Where to measure for drop height?

[Splat]

Ok as a seasoned driver, and someone who has towed A LOT of trailers, I feel stupid asking this. In the past I've always had a number of draw bars laying around and could always easily find one that worked as I needed.

Now with a new truck I need to replace most of my draw bars as the new truck rides higher than any of my previous trucks.

So how do you measure correctly for drop?

I know you measure on level ground from ground to the top inside lip of the reciever. That's easy.

Now on the trailer do you measure from ground to the top inside of the coupler? or to the bottom lip of the coupler? I would just experiment but looking at drawbars they are like $40 a piece!!!! I'd rather not guess, plus I'd rather just order them right here from Iboats.

Dam do I feel dumb, but I've never really had to do it by measurments......

Bill

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Where to measure for drop height?

I'd look at having the trailer frame level while towing with enough clearance at the aft end to keep it from dragging. A level frame should be good. From my experience i'd measure the distance from the bottom of the coupler vs the bottom of the reciever and adjust the drop of the hitch accordingly. This assumes that you have an adjustable drop for your hitch. No change in draw bars needed, drop/raise the ball to level the trailer. My draw bars are chain suspended, and I can adjust tension by going up or down a link. But I've always used the same tension after adjusting to a correct level running attitude at the coupler.

A pic of your gear would help, but most of the time adjusting the drop is the fix.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Where to measure for drop height?

Most hitch balls should work fine when the center of the ball is 19 inches off the ground. whatever it takes to position the ball at that height is what you need. If you are not sure 19 inches is right, level the trailer you tow most offen and measure to the center of the coupler. Add about 1 inch or so for spring sag when coupled to the tow vehicle and that's what you need.

 

[Splat]

Re: Where to measure for drop height?

Yea I gather that, we may be talking about 2 different things. When I say draw bar I'm refering to the part that the ball is screwed too. I understand level trailer, and if perfectly level can't be achieved slightly higher tongue is way more desirable than lower......

I believe your referring to a weight distribution setup maybe?

I'm talking from a strictly simple hitch with coupler setup, using nothing but a tape measure to determine what draw bar will be needed. Just wondering if you measure to the bottom of the trailer coupler, or the top of it? that's a good 1-2" difference on some trailers.

BTW love the Yellow Lab in the pic. My Black lab in my avatar is my bestest bud!

Bill

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Where to measure for drop height?

I am referring to the torsion bars for an equalizer hitch when I saw "draw bar". My bad but glad we're now on the same page. It's all about ball drop. (that seems funny saying that. My football coach used to use that when putting in a 3rd and long play..)
That's my boy Mickey in my avatar. He's 4 now and here's his sister Jazz.. Both are English labs.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Where to measure for drop height?

thats hard to estimate, whats the carrying capacity of the truck would be my first question, Second would be how much are you carrying in the truck besides towing the boat? I can't imagine you needing anything less then a typical 2" drop or anything more then a 4" drop but your truck could have a 12" lift!! I measure my boat level then measure my truck with a couple daughters in the bed and there you go, problem is that once I put my camper on the truck all my measurements go right out the door! So I just got 3 or 4 Balls (that didn't sound right) with different drops.

 

[Reel Kahuna]

Re: Where to measure for drop height?

Now on the trailer do you measure from ground to the top inside of the coupler? or to the bottom lip of the coupler?...

Bill

This may help

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Where to measure for drop height?

Hookup using one you have. Take measurements and buy a correcting one.

 

[Splat]

Re: Where to measure for drop height?

This may help

Thats what I needed. From ground to bottom of trailer coupler.

Bill

 

[PKomrowski]

Re: Where to measure for drop height?

Just back the level tow vehical up to the level hitch (make sure your boat is level) then simply mesure off one of the ones you already have, and add enough for spring compression so when your towing its level. Takes only about 5 min that way and you cant make a mistake.