Trailer ball height

Been lurking here for months soaking up,the info like a sponge. Simple question that I have saw many answers on from posts and videos. Is the top of the hitch ball supposed to be level with the top of the receiver when backing up to hitch up. Or is the ball supposed to be 1" or so higher. Have used both ways but looking for the correct install. Thanks for the help.

If you have a tandem axle trailer it should be as close to level as you can get it hitched up. That sets the ball height.

The height of the ball should be set such that the floor of the trailer is level. Its relation to the receiver is not at issue.

The dealer set ours an inch high. It works for us. It is the WD hitch that sets the TT level with the TV.

I have found that level depends on the ground you are on. I have had level vary significantly on the same trip; depending on the parking lot, gas station, or rest area it was on.

If anything, I keep the TT nose down.

On a flat and level surface, with nothing hooked up, the top of the trailer hitch ball pocket (on the level trailer) should be the same height as the top of the trailer hitch ball (on the level tow vehicle). You adjust tow vehicle ball height to accomplish this as the trailer ball pocket height is non-adjustable.

Obviously, after making these measurements and settings you will have to raise the trailer tongue (unleveling the trailer) enough to get the hitch ball under the hitch.

After connecting, other factors like tongue weight and spring bar tension will come into play. However, start out with trailer and tow vehicle equal.

Dealers seldom set up a trailer hitch properly.

I would also load the TV as you normally would for a trip. The weight reward of the TV rear axle will make a difference in how the truck sits and I think it gets calculated into the tongue and hitch weight formula.
Correct me if im wrong.

Start out with a level trailer. I measured the bottom of the TT frame to the ground, front and rear. When I did my trailers, my loaded trucks ball was about 1" higher than the inside of my coupler. Right or wrong, it worked, it tows fine. Hitched up, truck sits level and the TT sits level maybe even very slightly lower.

The relationship between the ball height and the receiver height is meaningless.

When backing up to hitch you obviously need the coupler to be higher than the ball so the ball can go underneath.

beemerphile1 wrote:
The relationship between the ball height and the receiver height is meaningless.

When backing up to hitch you obviously need the coupler to be higher than the ball so the ball can go underneath.

Not true. If they are not the same height when both are level before hitching you will end up with one or the other (possibly both) going down the road unlevel. ie; nose high or nose down

Of course you have to raise the trailer tongue above horizontal to make the connection. Common sense.

Setting the proper "at rest" ball height is necessary to have a level trailer and tow vehicle while towing.

Every trailer tongue weight and vehicle suspension is different in how much it will settle. Take a look at this thread on how adjust the WDH. Your goals should be restore some/all of the weight lost on the front axle and trailer level to slightly nose down. When meeting the first, the rear will be what it is and thus the height may vary depending on suspension spring rate of the vehicle. This is why every WDH is sold with an adjustable ball mount.

I think the dealer who was been in business for 40+ years and has sold tens of thousands of TTs certainly knows how to set up a trailer hitch ball.

I also think that an inch high or or level is like a link or two on the bar chains or a full or half full water tank. It makes a difference, if you think it makes a difference.

Over the course of our recent two month 8000 mile vacation, I found, wind, weather, topography and a host of other factors far more important.

That might be true. However, none of that has anything to do with the question asked by the OP. He didn't even ask how to set up a WDH.

I was simply attempting to answer the question he asked without throwing in a bunch unrequested info.

Also, even if the dealer has been in business 40 years that doesn't mean the guy setting up hitches wasn't flipping burgers last month.