A "no drop" ball mount?

[ZachO]

While I was traveling, I was trying to fine-tune things. I had my hitch set up with a 2" drop. But as I noticed it more and more on flat ground, I thought the trailer was leaning too far forward.

So I flipped the mount, giving me a 3/4" rise. Really close to level, but now the trailer is tipped just a bit back.

I know that if I'm going to be anything but completely flat, I want it leaning a little forward. But I'm kind of right in the middle. The lean forward is pronounced, while the lean backward is very subtle.

If there were a straight ball mount, that's what I'd want. But I don't see that as an option anywhere. It seems like the smallest rise is 3/4"-1", and the smallest drop is 2".

I guess maybe in a couple years when I upgrade to 15" wheels, this may work itself out. Any advice until then? Go with the 2" drop and have the trailer lean forward a bit much? Or go with the 3/4" rise and have it lean ever so slightly back?

[Timber Wolf]

I have a "no rise" hitch on my rig. It looks like they just squashed the 2" tube flat to one side if that makes sense.

[Bob in Mb]

Never lean to the back !!

[Carol H]

You could always get an multi adjustable ball mount that allows you to do more fine tuning.

Curt also sells a no drop Ball mount.

[Jack L]

Etrailer lists 2 hitch balls with a 2" and also a 1" riser. C40034 and C40033. One of these might work.

[jaye580]

First let me say I know nothing about this subject I am only chiming in with questions... My Scamp owners manual said to have it 18" from the ground to the coupler which mine was spot on but it leaned considerably to the back. When I took it to the trailer shop to have a brake controller added to my wrangler they put on a 2 inch drop and now it is just about level. The trailer place said that was how it should be but it seems like that puts more weight on the hitch than having it lean back some. BUT after reading the above comment by Bob in Mb I am thinking level is best even if it puts more weight on the hitch which I am only assuming. Helpful comments?

Jaye

[Mike Magee]

$15 at Harbor Freight. 2" Ball Mount Hitch with 0 Drop

[Mike Magee]

Originally Posted by jaye580

First let me say I know nothing about this subject I am only chiming in with questions... My Scamp owners manual said to have it 18" from the ground to the coupler which mine was spot on but it leaned considerably to the back. When I took it to the trailer shop to have a brake controller added to my wrangler they put on a 2 inch drop and now it is just about level. The trailer place said that was how it should be but it seems like that puts more weight on the hitch than having it lean back some. BUT after reading the above comment by Bob in Mb I am thinking level is best even if it puts more weight on the hitch which I am only assuming. Helpful comments?

Jaye

Yes, it does put a little more weight on the hitch. But if your trailer is up in front this can induce sway. Level to slightly low in front is where you want your trailer.

[Jack L]

Originally Posted by jaye580

First let me say I know nothing about this subject I am only chiming in with questions... My Scamp owners manual said to have it 18" from the ground to the coupler which mine was spot on but it leaned considerably to the back. When I took it to the trailer shop to have a brake controller added to my wrangler they put on a 2 inch drop and now it is just about level. The trailer place said that was how it should be but it seems like that puts more weight on the hitch than having it lean back some. BUT after reading the above comment by Bob in Mb I am thinking level is best even if it puts more weight on the hitch which I am only assuming. Helpful comments?

Jaye

Level is good, but a little lean forward works best for me.

[Jon in AZ]

As long as it does not overload your tow vehicle, a little more weight on the hitch is a good thing.

The main disadvantage of the lower ball mount is not weight but tongue strikes. Not much you can do about it with a low profile trailer like the Scamp 13 except take dips and driveway aprons slowly and at an angle. Replacing the fixed tongue jack with a foldaway, adjustable, or removable jack helps.

[ZachO]

I don't think any of those would work with my anti-sway bar. It has one of these coming off my mount, so a ball permanently mounted on the hitch isn't going to work. I need to be able to mount that between the ball and ball mount.

The mount I have is 2" drop, 1" rise (or 3/4" depending on what description you look at...) so I need something more flat than that.

Jon, do you know where you got yours? I think I saw something like what I want but it was for a 2 1/2" hitch I think...

[ZachO]

I guess I could just live with the front lean. It is definitely more stable that way. I just wanted, without having to deal with weighing the tongue, to be sure I wasn't going over my truck's tongue load limit. I figure if I'm level I don't need to worry about it.

