Receiver up or down?

[jimpittman]

I have a Toyota 4 runner six cylinder. I use a 3" off set receiver. The manual says that the off set goes up for 8 cylinder models and down for six cylinder models. What is the reason for this. What will happen if I use the receiver in the up position instead of down?
jimpittman

 

[arboldt]

Re: Receiver up or down?

When I put on a trailer hitch last spring, here's what I was told.

Your objective is to keep your trailer level when you're towing it, for many reasons.

Brace your trailer off the vehicle, use a level on the frame, and shim it up or down until the frame is level. Measure from the ground to the coupler.

Now measure from the ground to the receiver on your vehicle. Factor in the overlap (usually 2" for ball diameter that fits inside the couple). Compare the difference between trailer frame height and vehicle receiver height. This will tell you the amount of drop or rise you need.

Here's a good reference:
"http://www.etrailer.com/faq_ballmount.aspx"

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Receiver up or down?

i have never heard this. trailer level, then a drawbar to match.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Receiver up or down?

You are not repositioning the receiver. The receiver is atttached to the truck. The ball mount is what you position up or down. Are you sure you are reading that statement correctly. The only reason offset mounts are made is to allow leveling the trailer. A very slight tongue up or tongue down attitude is acceptable but best trailer towing occurs with the trailer level. If you have a tandem trailer with torsion axles, it is imperative that the trailer be towed level. Tongue high attitude puts more load on rear axle than the front. Tongue low puts more load on the front axle. This practice can shorten the life of the overloaded axle and actually result in blowing tires if the trailer is loaded near its maximum capacity.

 

[QC]

Re: Receiver up or down?

The manual is stupid. My guess is they think that since the V8 gives you a higher towing capacity that the trailer will be higher . . . Stupid!!!

Make the trailer level like said above. Whether that means a flat drawbar, or you're a knucklehead with 24" wheels and you need an 8" drop, doesn't matter, make the trailer level . . .

BTW, a simple way with a two axle trailer to check if it's level is to look at the center spring shackles and equalizer (between the two sets of leaf springs), when that assembly is flat, the trailer is level.

 

[DJ]

Re: Receiver up or down?

Trailer LEVEL like this.

 

[JB]

Re: Receiver up or down?

Maybe not so stupid, QC.

Has it occurred to anyone that the receiver is at different heights on the V6 and V8 models? Maybe only a couple of inches, but flipping the drawbar can put the ball at the same height.

I agree that if there is any doubt, get the trailer frame level.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Receiver up or down?

Just to clarify -- tandem trailers with torsion axles do not have an equalizer between the axles which is why level is so critical on those trailers.

 

[QC]

Re: Receiver up or down?

Maybe not so stupid, QC

Agree, the manual note may be about something I/we haven't considered. I guess the ultimate point to this entire thread is that there is no such thing as a standard ball height. The ball height needs to match the trailer tongue height when level . . .

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Receiver up or down?

We also have a 4Runner V-6, and the supplement to the manual stating the same regarding the receiver being up or down.

I don't really have a definitive answer to the question, but I can guess. The 4Runner V-8 models that have the towing package come with a weight distribution system. The towing package on V-6 models is a weight carrying system. Moreover, the V-8 models come with a rear height control (automatic leveling) suspension system.

It's all pretty impressive, really. The V-6 can tow 5,000 lbs; the V-8 7,000.

This information is for the 2008 model year.

 

[newbie4life]

Re: Receiver up or down?

Maybe not so stupid, QC.

Has it occurred to anyone that the receiver is at different heights on the V6 and V8 models? Maybe only a couple of inches, but flipping the drawbar can put the ball at the same height.

I agree that if there is any doubt, get the trailer frame level.

This is exactly what I thought. The V8 models probably sit higher than the V6..

 

[ChampionShip]

Re: Receiver up or down?

Your ball mount will carry the same amount of weight whether it's being used to raise or lower your ball. That's per several well known manufacturers.

-Champ

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Receiver up or down?

To figure out where the trailer is level, it is actaully tough to figure that out unless the ground is perfectly level. First measure the height of the frame at the axle or axles and then measure the height of the frame at the toungue and adjust the height with the jack until the frame height at the axle and near the toungue is the same. Once you get that set, you can now measure how high the ball needs to be to achieve this. This allows you to measure your trailer no matter if the ground is level or not.

I always add a little more height to the ball height to allow for suspension squat. Then buy the appropriate offset ball mount.

 

[Reel Kahuna]

Re: Receiver up or down?

To figure out where the trailer is level, it is actaully tough to figure that out unless the ground is perfectly level....

Tow your trailer to a parking lot where the ground is relatively level, use a carpenter's level, place it on the trailer's frame then adjust the tongue jack to either raise or lower to get the bubble centered then take a measurement. Un-couple the trailer off the tow vehicle then take measurement.

The attached pics should help getting the right combo.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Receiver up or down?

Gentlemen...... you are responding to a two year old thread that someone dragged up from the archives..... This was settled and I will close the thread and let it drift back into the archives once again.....