Ball clearance question

[RagnarKon]

A drop hitch also reduces tongue weight? I knew about extensions but not drops.

A "perfect" drop hitch won't... but because most drop hitches also extend the ball a bit, it acts like any other hitch extension.

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[C6ZZGT]

I have non-SAS Badlands with factory receiver hitch - bought a ball/receiver today and stuck it in and noticed how little clearance there is with my 33" KO2s. I'm upgrading to 35s. Is this a problem?

As you have seen by the responses ,You shouldn`t just buy a ball mount and hope for the best.
The proper way is to know how high the trailer that you are going to tow is in comparison to your hitch receiver and get a ball mount that will then have the trailer level when towing. And since you plan on bigger tires that will change it when you change them.

 

[Fordified1]

A drop hitch also reduces tongue weight? I knew about extensions but not drops.

On a tandem axle trailer maybe. But I think you misinterpreted what he said. He’s saying an extension reduces the tinge weight you can carry because of leverage.

 

[SHANUT]

I have non-SAS Badlands with factory receiver hitch - bought a ball/receiver today and stuck it in and noticed how little clearance there is with my 33" KO2s. I'm upgrading to 35s. Is this a problem?

I bought a 4 1/2” drop and it works well. Those extensions put a lot more stress on the hitch.

 

[Dan-O]

Pretty sure it effects both. How much or if it’s enough to make a difference on what you will be towing is important. There are a number of web sights that will calculate numbers vs drop/extension amount etc….

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I would guess that most small utility trailers would be low enough to need a drop hitch, especially if I get 35s. (Badlands)

My Badlands with 33's needs a 3.25" drop receiver.
2" allllmost made it, but no go.... Couldn't get the lock all the way up.

I am not a fan of extenders at all, many others disagree.
Just follow the manufacturers suggestions.
https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Adap...H7faljGTzFzf-FQ0SgAgMF1z0wYKHVIhoCLS0QAvD_BwE

 

[darinhouston]

Thank you all for your input - it's been eye opening for me - I never appreciated this but it all makes sense. Of course, perfect is the enemy of good enough in many cases. I don't intend to be anywhere near limits, but I (like most people) need a general purpose solution that sort of fits in the middle of the use cases. To be available to tow utility trailers belonging to others for events and such - school band trailer, a rental trailer on occasion to move items from storage or for that refrigerator I bought on NextDoor, short trip use of my brother-in-law's utility trailer at his working land. That sort of thing.

I wonder where that "sweet spot" might be.

 

[fourdayoff]

The "sweet spot" for me seems to be 18" inches form the ground to the top of the ball for most smaller utility trailers. My 22 Bad Squach took a 4" drop.

 

[Brian_B]

Pretty sure it effects both. How much or if it’s enough to make a difference on what you will be towing is important. There are a number of web sights that will calculate numbers vs drop/extension amount etc….

It's just distance from the rear axle really. I guess you could get into trig and show that a drop hitch will increase distance from rear axle some, because of angles, it won't be nearly as much as a straight-up extension will.

 

[Brian_B]

I wonder where that "sweet spot" might be.

That will be different for every trailer. Ideally you'd like the trailer to ride near-level, but they all have different ride heights so ... yeah. Some trailers have adjustable mount heights to help out with that, and you can get an adjustable hitch as well. Just depends on what you need and what you're willing to spend.

 

[Rumbloki]

I'm gonna get something like this, so I can flip it and increase the clearance of baskets and bike racks.

 

[Tricky Mike]

I only buy adjustable hitches now. Never know what your next trailer or tow rig will be and heights are all over the place. It's worth paying the extra. 3-4" drop is usually enough to clear the tire.

I try to have an adjustable tongue whenever possible as well.

 

[Bill K]

I have non-SAS Badlands with factory receiver hitch - bought a ball/receiver today and stuck it in and noticed how little clearance there is with my 33" KO2s. I'm upgrading to 35s. Is this a problem?

I would bet that whatever trailer you would like to pull would need ball fixture that lowers to make the trailer level based on the height of the Bronco... That would certainly fix your clearance problem. I have one of those like yours I got for free, but never use it based on trying to get my trailer level...

 

[Utah Todd]

I had this same problem with 33's or 35's on. I purchased a 12" extension, it was too long. I returned it and went with a 8" extension. It is perfect. I will try and post a picture tomorrow. I also locked in the extension with a u-bolt plate lock. It sticks out just far enough for clearance to lock down the ball on the trailer. It also sticks out far enough that you can see the ball on your backup camera to line up with the tongue on the trailer. Doing this I did not have to do a drop. Which I did not want to have to do for regular clearance.

As a note when you do this you will have to remove them when you off-road for clearance on the back end.

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