Thoughts on adjustable drop hitch—

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corneileous

corneileous

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To be honest with you I would do the 5in. The trailer doesn’t necessarily have to be perfectly level it just needs to be close and you want it to sit a little higher in the front when empty so when it’s loaded it’s level. So for example my 20ft Equipment trailer hooked to my half ton with the tongue of the trailer sitting about 3in higher then level when I put the Tractor on it with the front loader and attachments it sits perfectly level. Trailer weight is around 12200lbs loaded and 3600lbs empty

Yeah, that’s kinda what I’m starting to think too, is that anything over 6 inches in drop is just probably too much. And after the other day when I went to a local store that sells these hitches, I’m thinking that maybe even the 5” B&W might even be a little too much. The salesman took me outside to show me his hitch which was the 3” drop, that he was using with his fairly heavy duty flat-bottom car hauler behind a lifted, older model Ford 3/4ton. He only had it set in the 2, 2.5 drop position and his trailer was sitting with a slight upward raise in the front. However, I didn’t put a tape on his hitch to compare the height to my truck tho so, I don’t know what it would take to make his trailer ride level behind my truck.

Also, it seems like everywhere I go online or whatever trailer hitch/trailer towing, or hitch-deciding video I watch, it seems like standard coupler height is between 15 to 18 inches so if that’s the case, with my hitch being 20 inches to the top of the receiver tube and depending on what trailer it is that I may hook up to in the future, about 4 to 5 inches of drop is probably all I’m ever going to need to make most of what’s out there ride level, or close to it behind my truck.

After seeing that B & W hitch at that store the other day, I will say that I liked it and I liked how it really looked like it was made well and it looked like it was designed to last l for a good long time even with heavy use. The weld where the receiver tube was welded to the shank looked nice and sturdy. I just don’t know how well that black powder coat finish would hold up, especially if I stored the hitch the way it was meant to be stored in the receiver hitch all the time, and if I’d be better off with the chrome one or not.

If I went with any of the aluminum receiver hitches, I’m almost pretty certain I could probably survive with one of those that just has the 4-inch drop but, I just don’t know how well those aluminum ones would hold up being stored in the receiver tube. But at least one thing about it though, if I went with an aluminum hitch, I wouldn’t have to really worry about storing it in the receiver tube because each one of those aluminum hitches I looked at, the ball mount is made to easily be removed from the rest of the hitch. Storing a hitch like that in two different pieces in a container in the bed under a locked tonneau cover would be a lot easier to do than how much more work it would be to separate the ball mount on the B&W from the rest of the hitch. It’s almost like with that one, that you’d really need to store it in the hitch rather than take it apart and store it in the bed of the truck like you would one of those aluminum ones.


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McBroom

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I like my adjustable drop hitch except for it rattles even when the trailer is hooked on


- The Blue Mule
 
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I like my adjustable drop hitch except for it rattles even when the trailer is hooked on


- The Blue Mule

Which hitch you got? How much drop is it? Also on your trailer, since I’m trying to gather some info about average coupler heights, what’s the distance between the coupler and the ground for any of your trailer(s) to ride level?

And where all does your hitch rattle at? I think it’s pretty much inevitable that it’s gonna rattle no matter what where the ball attaches to the ball mount and where the ball mount slides on the shank but I kinda came up with an idea to kill two birds with one stone, tightening up rattle between the receiver tube and the receiver hitch, and actually adding another line of security to the hitch itself when it’s in the receiver tube. And below that, I found a special bolt that I can order at Fastenal that would replace the bolt that comes with that hitch tightener, that uses a special 5-point socket to loosen it and tighten it....
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I have the 4” weigh safe you have posted, I had the 8” on my 3/4 ton and just ordered a new 2” - 4” drop shank for it when we bought the 1500. Works great,
 
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I have the 4” weigh safe you have posted, I had the 8” on my 3/4 ton and just ordered a new 2” - 4” drop shank for it when we bought the 1500. Works great,

Which weigh-safe you talking about, the 180° flip hitch one or the one that’s got the scale built on the side of it?

