mikebeczkalo

I have to go down to base and tow my brothers 1990 single cab chevy 1500 back. I have a 07 f150 lifted on 35's. It didnt cross my mind until today about my hitch. How big of a drop down hitch should i tote his chevy with?

SIC_HDPP

Depends on the trailer height. Idk probably a 6in drop just by guessinf

bobkyle2

Depends on the lift? What size lift? lol.

mikebeczkalo

I got a 6" lift. The trailer is 16', he's telling me all I need is a 4", but I'm not 100% sure.

smokeywren

Then you need to wait until you can back the pickup up to the trailer and see how much drop the ball mount must have in order for the trailer to be level when loaded with the old pickup.

With the old pickup properly loaded onto the trailer, the hitch weight (tongue weight) should be about 900 pounds, give or take a hundred pounds. That will probably lower the hitch on your pickup a coupla inches. So if there is 8" from the inside of the coupler on the trailer to the bottom of the receiver opening, of the ball on the ball mount, then you need a ball mount with a 6" drop.

Or if you must know the answer before you drive to the base, then have your brother carefully measure the distance from the top of the coupler to the ground when the trailer is level, front to rear. And you measure the distance from the bottom of the receiver opening to the ground. The difference is the amount of drop required with no hitch weight. But you will have hitch weight, so subtract a coupla inches from that distance to get the approximate drop required to result in a level trailer when loaded.

To be more precise, measure from the bottom of the receiver to the ground without a trailer tied on, then add about 900 pounds worth of friends standing on the back bumper and measure again. The difference will be approximately the lowering of the rear end of the truck because of the hitch weight. If it's more than a coupla inches, then adjust the computations above accordingly.

vmpv

I tow both a boat and a sled and of course the trailers are different. I found an up/down adjustable hitch so I can get away with one, just crank it up or down depending on need. Bought it years ago at Canadian Tire but I'm sure they are still available. Has a nut on the top that a x or cross lug wrench fits.

venatic

I'd look at an adjustable hitch.

smokeywren

Adjustable ball mount is fine, but they usually cost more. When shopping, be sure the ball mount is rated for at least 8,000 pounds max trailer weight. Yes, those cost more than the lighter duty jobbies. But that pickup on a 16' utility trailer or car hauler is going to weigh around 8,000 pounds.

For example, here is a fixed ball mount with a 6" drop and 8,000 pound max trailer weight for $59.
https://www.etrailer.com/Ball-Mounts...en/AM3507.html

Here is an "economy" model adjustable ball mount with a 8" max drop and max trailer weight limit of 8,000 pounds for $140:
https://www.etrailer.com/Ball-Mounts...en/AM3297.html

That difference between $59 and $140 is a big jump. And that's for the economy models. The good ones can cost a lot more.

zx12-iowa

My guess is a 6" drop

Dirttracker18

FYI

For that weight you should be running a WD hitch set up. They are usually adjustable anyway. That trailer and weight combo is going to squat your truck pretty badly and make highway driving uncomfortable to say the least. Even worse if you are running mud tires.

Drive careful if you plan on not running a WD hitch. It will be a little sketchy.