Is 1/2" nose high towing an issue?

[MicahDD]

We have a smallish TT and today I installed an Equalizer WD hitch. Because the tongue of our TT is quite a bit lower than the receiver I have the longer, lower shank that Equalizer suggested. Problem is that when that shank is installed ground clearance between the shank bottom and the road is about 5"... pretty tight IMO.

So I tried the standard shank that came with the Equalizer. With the hitch head assembly on the lowest setting parking-lot measurements show that the TT tows about 1/2" nose up, measuring from the front of the frame to the road vs. back of the frame to the road...

With the hitch head assembly on the longer, lower shank it tows about 1" nose down. But now I have that low-clearance space.

So what's better? Nose up by 1/2" but with ample clearance between the shank bottom and the road?

Or nose down by 1" but with only 5" clearance between the shank bottom and the road?

Any advice is REALLY appreciated, we're leaving to tour America in 2 days and I'd like to do whatever is going to cause the least hassle on the road, thanks!

[ChooChooMan74]

If the difference in height is only 1/2 and inch, than only a 1/4 inch of sag will correct it. I don't see any issues. I am slightly nose high myself.

[TomG2]

A half inch on the tip of your nose would be quite noticeable. A half inch on a travel trailer, not so much. I hate the look of a trailer headed downhill on the back of a tow vehicle, so I try for level.

[fla-gypsy]

A 1/2" should not create an issue.

[Lynnmor]

If you can post a photo it would help. Maybe there is excess material on the shank that can be cut off.

[MicahDD]

svpetty wrote:
I don't think that will be a problem. Our Visa sits about an inch higher at the tongue than at the back, and our Pilot has no problem - in fast braking, it tracks straight. My only suggestion is to make sure your brake controller (assuming you have one) is properly set up so the trailer brakes are doing their fair share of the braking.
Just like you, we have it a little high in front because we didn't want the hitch shank on our equalizer hitch too close to the pavement - it still bottoms out very occasionally on steep driveways.

Thanks all.

Do have a brake controller, working well.

Ideally we'd give this rig a few weekend test runs I guess, but there's just no time for that. We're headed across America in 48 hours and whatever is wrong we'll just have to fix on the road and so be it!

[svpetty]

I don't think that will be a problem. Our Visa sits about an inch higher at the tongue than at the back, and our Pilot has no problem - in fast braking, it tracks straight. My only suggestion is to make sure your brake controller (assuming you have one) is properly set up so the trailer brakes are doing their fair share of the braking.
Just like you, we have it a little high in front because we didn't want the hitch shank on our equalizer hitch too close to the pavement - it still bottoms out very occasionally on steep driveways.

[opnspaces]

Mine pulls a tad nose high, I think more like one inch and it pulls fine. I would probably give it a few trips and see how it pulls. If you really want to know if you're setup is okay you might need to hit the scales.

[MicahDD]

downtheroad wrote:
See how it handles when you are trip ready loaded. You may actually drop the 1/2" down when loaded. I'd rather have the clearance but most important is handling...load it up and test it on a trip.

Maybe take both shanks along on the first trip just in case you need to switch.

Thanks downtheroad. I should have mentioned that I set everything up fully loaded for travel.

Also, I've never towed a TT, only a popup. I took this rig out for a 50 mile drive and it feels ok but honestly I don't know if it's feeling weird or not because everything I tow over 1,600lbs feels weird.

Basically it feels better than it did when I towed it home without the WD hitch, but I don't know of it feels "right" you know? I know it's better to tow nose down instead of nose up, but I don't know if 1/2" nose up is a big deal compared to the minimal clearance I'll deal with if I go nose down.

Maybe I just need to go for it and learn on the road.

[downtheroad]

See how it handles when you are trip ready loaded. You may actually drop the 1/2" down when loaded. I'd rather have the clearance but most important is handling...load it up and test it on a trip.

Maybe take both shanks along on the first trip just in case you need to switch.