How much hitch drop

You will need to count the number of holes and then subtract 3, which will then give you the drop length you have. What size receiver do I have? When it comes to determining what size of shank you need, the best way to do that is to measure the inside opening of the receiver on your tow vehicle. Measuring is KEY to getting the correct size shank. I need to know the distance… Occasionally we will get questions regarding the distance between the hitch pin hole and the backside of the drop portion or the distance from the center of the hitch pin hole to the center of the tow ball.

Our 2. However, we are working on getting a second hole in those other two shank sizes. Can my hitch be flipped around in the rise position? Another great feature of our draw bars is that they can be used in the rise position as well as the drop.

This means that you can insert the draw bar into the receiver of your vehicle with the drop portion in the rise position pointing up. Switching your hitch into the rise position does not compromise the weight rating of the hitch in any way and you are able to tow the same amount of weight in the rise position as you are in the drop position.

You can purchase a shorter draw bar for your second tow vehicle and the slider portion along with all the other components will be compatible. I bought the wrong size! If you accidentally purchase the wrong size of draw bar when ordering your hitch, please contact our Customer Support team so that we can determine the best way to get you what you need.

If you do end up purchasing the wrong size and it is brand new and never been used, we can exchange that for the correct size no problem at all. The customer will be responsible for any price differences as well as shipping both ways but there is no restocking or exchange fee. If you have used your draw bar and later determine you are in need of a different size, this is when purchasing a new draw bar would come into play as we can not do an exchange on a used draw bar.

It is SUPER important to do all the proper measuring prior to ordering your Weigh Safe hitch so that you can avoid shipping costs and whatnot. We want to make sure that you are getting exactly what you need in order to have a towing peace of mind. Remember me Log in. Lost your password? First name. Last name. Your personal data will be used to support your experience throughout this website, to manage access to your account, and for other purposes described in our privacy policy. Search for:.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Do not sell my personal information. Cookie Settings Accept. Manage consent. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website.

We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Many drop hitch receivers will fit into a standard receiver opening, and some drop hitches may be built into the tow bar as well. Depending on the design, a drop hitch can give you anywhere between 2 inches to more than 12 inches of fixed or adjustable vertical height, which determines the range of heights you can adjust for. Fixed drop hitches will give you a certain amount of drop or rise, which will hopefully match the right vertical adjustment to keep your trailer level.

If you plan to tow different trailers, which may be of different heights, then you may need to consider having an adjustable drop hitch receiver.

These receivers allow you to pick from several drop heights without having to change out your drop hitch, and this can be handy for adjusting for the different heights when you switch between different trailers.

First, you need both your trailer and your tow vehicle parked on level ground. Ideally, you want your tow vehicle and your trailer loaded up with cargo or weight similar to what it will carry for the trip, so you can get a more accurate measurement. You will also need the trailer to be sitting level, so you may also need a trailer jack or trailer kickstand to prop up the trailer tongue to the right height.

Then, you will need a measuring tool. A tape measure is the best tool to have for these kinds of measurements, but a ruler or a square should work just as well. To measure for the rise and drop for your drop hitch or ball mount, you will need two measurements: the hitch height and the coupler height. The hitch height is measured for the tow vehicle, while the coupler height is measured for the trailer. The hitch height is measured from the pavement to the inside wall at the top of the receiver opening, so you need to have a hitch already installed for you to be able to measure this.

Do take note that the hitch height is measured from the inside the receiver opening, so the thickness of the receiver tube is not a factor here.

The coupler height, on the other hand, is measured from the pavement to the bottom surface of the coupler. This measurement should be read from the coupler itself, and not on the trailer tongue. Since the measurement is read off of the bottom of the coupler, the thickness of the coupler is not a factor here either. If your hitch height is higher than your coupler height, then your trailer coupler is too low for your hitch receiver.

In this case, you will need a drop hitch or a tow ball mount with a drop. The drop measurement is the difference between the hitch height and the coupler height. On the other hand, if your coupler height is higher than your hitch height, then your trailer couple is too high for your hitch receiver. To have a balanced trailer setup in this case, then you will need a rise hitch or a tow ball mount with a rise.

Just like above, the rise distance is the difference between the coupler height and the inch height. For example, if you have a hitch height of 15 inches and a coupler height of 12 inches, then you will need to use a drop hitch with a 3 inch drop.

A tow ball mount with a 3 inch will work just as well to set your trailer to level. To keep your trailer level, you will need a rise hitch that has a rise of 15 minus 10 inches, or a 5 inch rise. Again, a tow ball mount or an adjustable drop hitch with a 5 inch rise will work just as well in this case.

Most of the time, you can tell that you have the accessory with the right rise or drop simply by looking at the label or the markings on the drop hitch or tow ball mount itself. If you have to verify, though, then you can easily do so by making a few simple measurements on the attachment. To measure the drop of a tow ball mount, you simply measure the distance from the top surface of the shank to the top of the tow ball platform. Measuring the rise is similar — again, you look at the distance from the top of the shank to the top of the ball platform.

Compare the drop or rise of the tow ball mount that you just measured with the difference between the coupler height and the hitch height. If you have a match, then that tow ball mount is the one you need to have a level trailer — assuming, of course, that the tow ball is of standard height.