Not sure how much the truck will lower when hitched to trailer which in that case a 2inch drop would be wrong. Suggestions please. Looking at 10,000lbs. rated mount. My truck has a factory installed hitch. Any help in this matter would be great.

asked by: Wayne H

Expert Reply:

The typical way to determine how much rise or drop is needed to tow a trailer level is to park the truck and trailer on level ground and take some measurements. Since you do not have the trailer but do have a measurement we can still figure it out. We tell folks to measure from the ground to the bottom of the trailer coupler when the coupler is level and from the ground to the top of the receiver opening on the tow vehicle.

The difference is the amount of rise or drop you will need. The tongue weight of the trailer pulling the vehicle down could be factored in but it is not necessary.

Since the measurement on the trailer you have is 18 inches to the top of the ball, you have to subtract the height of the ball you will be using from that 18 inches. Then you do the measurement on the truck from the ground to the top of the receiver opening and that will tell you the amount of drop you will need.

Or you can skip all of that and get an adjustable ball mount such as # AM3461 which has up to a 4 inch drop or rise and is adjustable in 1 inch increments in between. I have linked a video review of this ball mount for you and a link to our how-to article on measuring for rise/drop.

expert reply by: Michael H