Trailer Reciever question

[GOPAPA]

I will going to pull a 6x12 U-haul trailer next month over 1000 miles and was wondering if anyone knows what the down set in inches I will need for a reciever to pull this trailer..

I stopped at the u-haul place and all the trailers are just sitting with the tounges on the ground . I could take a block and get help to lift it up to level and then measure it ,,but thought maybe some of you have already done so and can let me know what it is that I need ..

all that are there at the u-haul are girls and they said they couldnt help lifting it up so I could measure it ..

I have the 06 Silverado 4/4 with 17 inch tires ,,the one pictured under the posting about the popular wheels in this 99 and up forum ..

[boatpuller]

papa,i was always told the top of your ball should be between 18 and 20 inches off the ground.you can measure up to the reciever from there to get an idea on your drop length.obviously your goal is to be as level as possible.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Papa, I have a "stock" Z71 like you have and I'm running a 2" drop hitch on mine to pull my boat. That puts my hitch 16" off the ground, so I guess that puts the top of the ball around 18" or so.

This is the best pic I have, but I borrowed a trailer to pick up this bed, and my ball was too big ( ) so I borrowed the whole receiver my friend had. It was a "straight out" receiver and you can see the trailer is a little bit nose high. I think a 2" drop should be good.

[GOPAPA]

When I looked up U-haul trailers and what heighth thier 6x12 trailer hitches are ,,they wont give it to you ,,instead they say you can go up to 25 inches and be okay..

Another marketing idea they have is my guess.. they dont care that you should have the trailer level is possible for best pulling and trailing ..

thanks boat and thanks 67 rednick ..I will get on a level surface and see what my heighth is ,, and also get some help and go and lift up the u-haul trailer tounge and see what the difference is .. I bet it is a 2 inch drop .. depending on wheel size our trucks could be some diff don't you think?

[71swb4x4]

I have heard that the rule of thumb is that the top of your hitch (where the ball mounts) should be 15" off the ground with a loaded trailer.
Of course that's the rule of thumb. In reality, all trailers are made differently, and all loads will put varying amounts of weight on the hitch thereby changing the height of it.
Your trailer should be level when loaded and hooked up to the tow vehicle. Even this doesn't guarantee a trouble-free tow as various combinations of weight on the hitch and weight on the axles of the trailer affect how it trails behind the tow vehicle. Get it level, and if you need to move things on the trailer to add or subtract weight from the tongue then so-be-it.

It might pay for you to buy one of the hitches that you can move up and down. That's a hitch you can virtually keep forever and adjust as various trailers and loads dictate.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Looking at the pics of yours, they should be pretty close. I have the stock 265/75/R16 tires on my truck (03+ went to 17" rims) which have an overall diameter of 31.6".

[GOPAPA]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Looking at the pics of yours, they should be pretty close. I have the stock 265/75/R16 tires on my truck (03+ went to 17" rims) which have an overall diameter of 31.6".

Curious ?

With a 2 inch drop reciever reversed ,,got any idea what kind of a rig would you pull that would need this ?

Doesnt really matter as the 2 inch drop down is what ai need ,,just curious ,,thats all .. and thanks because at around $25 for the hitch I would like to buy the correct one the first time.. papa

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by GOPAPA

Curious ?

With a 2 inch drop reciever reversed ,,got any idea what kind of a rig would you pull that would need this ?

Doesnt really matter as the 2 inch drop down is what ai need ,,just curious ,,thats all .. and thanks because at around $25 for the hitch I would like to buy the correct one the first time.. papa

When my father in law gave my wife and I the boat, he had the 2" receiver reversed. He towed the boat with a 2wd 1996 Explorer Sport. The hitch was so low on his, that with the receiver reversed the boat sat level. I had to reverse it (back to a 2" drop receiver) when I put it on my Z71 because the boat sat really nose high!