Drop hitch receiver - not sure if I am doing this right

[CamperDaveinPA]

I am trying it figure this out, I measured to the center of my hitch receiver on my motor home it was 26.5 in to the ground (when on a level surface of course). I then measured to the center of my hitch pins on my baseplate it was 16.5 in from the ground (again on a level surface). It seems to me that a 10 inch drop receiver,is what would make my tow bar level, but I read on another post, someone suggested loading the motor home then measure the hitch height, it may drop a few inches. My question is do I order the 10 in drop, and hope the weight of the motor home don't move much? The blue ox manual said its ok to be out of level by 4 in above but 0 inches below, with that said do I just buy the 8 inch drop and leave it 2 in above, or am I just not measuring or think about this the right way. Any help would be appreciated. This is what I have: 2012 Itasca sunova 36 v towing a 2013 honda crv with a blue ox advanta lx bar
Thanks

[Hikerdogs]

Just a side note. If you use a drop receiver you're probably going to also need a new set of safety cables and a longer cable to the breakaway switch (if you have one ) on your towed vehicle. The drop receiver extends the distance betweeen the towed vehicle ane the motorhome about 10". We had to go from 64" safety cables to 76" ones.

[RedG]

I've got a barely used 8" 10,000 lb drop receiver just like this one that I no longer have any use for.
Send me a private message if you're interested. It could save you a few bucks.

[wa8yxm]

By all means load THEN measure.. Can make a BIG difference, 3-4 inches is not uncommon.

[Sully2]

Id hook it all up FIRST and then measure to see what it takes to get the hitch level. 8-10 is a heck of a drop.

[1fastdad]

18" is the mormal ball height for a trailer ball. I know that it is best to have a flat bed tandom axle trailer level so it carries equal weight on each axle but in your aplication the height of the ball will be changing constantly so an inch or two won't make much differance.

[Hikerdogs]

CamperDaveinPA wrote:
I am trying it figure this out, I measured to the center of my hitch receiver on my motor home it was 26.5 in to the ground (when on a level surface of course). I then measured to the center of my hitch pins on my baseplate it was 16.5 in from the ground (again on a level surface). It seems to me that a 10 inch drop receiver,is what would make my tow bar level, but I read on another post, someone suggested loading the motor home then measure the hitch height, it may drop a few inches. My question is do I order the 10 in drop, and hope the weight of the motor home don't move much? The blue ox manual said its ok to be out of level by 4 in above but 0 inches below, with that said do I just buy the 8 inch drop and leave it 2 in above, or am I just not measuring or think about this the right way. Any help would be appreciated. This is what I have: 2012 Itasca sunova 36 v towing a 2013 honda crv with a blue ox advanta lx bar
Thanks

We ran into the exact same situation with our 2013 Adventurer and our 2004 Jeep Wrangler. Even the height measurements are the same. To further complicate things there's a section in the owners manual that advises against using any more than a 4' drop receiver.

First of all we loaded everything we normally carry into the motorhome. Then I filled the 80 gallon water tank and the fuel tank. The propane tank was already full so at least I didn't have to do that. Guess what? The height of the hitch didn't change more than 1/8 of an inch.

I talked to the Winnebago customer service department at length about the situation, and how they were all but putting themselves out of the market for people who want to tow. As the conversation continued the factory rep admitted there was some leway in the specification. He also mentioned that in the very near future Winnebago would be changing the recommendation from a maximum of a 4" drop receiver to a 6" drop receiver. The other thing they warn against is using a surge brake system on the toad or trailer. They say the force placed on the hitch in a panic stop from a possibly overloaded trailer could cause damage to the drop hitch or the trailer hitch itself.

By the time the conversation was completed he agreed that a 6" drop receiver would work. The main reason was the hitch is no longer furnished by a vendor. It's now made by WInnebago to their own specifications, which according to him are considerably higher than the industry standard.

On our trip to Alaska a few years ago I saw several drop hitches and a couple trailer hitches destroyed because of the height differences and the huge frost heaves in the roads. To help aleviate that problem I ordered a 10,000 lb 6" Roadmaster drop hitch from e trailer. It weighs about 20 lbs, but I doubt it's going to bend or collapse pulling a 3,400 lb Jeep.

We've towed the Jeep now a little over 500 miles with a little less thn 4" height difference between the Jeep and the motorhome. We also use a Roadmaster 9060 braking system on the Jeep to minimize the pressure on the hitch assembly when stopping. The real test will be next week when we start heading back to Alaska.

[JR45]

This is what it is called, Hi-Low Hitch http://www.roadmasterinc.com/products/accessories/hitch/hitch.html
My Country Coach at the hitch was level ground 24" and my Honda Accourd 18" got a Hi-Low 6" 10,000-pound capacity from Camping World everything level now. I have the Falcon All Terrain. Just fyi you may need to get longer safety cables because you are going out from your coach another 4" because when you are turning the cables may be to short. (don't ask how I know)
JR

[DSDP_Don]

I would also go with the 6" and plan on being between 3"-4" off center. Your 36' gas coach has a long overhang and a drop of 8" could really be problematic.

You could also through some of your gear in the back of the CRV. Don't make it tail drag, but just through some things like bottled water, soda, whatever extra you might carry. This may lift the nose .5" - 1".

[hershey]

I would go with no more than an 8" drop. Actually the 6" would be my preference. Its very doubtful that you loaded MH will drop more than an inch or so...You never see a MH low in the back because of load do you???
Remember the drop will drag on driveways badly....the long the drop the more problem you will have. The leverage effect on the drop will be exaggerated more with the longer drop bar. The real danger of unequal hookups from level is when the MH hitch is lower than the toad. A remote chance of a sudden stop or impact will force the toad forward and up. Very doubtful that the reverse would happen. The toad going under the MH.

[CamperDaveinPA]

Just a fyi - It's not a drop hitch receiver with a ball, the tow bar fits right into the hitch..

[matski]

I bought an adjustable drop hitch receiver. It was more expensive but it will still work if I change either vehicle.

[CamperDaveinPA]

Maybe I should add a little more information, we are recreational users and it may be a rare occasion where I will be fully loaded including water and towing. We usually put enough water to get us there, then hook up. If I ever load up for boon docking its usually at a NASCAR event and we do not tow.

[PastorCharlie]

I would not drop it more than 6" to allow for some heighth differenct on the MH which will be better for towing. The MH will rise and drop somewhat due to loading but still allow a little more rise at the MH under heavy loads. This will also meet the 4" rise recommendation.

[Golden_HVAC]

8" drop should be fine.

Try filling the water tank and measure again, just to see if adding 600 - 800 pounds of water makes the rear of the RV sink about 2" more.

You would not want the 10" drop anyway, because it will scrape on any driveway when you go into them or out of a gas station.

Also try measuring the hitch, when it is basically level, say propped up on a box or something while attached to the Honda. See how high the ball mount would be while level.

A uphill tilt to the hitch is OK, because in a panic stop, the front of the car will try to push up on the hitch a little bit. But 10" of tilt, and it can go under the RV. So keeping it level is safer. With the car higher than the hitch ball, a panic stop can cause the car to ride up over the hitch, a very interesting situation.

Fred.