I am about to buy a new trailer hitch, but I don't know how much of a drop I need. Can anyone tell me how to measure the trailer and truck to determine how much drop I need?

 

I think u should try to keep your trailer level,so with the trailer lever measure the distance from the ground to the trailer hook.
Now measure the distance from the truck hitch to the ground and then subtract the trailer from the truck and that the drop.

truck = 5'
trailer= 2'
drop = 3'

 

Measure from the ground to the top of the opening of your receiver.

[IMG]local://upfiles/39492/1D89FD4894A8404692B9FA38B281C955.jpg[/IMG]

Measure from the ground to the (inside) top of the trailer coupler. Make sure the trailer is level.

[IMG]local://upfiles/39492/EA85D1BE85E54582B0376C68AC976915.jpg[/IMG]

The difference is your drop or rise.

 

Thanks guys. I though that would be the way to do it, but I wasnt sure if the trailer should be level or not. I appreciate it.

 

This is just my personal thing, but I usually get a hitch that is 2" HIGHER than those measurements.

It takes into acount a bit of sag when the weight gets put on the hitch and any weight you may have in the truck.

If it's level un hooked, it will probably be nose down when you hook up.

 

Do you need a WD or just a standard tougue? With a WD the rear shouldn't sag, rather the whole truck should come down.

 

I'm talking for more like my utility trailer, boat trailer, etc.

For something like a TT, then yeah, get a WD w/ sway control, but for smaller ones I just add a bit of height to the hitch.

 

I was thinking that too. The only thing I am gonna be towing is this......
From Minnesota to Texas.

 

A properly loaded trailer should have about 8-10% of its weight on the tongue. So if the bronco weights 5000lbs and the trailer weights 1500lbs you should have about 520 to 650lbs on the tongue. So cruise down to the local weight watchers and have a couple deuce-and-a-half ladies apply the proper "load" so that you can accurately measure. Good luck!

 

I thought 60% of the weight had to be on the front?