Best (Easiest) Method to Measure for Drop Hitch?

[RDBillsJr]

My brain isn't working this morning.

What is the best (easiest) method for measuring the drop I need for my trailer ball?

The guy who made the receiver for my jeep used seamed 2" tube rather than the seamless variety [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img], so I will need to grind a small groove into the bottom of the drop hitch to clear the seam so it will slide freely into the tube. As a consequence, I have to measure correctly the first time. I can't afford to make a mistake on the correct drop because the groove I cut will make the hitch non-returnable at the store. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/depressed.gif[/img]

Thanks.

[BJS]

Well I can tell ya how they are measured but how much drop you need is going to be based on how much tongue weight you have and how far your rear end squats down with that weight.

They are measured from the top of the ballmount tube is zero.

Put your trailer on level ground and level the trailer find out what the tongue height is. Go from there for your drop distance.

I would look into possibly grinding off that inner seam with a dremel tool or other grinding tool so you can make it work right.

That or buy a WD head and use it for height adjustments like these.

[TTLS]

Buy one of these and you won't have to worry about measuring.

Rated for up to 10,000 lbs. trailer weight, 1,000 lbs tounge weight. More than adequate for your Jeep.

[RDBillsJr]

[/ QUOTE ] Put your trailer on level ground and level the trailer find out what the tongue height is. Go from there for your drop distance.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the tip. I found "measuring instructions" on the Reese site. It says to level the trailer, but doesn't mention level ground. Unfortunately, where I live, there is no level ground anyplace where I can pull the trailer by hand and I can't tow it until I get the jeep hitch finished.

Do you think I will be far off on measurements if the jeep and trailer are on the same plane, with the jeep and trailer "level" in relation to that plane, and I measure the distances at an angle 90 degrees from that plane? (Am I making sense?) [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]



[/ QUOTE ] I would look into possibly grinding off that inner seam with a dremel tool or other grinding tool so you can make it work right.

[/ QUOTE ]

Tried that yesterday. Unfortunately the receiver tube is welded into a custom bumper, the tube is 6 1/2 inches deep with no access from one side, and I can only get the Dremel tool in about half way. I cleaned up what I could, but it looks like the only solution (short of spending an entire morning removing and reinstalling the bumper) is to grind on the drop mount instead.



[/ QUOTE ] That or buy a WD head and use it for height adjustments like these.

[/ QUOTE ]

That would certainly work, but because the tow rig is a jeep I need to be concerned with ground clearance. Adjustible hitches hang too low and would be a liability on the trail.

Thanks for the responses, and to any suggestions on my level ground question.

[tsaelens]

You don't have any reciever that you can use to move it and take measurements from?

Here is what I did. On flat ground with the trailer loaded I measured to the top of the ball. Then unhooked and measured again to the top of the ball. Subtract the two and this will tell you how much the rearend squats. Then with the Trailer still unhooked let the jack down until level. I measured the front corner and back until the front was actually a little less than an inch higher. Then measure to where the top of the ball needs to be. This number plus the number of how much the the rear dropped will tell you where the ball needs to be with the trailer unhooked. The measurement of where your ball currently is minus the measurement of where it needs to be will tell you how much more drop you need. Hope that makes sense.

Trinity