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Ideal initial hitch ball height vs trailer tongue

Discussion in 'Towing & Hauling' started by BrakeDust, Feb 25, 2021.

  1. Feb 25, 2021 at 4:48 AM
    #1
    BrakeDust

    BrakeDust [OP] New Member

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    So I had a 2008 Tundra long bed, towed our Airstream 28 (25ft box) very well.

    Sold it and got a 2021 Crewmax. Have since been setting it up for towing. Everything "should" be identical to what I had before:
    - 33" tires
    - Short CB Shackles, 5100 on bottom perch
    - Very close to factory rake (+2 in the back)
    - Blue Ox hitch with 1200 lb bars

    Below I show a table for my road-to-fender measurements.
    - "5.5 links" means 5 and a half chains links exposed. This is my "light trailer" setup, moderately tight.
    - "4.5 links" means 4 and a half chain links exposed. It is my "heavy trailer" setup.
    - Tests run with trailer about 50% full of fresh water only, no dirty water or extra camping gera

    What I can see:
    - With no load I have +2 rake (a little lean to the back left due to full 38gal tank)
    - Loaded with no WDH the +2 becomes -1, back squats a little
    - With 5.5 links (moderate WDH adjustment) truck levels out
    - With 4.5 links (tight WDH adjustment) truck truck gains some rake, maybe +0.25" in back

    [​IMG]

    With my 5.5-link (moderate) WDH setting, the trailer is slightly nose up, less than an inch. With the 4.5-link tight WDH setting, it's up about an inch compared to the back.

    Question:
    - Should I drop my initial ball height? The blue ox only allows adjustment in 1.5" increments
    - This means I would likely end up slightly nose down on the moderate WDH setting, close to level or barely nose down on the tight setting
    - What's better: Trailer slightly nose up, or slightly nose down?

    My hunch says the latter, but I want some ideas before I go tear apart the hitch bolts. They're pretty tight and held with lock washers.
     
  2. Feb 25, 2021 at 5:13 AM
    #2
    JohnLakeman

    JohnLakeman Burning Internet Daylight

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    Outside of Weird, TX
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    TRD Pro grille, 2018 LED Headlights, Undercover Flex bed cover, Neoprene seat covers, Bed/tailgate mats, Power tailgate lock, auto headlights, illuminated key switch
    Maybe a trial-and-error process. I wouldn't expect anything from the previous set-up to be exactly the same.

    I would hitch the LOADED trailer and adjust the WDH chains to keep the truck front wheel openings at approximately the same height before hitching and after. This will be close on the WDH adjustment with the tongue weight on the hitch. Don't worry about the trailer at this point, the tongue weight will remain about the same. The truck is the critical setting.

    Then, measure the change in ball height required to make the trailer level or very slightly low at the hitch. If the ball height has to change, then it has to change. Once the ball height is adjusted, hitch everything back up using the same number of links as determined before, and recheck the fender heights at the truck front wheel wells, and the trailer for level.
     
    Last edited: Feb 25, 2021
    Cpl_Punishment likes this.
  3. Feb 25, 2021 at 7:17 AM
    #3
    BrakeDust

    BrakeDust [OP] New Member

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    Ok, measured the current ball vs tongue difference, it was about 4 inches! Way more than I expected. So I lowered the ball one notch, or 1.5". Undoing those shank bolts was a huge PITA, had to use a big pipe wrench. Torque spec is 275 ft-lbs, which in my garage simply means "Tight AF."

    Now the difference is about 2.25" which seems reasonable given the initial sag when the trailer is hitched up. Also nice is that the ball is in-line with the receiver on the truck.

    [​IMG]
     
  4. Feb 25, 2021 at 9:17 AM
    #4
    BrakeDust

    BrakeDust [OP] New Member

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    Cruzer and JohnLakeman like this.
  5. Feb 25, 2021 at 9:56 AM
    #5
    shoe07

    shoe07 New Member

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    Excellent, I know my Anderson says you want the vehicle to be around 1.5 inches higher than the trailer when unhitched
     
  6. Feb 25, 2021 at 10:28 AM
    #6
    JohnLakeman

    JohnLakeman Burning Internet Daylight

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    TRD Pro grille, 2018 LED Headlights, Undercover Flex bed cover, Neoprene seat covers, Bed/tailgate mats, Power tailgate lock, auto headlights, illuminated key switch
    How many links did you use?

    That is one BA trailer. So...Did you retrofit the transmission fluid cooler yet? :D
     
  7. Feb 25, 2021 at 12:14 PM
    #7
    BrakeDust

    BrakeDust [OP] New Member

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    This is with 5.5 links showing, ie my 'moderate' setting. But trailer is also empty and dry. When loaded I'll step up to 4.5 links if needed.

    The transmission cooler is in the mail, yes! :bananadance:
     
    JohnLakeman[QUOTED] likes this.

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