Ball Height

[LizP]

Anyone have a standard/ideal height this should be? My hitch ball sits 18' off the ground and seems too high for the little Burro I just bought. Is there any effect on handling, etc. if this is not set at the "perfect" height?

I did notice on the drive home with it that those annoying waves/dips in expressway paving caused the trailer to do quite a bit of bouncing (which bounced the tow vehicle quite a bit). This is a road that you would feel the waves with the car only, but it was VERY exaggerated with the trailer in tow. Not sure if the bouncing would be related to my question or if it is related to something else.

I suppose I could get it on a level surface, unhook it, measure it.... but, being lazy, I thought it would be easier to ask the board first

[Kevin K]

As long as the trailer is level, when hooked up to your tow rig, you are ok.

[Donna D.]

There's several things that could cause the bouncing. 28 year old axle, light tongue weight, or even a short wheelbase tug. What you need to find out is what the hitch height was on a new 1981 Burro. That would tell you how much yours has settled.

[pjanits]

Once you start loading up the trailer you should end up with more weight on the hitch, which will improve that.
355/53 is notorious for bounce even when the trailer is full. I should have mentioned that. When level if the hitch is pointed sort of up you will feel that always as the tail is pulling up the nose. I always had the kept hitch slightly down when level. You may have to experiment a bit till you get it right. But wait until you get your initial load in it.

[Pete Dumbleton]

Level is best, nose-down is next best, nose-up is a No-No.

[LizP]

Thanks Pete! I'll give that a try.

[Sheryl M]

There's several things that could cause the bouncing. 28 year old axle, light tongue weight, or even a short wheelbase tug. What you need to find out is what the hitch height was on a new 1981 Burro. That would tell you how much yours has settled.

We tow with a Pontiac Aztek and need to fix the tongue angle, as our trailer hitch points slightly upward. My question is, how does one lower the tongue far enough so the tongue will just drop onto the ball? (without having to lift it by hand and move it onto the ball).
The jack doesn't wind down enough to lower the tongue that low. We've got a 13' scamp.