Hitch question

[Go_Dogs]

Need some advice. Traded Suburban for 3500 Chevy Express,(Regular length). We have about a 3 inch drop from the driveway to the street, very slight crown to driveway surface. The hitch receiver on the van is mounted right under the bumper. The WDH would have scraped the driveway. We turned it around and put the ball in the highest position. Haven't tried it yet this morning,( did it a million times during my 'sleep'). The question: If the WDH is still not high enough, what options/costs can I consider?

[Bumpyroad]

carringb wrote:


Watch out. The larger drop shanks sometimes are only rated as a drop, and can't be flipped like the standard size can.

I thought we were talking about only using this to get into the driveway, if so I wouldn't be worried about capacity. I have one large 8 or 12 inch drop and it said not to use in the "up" position.
bumpy

[skipnchar]

Hit the drive at an angle. No problem TEMPORARILY turning the hitch upside down but that's a LOT of work to do twice every time you enter or leave the drive way. Remember, you'll have to also remove the ball and re-install it on the correct side of the stinger each time. Chances are pretty good that with the nose eight inches higher you may be draging the tail instead of the hitch. Angled entry and exit is a better solution.

[carringb]

If it still won't clear with the change in hitch height, your options vary from lifting the van, to changing coupler style to an "underhung" coupler. Also going from Round bar to Trunnion weight distribution will give some extra inches of clearance.

[carringb]

sch911 wrote:

Go Dogs wrote:
We already have the drop shank on the WDH, with the ball in the highest position.

They make these shanks in larger sizes also. But I suspect it's the bottom of the shank that hits?

Watch out. The larger drop shanks sometimes are only rated as a drop, and can't be flipped like the standard size can.

[Pauljdav]

I have a curb to go over and my trailer sits nose down while in my driveway. If I use the weight distribution I have no issue. If I do not use it I will drag the hitch.

Paul

[sch911]

Go Dogs wrote:
We already have the drop shank on the WDH, with the ball in the highest position.

They make these shanks in larger sizes also. But I suspect it's the bottom of the shank that hits?

[Go_Dogs]

We already have the drop shank on the WDH, with the ball in the highest position.

[Jarlaxle]

Lay a 2x4 across the "dip" to raise the hitch 2", maybe?

[sch911]

How about using a Drop Shank

[Go_Dogs]

I guess I should add that the TT is at the front end of the driveway. When we had the Burb, we could just hitch and go, (with the WDH).

[Bumpyroad]

if you are just talking about getting it into the driveway, you could easily remove the WDH stinger, put a standard tow bar with whatever lift you want/need and tow that into the driveway. you could even use an extension to get it away from the van if necessary.
bumpy