1. Welcome to Tundras.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tundra discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other Tundra owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

How much drop on tow shank?

Discussion in 'Towing & Hauling' started by oscarw248, Mar 31, 2018.

  1. Mar 31, 2018 at 8:41 PM
    #1
    oscarw248

    oscarw248 [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    Member:
    #14065
    Messages:
    3
    Gender:
    Male
    I have an 08 Tundra with a 2.5 inch rear lift and I’m looking to get a weight distributing hitch to tow a 21 ft travel trailer. I was wondering if the Reese 54970 shank with 1.25 drop would have enough drop so the trailer doesn’t have a Cali lean? Or with that lift would I need a bigger drop shank?
     
  2. Mar 31, 2018 at 8:45 PM
    #2
    Alloutdrs1

    Alloutdrs1 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2017
    Member:
    #6150
    Messages:
    1,612
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Andrew
    Virginia Beach, VA
    Vehicle:
    17' Tundra SR5, 12' Tacoma TRD offroad
    You need to measure the height of your truck on level pavement from ground to trailer hitch, then level the trailer without it being hooked to the truck and measure the height from ground to coupler. The difference is the drop you will need.
     
  3. Mar 31, 2018 at 8:52 PM
    #3
    Y0TA PR0

    Y0TA PR0 Dirt biking & fishing

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2016
    Member:
    #2519
    Messages:
    22,331
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rafael
    Alberta, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2017 TRD PRO
    Welcome!
     
  4. Mar 31, 2018 at 8:56 PM
    #4
    oscarw248

    oscarw248 [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    Member:
    #14065
    Messages:
    3
    Gender:
    Male
    Thank you.. I’m hoping someone would have an idea cause I’m picking up the trailer in a few days and wanted to get a wdh before I picked it up.
     
  5. Mar 31, 2018 at 9:00 PM
    #5
    Alloutdrs1

    Alloutdrs1 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2017
    Member:
    #6150
    Messages:
    1,612
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Andrew
    Virginia Beach, VA
    Vehicle:
    17' Tundra SR5, 12' Tacoma TRD offroad
    Gotcha, every trailer can vary some. Its best to measure and obtain the appropriate drop so your towing level.

    Which WDH are you getting, some of them the shank is adjustable for height.
     
    Pudge likes this.
  6. Apr 1, 2018 at 6:21 AM
    #6
    JoshuaA

    JoshuaA Canuck Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2017
    Member:
    #11529
    Messages:
    2,710
    Southern Ontario
    Vehicle:
    Blaaack 2.5G
    Get the brand of WDH first and hook it up to see if you need a longer shank if at all, they come with adjustable shanks + ball.

    fyi, if needed, Curt shanks fit in a Pro Series WDH, but Blue Ox WDH's have proprietary shanks, so don't buy a shank ahead of time.

    Put the travel trailer's coupler on your hitch ball and setup the WDH bars/chains, backup and eyeball it or use a level. Unhook it, adjust the shank's height so your TT is level if necessary. However, if it’s level BUT your truck still has Cali, you might want air bags installed to prevent sag. Ideally you want both the truck and the trailer level. The bottom line is the shank's vertical placement is not the fix for Cali caused by increased tongue weight. Some combo of having initial truck rake, using a WDH, and/or airbags is the answer.

    FWIW, I have a Blue Ox pulling a 6K lb TT, its included shank was long enough for my 3.5" higher backend over stock Tundra. It also has dual sway control whereas the Pro Series is only one-sided. A TRD sway bar will also help with sway, a separate consideration.
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2018
    NewImprovedRon likes this.
  7. Apr 1, 2018 at 6:31 AM
    #7
    JoshuaA

    JoshuaA Canuck Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2017
    Member:
    #11529
    Messages:
    2,710
    Southern Ontario
    Vehicle:
    Blaaack 2.5G
  8. Apr 1, 2018 at 8:42 AM
    #8
    oscarw248

    oscarw248 [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    Member:
    #14065
    Messages:
    3
    Gender:
    Male
    Thank you very much. I’ve found a used Reese wdh online. It’s a a good price so I will get the trailer home with just the hitch, then level it and see if I need a new shank. I just need to get it home! Thank very much for the info. The 54970 had a 1.25 drop so that should work. I do have Supersprings, so I shouldn’t get much sag.
     
  9. Apr 1, 2018 at 8:47 PM
    #9
    909engineer

    909engineer New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2017
    Member:
    #8838
    Messages:
    33
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2017 Silver SR5 CM
    Anyone know what that extra wire harness at ~3:10 was?
     
  10. Apr 1, 2018 at 11:00 PM
    #10
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    Member:
    #2766
    Messages:
    35,622
    Gender:
    Male
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    LML 3500HD
    Calibrated Power 5 Tune pack, Allison 1000 tune, PPE deep trans pan, Cold/Hot CAC pipes, Banks CAI, PCV reroute, resonator delete, S&B 62 gal fuel tank, B&W GN hitch
    I have a spare drop shank for a Equalizer style LDH if your in CO. I think it’s the 3” or 4”.

    I may be changing all my hitches for the 2.5”.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top