Last Updated on February 14, 2023 by Douglas
1. Introduction
Hitch height is an important factor to consider when towing a travel trailer. It affects the safety and stability of your trailer, as well as the fuel efficiency of your vehicle. In this article, we will discuss what hitch height is, why it’s important, how to measure it, factors that affect it, and how to adjust it.
2. What is Hitch Height?
Hitch height is the distance between the ground and the bottom of the trailer hitch ball. The hitch ball should be level with the ground for optimal performance and safety.
3. Why is Hitch Height Important?
Having the proper hitch height is essential for safe towing of a travel trailer. If your hitch height is too high or too low, you may experience swaying or instability while driving which can cause an accident or damage to your vehicle or trailer. Additionally, having an improper hitch height can lead to decreased fuel efficiency as your vehicle has to work harder to pull the trailer.
4. How to Measure Hitch Height?
Measuring your hitch height is easy and only requires a tape measure and a level surface on which you can park your vehicle and trailer combination. To measure the hitch height:
• Park your vehicle on a flat surface with both wheels straight ahead
• Measure from the ground up to the bottom of the trailer ball mount
• Make sure that you are measuring in a straight line from ground up
5. Factors that Affect Hitch Height
There are several factors that can affect your hitch height including:
• The weight of cargo in your vehicle and/or trailer
• The type of ball mount you are using (i.e., drop-down style vs adjustable)
• The size of tires on both vehicles (the bigger tires will increase overall ride height)
6. Adjusting the Hitch Height
If you find that your hitch height needs adjusting after measuring it, there are several methods depending on what type of ball mount you are using:
For Drop-Down Style Ball Mounts – You can adjust these by simply adding or removing shims between the mounting plate and frame of your vehicle until you have achieved proper alignment with the ground surface below it.
For Adjustable Ball Mounts – These mounts have adjustable arms which allow for easy adjustment by simply loosening/tightening bolts until desired position has been reached.
7 Common Mistakes to Avoid
When adjusting or measuring for proper hitch height there are several common mistakes that should be avoided such as:
• Not allowing enough room for clearance between vehicles when parking them side-by-side • Not accounting for any additional weight added in either vehicles (i.e., cargo) • Not measuring in a straight line from ground up • Using incorrect size shims when adjusting drop-down style ball mounts • Not properly securing bolts/nuts after adjustment has been made
8 Final Thoughts
It’s important to make sure that you have properly measured and adjusted your travel trailer’s hitch height before each trip in order ensure optimal performance and safety while driving with it attached behind you vehicle! Additionally, if you ever find yourself unsure about any part of this process don’t hesitate to contact an expert who specializes in this area for assistance!
9 Conclusion
Setting proper hitch heights for travel trailers isn’t difficult but does require some careful measurements and adjustments if necessary in order ensure optimal performance and safety while driving with them attached behind you vehicle! By following these steps outlined above anyone should be able to confidently set their own travel trailers’ hitch heights without having any issues during their next road trip!