How to Measure Hitch Drop

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Last Updated on June 6, 2021

The hitch drop is considered as one of the most important things while towing. The responsibility of a hitch drop is to keep the trailer level when it is attached to your vehicle you will be towing. If you find your trailer is leveled with your vehicle, then it will decrease tire wire easily. On the other hand, if you find the trailer is not leveled, then it will take the strain to lessen on the trailer.

So, I hope now you can understand the importance of an accurate hitch drop. That’s why you need to go through the tight measurement of your hitch drop very carefully.

In this article, I will be talking about the detailed steps for measuring your hitch drop. Let’s dive into the core section.

Things you need to keep in mind before going to measuring the hitch drop:

  • At first, before starting your hitch drop measurement procedure, you need to make sure that your tow vehicle is on flat ground. Well, you can load your vehicle with cargo as well. You may go for any type you weigh with what you will be dealing with.
  • Secondly, never forget to load the trainer up. It will help you to achieve appropriate measurements.
  • Finally, you will be needing a trailer jack in order to keep the trailer at sitting level. The jack will do it for you.

Measuring Hitch Drop: Step  by Step

Measuring the height of hitch:

At the very first step of measuring the hitch drop, you need to measure the height of your hitch. For measuring the hitch height, you need to ensure that your vehicle is parked. You will need to measure your tow vehicle’s hitch height while it is parked on a flat surface. Here, all you need to do is just measuring the height of the top receiver from the ground of your vehicle.

Measuring the height of coupler:

Your next step should be measuring the height of the coupler. For measuring the coupler height, you will need to go through the level of your trailer. Because you will have to find out the height of both hitch and coupler from the surface. So, go to your coupler bottom from the ground. Thus, you will find the height of the coupler.

Find out the biggest measurement:

Well, this step is a bit different. You are already done with measuring the height of both the hitch and coupler. You will find the height of either hitch or coupler is greater. You will have to find out the greater measurement between those two. After that, find out the difference between the two measurements.

Finding measurement of drop and rise :

After finding out the greater one, now your task is subtracting one from the other one. For example, if you find the hitch height is greater, then you will have to subtract the coupler height from the hitch height. With this, you got the height of your hitch drop.

On the other hand, if you find the height of the coupler is bigger, then you will need to subtract the hitch height from the coupler height for finding the rise.

Ball mount selection:

In this step, you will need to settle a ball mount with a drop if you find the height of the hitch is bigger than the coupler. Again, if you find the height of the coupler is bigger and also the hitch height is smaller, then you will need to go for a ball mount with a rise.

Measurement of the Ball mount:

Well, does not matter either it is drop or rise, you will need to pick the actual measurement always. For example, let assume that the difference between coupler height and hitch height is A. Then, while ball mount selection, you will have to ensure that you are going for the measurement which is close to A  as well as the difference.

Let’s make it more clear. Suppose, the height of your hitch and coupler is 12-inches and 4-inches respectively. So, the difference between hitch and coupler is 4-inches. You will have to pick a ball mount that holds a 4-inch drop. Again, select a 4-inch rise if you find the height of the hitch and coupler is 8-inches and 4-inches respectively.

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