How much hitch drop?

I use to pull a very low sitting sport car using a drop receiver. As posted watch out that the drop receiver does not bottom out. I hit the ground a few times. I knew if that kept up, I would tear something off. Now, I am pulling my Jeep and do not need the drop receiver. Lot less stress. Good Luck Gary

For what it is worth Blue Ox has changed their recommendations for several of their tow bars. Some say parallel to the ground, some say + or - 3 inches and one says = or - 7 inches.

My Aventa used to be 0 above and 6 inches below, it is now + 3 or - 3
You can see all of the specs HERE

As with any "tall" drop hitch, be aware that it will drag over "milder" changes in angle of approach and departure. Probably would not use a tall one on back/dirt roads with steep changes in elevation.

Empty Nest, Soon wrote:
Setting up our first towed.

The hitch receiver on the coach is 20” off the ground. The attachment points on the car will be about 12”, a difference of about 8”, which is too much. I need a hitch receiver drop.

I read that the drop between the coach end and the towed attachment end should be between 0” and 4”.

Should I try to get the tow bars near level by buying an 8” drop, or aim for the middle of the target range with a 6” drop?

Thanks!

Wayne

if an 8" drop will get your toad level with the MH hitch then get an 8" drop. level is best. don't skimp.

I had a 10" height difference to over come so I got a 10" drop to be perfectly level. BTW the best pricing I found for the drop/riser adapter is where you got the tow bar. Night Shift Auto

drop hitches

gemert wrote:
My tow bar, ready brute, said it had to be within 2 inches of level. . . .

I found a pdf file of the ReadyBrute Elite installation instructions on-line. It says “DO NOT TOW IF TOWBAR IS OVER 2 INCHES FROM LEVEL IN EITHER DIRECTION.” Then is says to use a drop/riser if needed to be within the 2-inch range.

I’ll go with the 8-inch drop, which should put me very nearly spot on.

Thanks everyone for your input!

Wayne

hanko wrote:
level is best, but 4 inch up is max

Agree, that's what my Blue Ox says.

A few years ago I had been towing my Smart Car with a 10 inch drop. I decided to tow my Jeep home from the cottage and being lazy I just hooked it to the drop. I do have a brake but it does not engage until I firmly press on moho brake. At any rat it was a bad decision. Every time I slowed the Jeep would try to push me. It was a horrible feeling. I stopped and removed the drop and quiet hitch on the side of the road. Having the tow vehicle high is horrible.

WyoTraveler wrote:

Golden_HVAC wrote:
Hi,

I would suggest the 6" drop. A little uphill is OK, but downhill is much worse, as in a panic stop, the nose of the RV will dive, the rear might go up say 4" and if to far, the car can go under the RV! as the hitch bar goes sky high, and the nose of the car is pushed downward.

Also fill the fresh water tank, and see how much the back drops. My fresh water tank is in the basement, under the rear bed, so it will effect the hitch ball mount height. My grey and black water tanks are just forward of that tank, and everything seems to stay about the same as I camp and fill the other tanks with the fresh water. But when everything is empty, it takes 800 pounds off the back of my RV, so I would imagine it goes up 1/2" or so?

Good luck,

Fred.

Yes it should be level. I never made a panic stop but interesting anology. Since my toad has brakes I wonder if it would really go under the MH or just stop at the same distance from the MH. Of course I would agree completely if the toad didn't have brakes.

With a DP, the 1200 pound engine will be the only effect on rear axle ride height, and as long as it stays in the coach, then the rear axle will not be going up and down. . .

I have a gas RV, and it is possible for it to go down.

I would not worry with the 6" drop receiver. And your hitch is much stronger than mine, and attached to real steel, not a flimsy factory installed frame extension. .. .

Fred.

Golden_HVAC wrote:
Hi,

I would suggest the 6" drop. A little uphill is OK, but downhill is much worse, as in a panic stop, the nose of the RV will dive, the rear might go up say 4" and if to far, the car can go under the RV! as the hitch bar goes sky high, and the nose of the car is pushed downward.

Also fill the fresh water tank, and see how much the back drops. My fresh water tank is in the basement, under the rear bed, so it will effect the hitch ball mount height. My grey and black water tanks are just forward of that tank, and everything seems to stay about the same as I camp and fill the other tanks with the fresh water. But when everything is empty, it takes 800 pounds off the back of my RV, so I would imagine it goes up 1/2" or so?

Good luck,

Fred.

Yes it should be level. I never made a panic stop but interesting anology. Since my toad has brakes I wonder if it would really go under the MH or just stop at the same distance from the MH. Of course I would agree completely if the toad didn't have brakes.