Hey I have a question pretty soon I will be towing a 16ft boat. My question is what size hitch bar should i get. One with a 2" drop, 4" drop, or 6" drop. Thanks any replys would be very much appreciated?

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2001 F-150 5.4L trition,
Regular cab with 8' bed
XLT with Black Clearcoat
4x4 3.55 limited slip
factory cab steps
class III tow package
Factory ordered: 12/5
recieved: 2/22

Current Mods: Ford Plastic bedliner, Bug Deflector II

 

I hate to sound like a weasel, but it really depends on your truck and your trailer. If you measure the distance from the ground to the top of your reciever opening and then the distance from the ground to the top of the coupler on your trailer and subtract the two, the difference is the amount of drop you need.

The truck and the trailer should both be completely level for the best towing setup.

Ian

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99 Expedition EB
5.4l, 4x4, 4.10 LS
WMS Tube, Bassani Cat Back Exhaust, Superchip Flipchip

 

That didn't help me since I don't have the trailer yet. Thats why I am asking someone that would know. Someone that has a 16boat trailer would probaly know.

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2001 F-150 5.4L trition,
Regular cab with 8' bed
XLT with Black Clearcoat
4x4 3.55 limited slip
factory cab steps
class III tow package
Factory ordered: 12/5
recieved: 2/22

Current Mods: Ford Plastic bedliner, Bug Deflector II

 

Go with the 4" drop. The trailer will probably tilt up a little, but I think it would tilt downwards with the 6". A 4.5" would be best if you could find it. I think you want the top of the ball 21" off the ground. You can check out reese hitch's site to double check.

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2000 F150 XLT 4x4 Short Bed. Amazon Green, 5.4L, SuperCab, ORP, Tow Package, Sliding Rear Window, Electronic Shift, Keyless Entry, LT265-70-17 Tires, Clarion Pro Audio, Herculiner Bedliner, Air Silencer Removed.

1994 SVT Mustang Cobra. #1032 of 6009. Black coupe with black leather int., 3.73 rear, Bassani Exhaust, Aluminum D/S, Bridgestone RE-71 255-45-ZR17

My Home Page

 

Hey thanks alot for post. I will pick up 4" drop at dealer with 1 7/8 or 2" ball. Thanks again

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2001 F-150 5.4L trition,
Regular cab with 8' bed
XLT with Black Clearcoat
4x4 3.55 limited slip
factory cab steps
class III tow package
Factory ordered: 12/5
recieved: 2/22

Current Mods: Ford Plastic bedliner, Bug Deflector II

 

Hi Dave, do you know what size wheels/tires are on the trailer? Usually on boat trailers it's a straight shot from the tongue all the back across the axle. For reference: I use a 2" drop and the trailer has P215/75/15.(that is straight for me)
When I rent a popup with little wheels the tongue is tilted up higher than I would like.

Since you have a 4x4, if the trailer has smaller wheels the 4" drop should work for you.

Also, if the trailer calls for a 2" ball, I've heard it's dangerous to sub a 1 and 7/8ths. (I have done it but, it wasn't my stuff)

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1999 Ford F150 Lariat RegCab shortbed 5.4L 3.55LS Towpkg Line-X
15.714@85.21

 

I found a 6 inch drop was good on my 4X4 lariat with 267/75 R-16's on it. (same height as the 17" wheel ones or 31.6 inches tall). I think if the boat trailer has 15 inch tires or so, and most do now, then a 6 inch will be best.

But if your tires are 255/*70's* (30 inches I think, or even smaller height but I doubt it) then the 4" drop will do better. Also get the "Convert a ball" set. The 1 7/8 and 2 inch insert ball comes in the one smaller kit. You will be ready for almost anything then. No need to get the kit for the 2 and 5/8ths ball (I think thas the size? Campers use it?)as you would need a different bar for it anyway. A solid one, rated higher, that you would want to leave that ball on all the time anyway because it's so much heavier that the hollow one for every day use below 5000 pounds.

