Trailer Hitch Question

[KarateMonkey]

I am going to help my brother move and will be towing his 5x8 ATV trailer. I am shopping for a hitch and was wondering about the drop measurement, should I get a 2" drop or a 4" drop?

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[jedadiah]

I need a 6" drop for my utility trailer to be level on my 4x2 Ranger. I bet 4" won't be enough. My wife's Outback uses a 2" drop on the same trailer.

Here's how to know.

Level the trailer.
Measure to the bottom of the coupler.
Place a ball mount in your receiver tube. (can be any)
Place the trailer weight on the ball.
Measure to the top of your receiver tube.
Subtract the coupler height from the receiver tube height and you'll know what drop should get the trailer level.

A load or weight in the bed will drop the trailer a little below level, so a little less drop than what you measure is probably the right amount.

 

[sikedsyko]

My small boat trailer is pretty level with a 6" drop. 4" works ok, but 6" is better. I just bought a 6" adjustable drop hitch because I'm sure with heavier loads, the 4" will probably work better.

 

[BennyP92]

Maybe a stupid question on here, but can the ranger can tow 7500lbs with just the trailer tow package only vs the advance towing package? Not that I would tow that much without a brake controller.

 

[sikedsyko]

Maybe a stupid question on here, but can the ranger can tow 7500lbs with just the trailer tow package only vs the advance towing package? Not that I would tow that much without a brake controller.

Yeah as long as you have the hitch receiver, it’s rated to tow 7500lbs with a brake controller. Here’s the towing guide from Ford.

https://www.vdm.ford.com/content/da.../towing/pdf/2024-Ford-Ranger-Towing-Guide.pdf

 

[BennyP92]

Yeah as long as you have the hitch receiver, it’s rated to tow 7500lbs with a brake controller. Here’s the towing guide from Ford.

https://www.vdm.ford.com/content/da.../towing/pdf/2024-Ford-Ranger-Towing-Guide.pdf

I just have the trailer tow package. So technically speaking I'm still good for 7500lbs? The boat i'm looking to tow is 3200lbs.

 

[toddiscdn]

I just have the trailer tow package. So technically speaking I'm still good for 7500lbs? The boat i'm looking to tow is 3200lbs.

Advanced tow package is mostly just tech other than brake controller, so it doesn't change the towing capacity. However if your boat trailer has brakes, at that weight its getting time to look at a brake controller, stock or after market.

 

[jedadiah]

Some trailers have surge brakes, so of you have a hitch with one of those trailers, you are good to go up to the max tow rating.

Someone without the factory controller will need to check and see if there is any prewiring for an aftermarket TBC for those without the Advanced Tow Package.

 

[Cyrusblack]

Scratching my head here - I just hooked up anything I needed to tow to whatever hitch was on my truck. Never thought about drop downs or measuring. Just made sure it was on the ball good and the safety chains were secured.

 

[BennyP92]

With the 3200lbs I'm not too concerned. I just wanted to make sure the towing capacity wasn't less with just the trailer tow package.

If I ever had to tow 7500lbs, I'd be getting a bigger truck though.

 

[fordtrks4ever]

On my F150 Platinum from ground to top of ball was 20"
Ranger with same drop and ball is 22"
Is the Ranger higher at the hitch than the F150 or am I overlooking something.

 

[jedadiah]

On my F150 Platinum from ground to top of ball was 20"
Ranger with same drop and ball is 22"
Is the Ranger higher at the hitch than the F150 or am I overlooking something.

I don't think you are overlooking anything. Just because a truck is larger, doesn't mean it has to be higher off the ground. The factory hitch is also really tight to the bumper on Ranger. The top is even with the step in front of the license plate.

The F-150 receiver is below the top of the step.

 

[fordtrks4ever]

I don't think you are overlooking anything. Just because a truck is larger, doesn't mean it has to be higher off the ground. The factory hitch is also really tight to the bumper on Ranger. The top is even with the step in front of the license plate.

The F-150 receiver is below the top of the step.

So to get the same ball height with the Ranger I need to drop 2 more inches.

 

[jedadiah]

So to get the same ball height with the Ranger I need to drop 2 more inches.

That should be right. The only other variable would be the tongue weight of the trailer, which could maybe make the Ranger squat more than your F-150 did.

 

[Bonder]

I also had to do a 6" drop for my Ranger to my atv trailer. My f150 and last gen ranger both didn't require any drop for my trailers.

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