Choosing the right drop hitch is essential for anyone who uses their truck for towing. Getting it wrong can result in your trailer and truck being uneven, which can cause problems when towing.
You must measure the receiver and coupler height to determine the proper drop height. This is a simple process that will help you improve your towing experience.
Weight Distribution
The right drop hitch distributes the load better, helping to minimize trailer sway and making for a safer and more enjoyable towing experience. It can also help to prevent damage from hitting over-speed bumps, uneven terrain, or steep inclines.
To determine the proper drop size, measure measure from the ground to the top of your receiver. You want to compare this measurement to the height of your trailer coupler. Then, select a drop hitch or tow ball mount that comes close compared to this measurement.
The Weigh Safe Aluminum Rapid Hitch is available in various drops to match your vehicle and trailer requirements. We recommend a 4″ drop for light trucks, 1/2-ton pickups, and SUVs. However, the precise hitch drop size for your car will depend on your vehicle’s suspension and the tongue height of your trailer. For this reason, we recommend you consult with a professional. They will be able to give you the best advice on what size Rapid Hitch is a good fit for your truck and trailer combination.
Ground Clearance
There is a lot of misinformation out there when it comes to selecting the proper drop hitch for lifted trucks. It’s essential to filter out this misinformation to ensure the trap you buy is correct for your vehicle.
Measuring for a drop isn’t as difficult as it may seem, but it is a crucial task that should be done with precision. The first step is to park your truck on level ground and measure from the top of the receiver to the floor.
Next, subtract the desired drop length from this measurement. For example, a 4″ drop would leave your truck with approximately 9-3/4″ of clearance UNLOADED (measurement 19-3/4″ from receiver to ground – 4″ drop = 13″ drop). This will give you the right amount of clearance to avoid scraping or dragging on speed bumps and other obstacles common in off-road driving. You’ll also want sufficient support to avoid damaging your undercarriage when traveling over rocky, muddy, or uneven terrain.
Tongue Weight
Often confused with “hitch weight,” tongue weight refers to the downward pressure that the trailer or 5th wheel exerts on the hitch ball of the towing vehicle. The tongue is like the fulcrum of a lever, and if it’s too heavy or too light, it can be dangerous for you, your vehicle, and everyone else on the road with you.
The recommended tongue weight is 10 to 15% of the gross trailer weight. If the tongue is too light, it will sway back and forth as you travel down the road. To check your tongue weight, load up your trailer just how you’ll be before your trip and drive to a commercial scale with your truck on one weighing pad (tell the scale operator that you want to re-weigh your vehicle without the trailer attached). Once you know the total weight of your truck and trailer, subtract weight B from weight A to get your tongue weight.
Safety
The drop hitch helps to keep the trailer and towing vehicle level so they can safely share a load. It reduces the risk of the tail hitting the ground over speed bumps and sudden grade changes. It also minimizes trailer sway, which can be dangerous for everyone on the road.
In addition, a drop hitch is a safe and convenient way to find out the tongue weight of a loaded trailer. Before this type of hitch, gauging the load’s weight required using inefficient bathroom scales or making a trip to the weigh station.
Whether you’re new to towing or an experienced trailer driver, a drop hitch can make your towing experience more accessible and safer. It’s like a pre-flight safety check for planes or a dive check on gear—it ensures the best possible towing results. By measuring the hitch height and coupler height, selecting a drop or rise, and coupling correctly, you’ll enjoy the safest towing experience possible.