 

DaveH,
Ball mounts have three dimensions; drop, rise, and length. Depending on the location of trailer jack, you might want to make sure you get one long enough. Some jacks are bolted through the coupler making it impossible to lower the tailgate. I had to get a Reese #21241 for my camper; 13" length, 3-1/4" drop, 2" rise. (I use it in the rise position.)
The length measurement is the horizontal distance from the center of the hitch pin hole to the center of the ball hole.
This is from Draw-Tite's website:


Here's more information from the Reese website:
http://www.reeseprod.com/Select%20Mount.htm

Good luck.
JB


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1999 F-150 XLT
4x2 Supercab
139" WB Styleside
DOB: 7/19/99
Exterior: Dark Toreador Red
Interior: Dark Graphite 40/60 Split Bench
Optional Equipment:

• 4.6L EFI V8 Engine
• Electronic 4-spd Auto O/D
• P255/70R-16 OWL All-Season
• 3.55 Ratio Limited Slip Axle
• Floor Mats - Carpeted
• 6050# GVWR Package
• Sliding Rear Window
• Trailer Towing Group, Class III
• Premium Electronic AM/FM W/CD
• 6-way Power Driver's Seat
• Remote Keyless Entry
• Air Conditioning
• 4-W ABS/4-W Disc

Added:

• A.R.E. LSII Hard Tonneau - $745.45
• Ford drop-in Bedliner - #F75Z-9900038-AB - $211. installed
• Ziebart rustproofing - $279.
• Smittybilt nerfs, textured black - #FN1730-S4T - $210.
• Ford molded splash guards, front - #F65Z-16A550-CE - $33.33
• Ford molded splash guards, rear - #F65Z-16A550-DD - $33.33
• Ford Locking Gas Cap - #F75Z-9030-GA - $19.43
• Spare PATS Key - $20.95
• Tekonsha Envoy #9040 brake controller - $89.95
• Fox WeatherBoot Floor Liners - #198 - $119.

1998 Windstar
1993 Taurus
1999 Casita



[This message has been edited by Jimb (edited 04-02-2001).]

 

Hey thanks for replys. Im I believe the wheels to be 15" but not sure on other sizes.

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2001 F-150 5.4L trition,
Regular cab with 8' bed
XLT with Black Clearcoat
4x4 3.55 limited slip
factory cab steps
class III tow package
Factory ordered: 12/5
recieved: 2/22

Current Mods: Ford Plastic bedliner, Bug Deflector II

 

GIJoeCam, is that an electric winch I see?

Come on, be a man! Hand crank that baby out!

 

Like everyone said, depends on the trailer, but my best guess would be the 4". I've got a 2" drop on mine, but I also have a high-riding coupler on the trailer. When I hooked the boat up to my 97, it was almost dead-nuts level. On the explorer, I flipped the mount for a 2" rise, and it still drooped the front end just a little bit, but it worked.





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98 Explorer (Lemon Law Case in Progress)

'00 F-150, X-cab, 4x4, Lariat, Off-road, Trailer Tow, Holandia Sunroof, built 11/99 picked up 10/00!Clear Corners, Manik Stainless Steel 1-piece brush guard, Custom CB wiring, Uniden PC76-XLW CB radio with K-40 Magna-Mount antenna (for now), 1 set of 165 watt KC Daylighters (for now... more on the way) Custom switch mounting plate and overhead console, Bully Stainless Steel Trailer hitch drawbarw/ 2" stainless steel ball.
List of planned mods: Clear tails, torsion bar tweak, bug deflector, spray in liner, and a tonneau of some sort...

93 Probe GT teal, OE rims painted to match, bone stock drivetrain.

 

I have a 16 foot boat, but I don't tow it a lot, the one I normally tow is a 27 foot, and I have a 4 inch drop bar and a straight tongue. Both of them ride dead even, and they both have 15 inch tires on the trailer. Good luck and happy trucking!

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1997 F150 Lariat Three Door Extended Cab Flareside 4x4, Two tone Pacific Green w/ Harvest Gold, Tan Leather Interior, Ford Premium Sound w/ CD Changer, Lund Solar Visor, Leather Tonneau Bedcover, K&N Air Filter, VentVisors
Wish List: Lund Racer Back Cab Spolier, Lund Shadow Winshield Wiper Cover, Lund Steps, RhinoLiner Spray-In Bedliner, Vortech Super Charger, Brush Guard, Hidden Winch, Lighted Ford Logo, I'll list more when I think of it...