The question of how high should a trailer hitch be off the ground is a vital one for safe and comfortable towing. The hitch and tow vehicle’s receiver must ride high enough from the ground to avoid scraping, even on potholes and bumpers.
Typically, trailer hitch height is about 17 inches, from the ground to the bottom of the coupler. Also, most hitches are designed to work with a mount that will end up so close to this measurement.
But, how low should my trailer hitch be? Sometimes, the best way is to do your own measurements between the trailer hitch and tow vehicle’s receiver to come up with the right hitching setup.
How Do You Measure Trailer Hitch Height?
To measure the height of the trailer hitch:
- Start by parking your trailer on a level area to avoid tilting.
- Using a tape measure, place one end flat against the ground and extend the tape to the flat edge at the bottom of the trailer’s coupler.
- Measure the nearest quarter inch.
What Happens When a Trailer Hitch is Too High or Too Low?
If the trailer is too low, it puts more stress on your vehicle’s suspension and the trailer sway will be more profound. A high setting puts stress on your suspension too. The wrong height will wear your towing vehicle faster or make the trailer harder to control at highway speeds.
A trailer’s hitch needs to be connected to a towing vehicle’s receiver hitch. While the height of a travel trailer can be adjusted, the same cannot be said of the receiver for your tow vehicle. Trailer hitch height adjustments may be necessary to match the car’s height if it’s too high or too low.
Here are steps to finding the proper hitch height for the trailer:
- Park your tow vehicle and trailer on a flat, firm surface to avoid getting wrong measurements as a result of tilting.
- Measure from the ground to the top edge of the hitch receiver of your tow vehicle.
- Then measure from the ground to the bottom edge of your trailer’s tongue (or coupler).
- Next, take the height of the receiver you recorded and subtract it from the height of the coupler.
- If the measurement is positive, you need to raise the height of your trailer’s hitch.
- If it is negative, you need to drop the height of your trailer’s hitch.
The negative or positive value you get after the above steps tells you how many inches you need to lower or raise your hitch. Round up the figure to the nearest whole number as it makes it easier to adjust. If the two are pretty much the same height, then you don’t need to make any adjustments.
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Should a Trailer Be Level When Towing?
It is standard practice to have your trailer level before towing. That is why you have to get the hitching setup right. If the hitch is too low, it puts a lot of strain on the back of your vehicle.
The weight and pressure could bend or damage your back bumper, and there will be an uneven distribution of weight on the tow vehicle.
If the hitch is too high for the trailer, it will tip backward, having more of a slanted profile, and the weight distribution will not be balanced. Your trailer will also be more likely to catch the wind and start to sway due to poor aerodynamics. The back and forth tipping can have a devastating impact on anything you may have packed inside the trailer.
With a trailer, you can enjoy camping trips, have a mobile home and use it as extra space during transportation, among other things. All this, however, can only be possible with the hitching done correctly. Always ensure the height of your trailer hitch is as required for smooth and safe towing.
How to Measure Trailer Hitch Drop
A trailer hitch drop is a distance from the top of the shank to the top of the ball platform when you position the ball mount for lower coupler height. If the towing vehicle is higher than the trailer, then a hitch drop is necessary to compensate for the height difference.
If your hitch is set up too low, it can take the weight off the front of the towing vehicle, making it harder to brake, steer, and control your path. If your hitch is too high, you will be less aerodynamic and begin to sway and have an unbalanced weight distribution.
An appropriate hitch drop will prevent swaying and tire wear and minimize strain on both the trailer and tow vehicle.
Here’s the correct way to measure your hitch drop:
- Park your tow and trailer on a leveled and flat surface.
- Using a measuring tape, measure the distance from the ground to the top edge of your receiver hitch(Height A).
- Measure the length from the ground to the bottom of the trailer coupler (Height B).
- Take (Height B) subtract(Height A), which equals the drop.
If you get a negative figure, that means your coupler is lower and shows the inches you need to drop the receiver’s hitch. On the other hand, if the difference is positive, it means that the coupler is higher than the receiver and shows how many inches you need to lift the receiver’s hitch.
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