After getting some helpful advice here, I decided to buy a WDH for the trailer that I don't own yet. I saw a deal and jumped on it. Got a 750lb Blue Ox SwayPro Weight Distribution system since all the trailers I'm looking at are in the 500-600lb tongue weight range. I bought the WDH from a local dude and I think I got a steal (only cost me $100). I assumed I needed to replace the hitch with a bigger drop down because my truck has a 4" lift and runs on 35s (a mistake from my past!). I saw that Blue Ox made up to a 12' drop down for my WDH system so I figured I could make it all work. I measured my hitch today and got 24" :





Again, I don't have a trailer, but assume it will have a hitch height of around 17" - meaning I'll need a 7" drop. Well, I went on to Blue Ox's website and apparently the 12" drop actually only drops the ball 3.28" :



I guess I didn't take into account the design of the WDH for my towing needs. I have a few questions for yall:

1) Since the hitch ball sits so high on this particular WDH, should I look for an even longer drop hitch, like a 16" from a different company? Is that even safe? I see most 16" drop hitches are for larger trucks with 2.5" hitch receivers.

2) Did I just buy the wrong kind of WDH or will I encounter this problem on other setups?

3) So with the 3.25" drop (From the blue ox 12" drop hitch), the ball will sit 20.75 high. Thats still too high for a 17" inch trailer hitch, right? Or would the trailer-truck even out once weight is applied and my rear end sags?

Thanks all!

 

I would think a drawbar with a 12" would work, but without actually seeing the trailer you are getting and your truck, I could be wrong. My truck is not lifted, but the standard drawbar worked fine. Your truck will not sag that much with the trailer and a WDH. In fact, what you want is for the entire truck to drop the same at the front and rear, so it still rides level. Mine only goes down less than an inch, I think.

The trailers you are considering should be pulled with a 2" hitch receiver. Yes, you COULD increase it to 2.5", but that would be overkill. I think the Blue Ox should work. What is the cost of the drawber with the 12" drop? Your 4" lift with 35" tires, should have only added about 5" to the hitch receiver height.

- Jack

 

Don't buy anything else till you get a trailer. Take the truck and the hitch to the trailer dealer and have them determine what drop you need for that specific trailer and hitch.

 

Well, duh! Wish I'd thought of that! (But I still think a 12' drop will be enough - but you MAY need less).

- Jack

 

I’m buying the trailer from a private seller so I was trying to have the right equipment before picking it up.

 

You should be able to at least get it home using a standard drawbar without the WD, then take the appropriate measurements to order the appropriate drawbar or take it to a specialist shop for advice.