What do you guys pull behind your halfton that allows you to get away with just four inches of drop?


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Ratket

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I have the Flippable one. My 1500 has a 3” lift - “1 “ in the rear”
I tow a 4K pound boat.
 
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corneileous

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I have the Flippable one. My 1500 has a 3” lift - “1 “ in the rear”
I tow a 4K pound boat.

Oh ok. So if you got an inch of lift in the back, that would make the top inside of you receiver hitch be what... 21 inches to ground? Mine’s 20 inches to the ground, stock height. 22 inches when I put it in off-road two mode...lol.

So with only having 4 inches of drop, does your trailer ride fairly level going down the highway? If it does, I’m guessing the measurement from the bottom of your boat trailer’s coupler to the ground is what, 17 inches? 17, 18 inches is suppose to be the standard trailer coupler height....


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Yeah, they are. I would just really like to know the full story about each one of those before I gave them complete and undeniable credibility. I have no idea about why that B&W hitch broke and why that fixed, short-drop aluminum hitch that was talked about but this failed Andersen Rapid Hitch, is dated all the way back to 2008. I would sure hope that even if this is more of a neglect thing, rather than a quality thing, that hopefully a lot has changed in its design in the last 11 years.

A couple of the main things that I really like about that Andersen hitch is that for one, the only internal moving pieces it has, is that pin that holds the double ball in place on the inside of the slider hitch that you really don’t even need to mess with, and two, I like how these have the greaseless cap options on the balls. None of the other ones I’ve seen have that.

To be honest, the greaseless hitch really isn’t a make-it-or-break it, “gotta have” feature since I really don’t tow that much, nor do I tow that heavy but it’s still a nice option that none of the other competitors that I’ve seen, has.


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I never grease my Curt balls and no issues not even squeaks.
 

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I purchased the weigh safe hitch with the 6 inch drop and used it to haul 8800 pounds from Florida.

Loved that little scale it helped me keep the weight perfect on the tongue.

full

full

That is very nice.
 

Ratket

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Oh ok. So if you got an inch of lift in the back, that would make the top inside of you receiver hitch be what... 21 inches to ground? Mine’s 20 inches to the ground, stock height. 22 inches when I put it in off-road two mode...lol.

So with only having 4 inches of drop, does your trailer ride fairly level going down the highway? If it does, I’m guessing the measurement from the bottom of your boat trailer’s coupler to the ground is what, 17 inches? 17, 18 inches is suppose to be the standard trailer coupler height....


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I don’t have it set on the lowest setting..
where I have it set at keeps the boat Level. When I get home tonight I can Measure and take pictures and post em.
 

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I have a trimax with 8" rise or drop with a 2" and 2 5/16 ball. Rated 10000lbs and 1500lbs tongue.

Got it a couple of years ago on Amazon for 230 before taxes. http://Trimax TRZ8AL 8" Premium Alu...B007UTPUDQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_YbomDbEG0C8XH

Trimax
4.4 out of 5 stars 22Reviews
Trimax TRZ8AL 8" Premium Aluminum Adjustable Hitch with Dual Hitch Ball and T3 Receiver Lock

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  5. 01CTCyzXI4S._SY200_PKmb-play-button-overlay_.jpg


I like that it comes with matching locks for the hitch and adjustability. I definitely wouldn't leave it on during the salty winters here as everything will get destroyed.
 

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Thinking about investing in an adjustable drop hitch for my 2018 1500. So far the only two hitches I’m interested in is the B&W TS10048C...
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...the Weigh Safe 180° Hitch...
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I’m also looking at the normal Weigh Safe Drop Hitch...
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...that has the little built-in scale on it but, not necessarily for the scale but for the fact that it’s flat bottom and just has an interchangeable ball. I don’t really need an 1-7/8ths ball but it’s nice to have one just in case. That’s why I like the B&W because it gives you all three. The Weigh-Safe 180° doesn’t, I’d have to buy either or but at least the other Weigh-Safe hitch makes it to where if you need the 1-7/8ths ball, you can buy it extra.

