How much of a drop for hitch ball mount?

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Oldfart

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I was wondering how much of a drop you guys have needed for your hitch ball mount. I'd like to order one while I'm waiting for all this crap to pass and I can pick up my truck. Thanks.
 

Badgertits

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Depends what you’re pulling dude

I think I’m 1.75” for 1500-3500 lb single or tandem jet ski trailer or occasional utility trailer-relatively lightweight stuff
 

EricM

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I use a 4" drop on our boat and jet-ski trailers. I used a straight/no drop setup when I towed some big ass heavy flatbed trailer when I picked up some siding.

If you get an adjustable ball mount and you'll be able to accommodate anything- but I'd make sure I bought one that wasn't full of slop. Loose, clunking tow setups drive me batty.
 

PlaynCA

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No really good “canned” answer, it is trailer hitch height and tongue load specific. You’ll need to measure the height of the top of your trailer’s hitch when your trailer is level. Best to weigh, but you can also guesstimate your tongue weight and how much that’ll lower the back of your truck. Top of the ball when loaded should equal top of the trailer hitch when the trailer is flat. My particular config has Variable position hitch set at 1” drop for a 400lb tongue load
 

Wheelz96

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Sorry, didn't think to add that, just a single axle utility trailer with 13" wheels. Anything else would be very rare.

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I know you asked about hitches but I saw the race bike and couldn't help but ask where do you race? Wera? What classes?

It's not very often I meet others with the same hobbie/passion/money pit!
 
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Oldfart

Oldfart

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I know you asked about hitches but I saw the race bike and couldn't help but ask where do you race? Wera? What classes?

It's not very often I meet others with the same hobbie/passion/money pit!

I was doing track days and ECTA standing mile races. When I was a lot younger I started off in hillclimbs until I won a few, then moved on to enduros, hare scrambles, and some trials, then I raced motocross really seriously for 10 more years. I did well at district levels, but never cracked the speed level of the pro's at nationals. Very humbling when you go up against fast pro's.
 

Wheelz96

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That's awesome! I grew up racing motoX and then broke some bones and my father said enough! Put me in a dirt car with a rollcage lol and I raced sprint cars for almost 10 years. Now I'm racing a ZX10R which I started 2 years ago and funny what you said about the Pro's..

My last race I was quick time in warm ups (we know how much that pays) and it was a ProAm and I thought I was as fast as the pros... Turns out I was very wrong and lap 2 of my race in turn 1 at Roebling Raceway, I went from hero to zero trying to out brake the pros and ended up exiting the track at over 100mph towards the woods... Luckily there was a sand trap right before the trees which you only know if you head that far off track lol. I'm still finding broke parts 6 months later haha.

Running with the pros was more then humbling, it was painful and costly lol.

Stay safe out there and glad to hear oldfart's are still getting to the track! Your an inspiration my friend!

Back to drophitch sizes...
 
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Oldfart

Oldfart

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I'd go with a 4" drop for that trailer.

I use a 4" drop on our boat and jet-ski trailers. I used a straight/no drop setup when I towed some big ass heavy flatbed trailer when I picked up some siding.

If you get an adjustable ball mount and you'll be able to accommodate anything- but I'd make sure I bought one that wasn't full of slop. Loose, clunking tow setups drive me batty.

That will give me a ballpark, I'm looking at the adjustable height ones. So a 6" drop should be plenty, I hope. Clunky tow rigs drive me nuts too, I'll have to read up on the reviews. My truck hitch has a little rattle. I've gotten really spoiled with the completely silent euro hitch on my Volvo. I've never seen anything like it here in the states. It's a machined round bar on the hitch, that mates with a machined tube on the ball mount with set of wedge locks and a locking cam. ZERO slop and silent. It's not for someone who doesn't maintain their stuff though.

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