Differences in Drop Receivers

[dmctlc]

Hi looking for advice. Need to buy a drop receiver to hook my Acme Tow Dolly to my MH though looking toward buying one that adjust it's height. Figure an adjustable height one provides me the latitude to raise and lower it as I drive it with the car on it if it isn't performing as planned. The question is I've seen these drop receivers for as little as $60 to as much as $300. Now I know some are maybe made a little fancier etc. but don't they all need to do the same job? So is there truly any difference and I can go for a less expensive one and save a few bucks?

[Horizon170]

For different heights you only need a couple---Maybe a 1" and a 4" or whatever suits your needs. Turn 180* and reverse the ball and you have two different heights. Two are A lot cheaper than an adjustable one. I carry two and that suits my needs.

[Bionic_Man]

I have a B&W Tow and Stow. Works great, but isn't inexpensive. I have heard good things about Rapid Hitch. I think they are less $.

[phillyg]

Other than worrying about cheap steel used by a mfgr., over which you have no control, ensure the one you buy is rated higher than its anticipated load. I've been happy with everything bought from e-trailer.com

[j-d]

Our prevowners towed a small SUV on a Stehl dolly with no brakes. They had a very massive, solid, but height adjustable, ball drop.

The COMPLETELY IMPORTANT thing to have, is the diagonal bracing pictured above. Any drop without reinforcement of some kind in that area, is not enough. The steel and/or weld can crystallize and it'll come apart clean as if it'd been sawed.

[Ivylog]

Since your total weight is 5,000 lbs you do not need to spend $$$.
You can buy a solid shank rated for 7500 lbs for less than $75.

[Dutch_12078]

Make sure whatever you choose has a sufficient weight rating for your intended hitch weight.