I’m kinda interested in how both of these brands of hitches hold up to being stored in the receiver tube, or if it’s just better to pull them out when not in use.

Pros and cons of each? I probably don’t tow anything heavy enough to really warrant the cost of one of these high-prices things but, I do like the adjustability for whatever may come up. So far just my little 10-foot utility trailer is all I pull but there may be a time I may need to pull another car somewhere like I did when I had to pull a friend’s car to a shop. I really don’t like having to have a whole bunch of hitches lying around for different uses. I have a 2inch drop aluminum Smittybuilt hitch with a 2 inch ball on it and I have one of those Walmart-special heavy duty steel straight hitches that has the 1-7/8ths, 2” and 2-5/16ths. The aluminum hitch for my utility trailer is far too tall for that trailer, and even the other hitch is way too tall. That’s why I want an all-around hitch that will cover all, and I can set for whatever height. I realize I may never pull anything heavy enough to justify having a 10,000 pound capacity hitch but as I said, having one hitch that will do all and will set to whatever height, is what’s important.

Thanks y’all. I’m also open to other brands but those two(three) are what I’ve been eyeing.


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Here’s mine. I love the B&W one I have. Mine has only 2 hitch balls instead of the 3rd.



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I love my BW Hitch. Plus easily stores back under bumper.


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Here’s mine. I love the B&W one I have. Mine has only 2 hitch balls instead of the 3rd.



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I love my BW Hitch. Plus easily stores back under bumper.


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How long have you had yours? I’m assuming that’s the 5 inch drop? I take it that due to your tow and stow being designed to be left in the receiver tube that you leave yours stored there? How long have you had it? Looks like it ain’t very old. What do you tow with it? Do you use the full 5 inches of drop?


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I don’t have it set on the lowest setting..
where I have it set at keeps the boat Level. When I get home tonight I can Measure and take pictures and post em.

Did you happen to figure out what your coupler height is for the boat to ride level?


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TexasDrone

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That’s just where I drop and stow it under the bumper and hitch but I only have it about a 2-3 inch drop. Have had it for 2 years. Used it on my 2016 for my boat too. Stays shiny with Windex.


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Ratket

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Did you happen to figure out what your coupler height is for the boat to ride level?


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Sorry I forgot about this.. here are some pics.

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Ratket

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I could prolly drop it one and it would be a touch nose down on the trailer, but it tows fine some I’m not gonna mess with it lol.
 
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I could prolly drop it one and it would be a touch nose down on the trailer, but it tows fine some I’m not gonna mess with it lol.

Nice, thank you. So what exactly is the measurement from the ground to the bottom of your boat trailer’s coupler when you have your boat hitched to your truck in the position you have your hitch set at?

If you’ve got an inch of lift in the rear and you’re still pulling that boat with only a 4” drop hitch that ain’t even in the lowest hole for the full four inches, you’re kinda doing a pretty good job of convincing me that I probably don’t even need anything more than that much drop and that if I ever did, that 5” drop B&W tow and stow would be plenty.

Is that all you tow with that halfton, or do you(or have you) ever needed the full four inch drop or even more?


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That’s just where I drop and stow it under the bumper and hitch but I only have it about a 2-3 inch drop. Have had it for 2 years. Used it on my 2016 for my boat too. Stays shiny with Windex.


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Wow, it’s still that shiny after 2 years?? Nice. Are you just using your boat in fresh water? I was told that for salt water that the black powder coated would be better for corrosion resistance.

But is your boat all that gets used with this hitch?

Also, I was told this hitch was noisy due to all the points of movement this hitch has- is yours noisy?


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