[Triker]

Jaye, You are right, the lower you hitch the Scamp to your vehicle, the more weight it adds. I have a bathroom scale with a detachable readout and spent some time figuring out tongue weight on the TV with my new Scamp 13'. Yep, I could get the tongue weight to 150 lbs., yay!! But the trailer was certainly not level! I, too, think level or slightly down at the tongue is the safest, but I've only driven 2000 miles. Then there is the whole discussion of TV tongue ratings, etc.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by jaye580

First let me say I know nothing about this subject I am only chiming in with questions... My Scamp owners manual said to have it 18" from the ground to the coupler which mine was spot on but it leaned considerably to the back. When I took it to the trailer shop to have a brake controller added to my wrangler they put on a 2 inch drop and now it is just about level. The trailer place said that was how it should be but it seems like that puts more weight on the hitch than having it lean back some. BUT after reading the above comment by Bob in Mb I am thinking level is best even if it puts more weight on the hitch which I am only assuming. Helpful comments?

Jaye

Scamp says that for a Scamp13 the height should be 18" to the top of the ball.

[Mike Magee]

Originally Posted by ZachO

I don't think any of those would work with my anti-sway bar. It has one of these coming off my mount, so a ball permanently mounted on the hitch isn't going to work. I need to be able to mount that between the ball and ball mount.

The mount I have is 2" drop, 1" rise (or 3/4" depending on what description you look at...) so I need something more flat than that.

Jon, do you know where you got yours? I think I saw something like what I want but it was for a 2 1/2" hitch I think...

Did you look at the one I linked to, at Harbor Freight? Seems like it would work fine with your sway control bracket. You may need a ball with a longer shank, that's all.

[Jim G. - Ohio]

Years ago, I read in my Coleman pop-up manual that it is better to have the rear end low rather than high. The adverse handling and sway is increased with the tail high. On this forum, some say the opposite. Question: Does any FGRV manual state that the tongue should be low if not level? Think about this: more weight on the hitch is less on the steering! What manual says what?

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Jim G. - Ohio

Years ago, I read in my Coleman pop-up manual that it is better to have the rear end low rather than high. The adverse handling and sway is increased with the tail high. On this forum, some say the opposite. Question: Does any FGRV manual state that the tongue should be low if not level? Think about this: more weight on the hitch is less on the steering! What manual says what?

This is an easy question to answer. No mention in manual.
If the nose is high the forward movement with have a tendency to trap air under the trailer and thus a tendency to lift the trailer. Which then takes weight off the tongue.

With the nose low more air pressure on top could do the same thing. However with the design of many molded fiberglass trailers it appears to me that the air pressure under the flat surface of the bottom would be higher than the pressure on the top of a rounded surface.

But then what do I know I'm just an engineer.

[cpaharley2008]

There is nothing wrong with purchasing one at Walmart, trying it out on the parking lot and then returning for the right one, otherwise your garage will be full of unused stingers as attested by my 6-9 piece collection.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by ZachO

I don't think any of those would work with my anti-sway bar. It has one of these coming off my mount, so a ball permanently mounted on the hitch isn't going to work. I need to be able to mount that between the ball and ball mount.

.

I have one of those as well and it works great when switching between trailers with different drawbars and ball sizes & wanting to take the anti sway bar along .... but if you only tow that one trailer, you could ditch it and once you find a ball mount with the correct drop take it to a welder and have them weld the anti sway bar plate to it... thats what most people do anyways.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Jim G. - Ohio

Years ago, I read in my Coleman pop-up manual that it is better to have the rear end low rather than high. The adverse handling and sway is increased with the tail high. On this forum, some say the opposite. Question: Does any FGRV manual state that the tongue should be low if not level? Think about this: more weight on the hitch is less on the steering! What manual says what?

Funny I have been towing various types of trailers for many years and had never been given that advise.

I believe that most here subscribe to getting the trailer as level if not possible then make it to lower rather than high. An inch out of level is not going to do much harm. Having it to high will but to much weight behind the trailers axle which will cause sway.

If you go to the hitch and ball mount manufactures sites most have instructions as to how to choose the correct ball mount and the ones I have read suggest the goal is a level trailer. When measuring what ball mount you require - take into account most vehicles will drop about an 1" with trailer connected and sitting at level.

But having the tongue to low will/can also have a negative impact on the towing experience. The additional weight that puts to the rear of the vehicle could/can result in poor handling of the vehicle (to much weight taken off the front end of the vehicle) and possibly impact braking as well.