New to RVing, Does it make sense to have a pair of draw bars?

mikedec5to14

I'm trying to figure out how to configure my hitch.  My tow vehicle is 15 inches tall and my T@B is a 320S, so it is 16 inches.  The videos I've watched seem to say I need a 1" rise in my ball mount.  This seems fine to me if I'm towing the trailer with the tow vehicle empty or nearly empty.  There are certainly times that I will do that (e.g. to get it serviced or when travelling alone),  but when I go out with my wife we will be taking a carload full of accessories (canopy, stove, chairs, etc.) and I expect that the tow vehicle will be sitting somewhat lower.  I thinking that I should get a second ball mount and ball that has a 2" rise.  Like that I can simply switch mounts depending on how full the tow vehicle is.  Does that seem to make sense?

pthomas745

Welcome to the Forums, and thanks for the funniest headline ever.

Mouseketab

We actually have two draw bars for our T@B for exactly the reasons you stated. Sometimes I need the drop, and sometimes I need a slight rise for when the truck is really loaded.

dragonsdofly

@MikeSchwartz, as @lkc001 said, so many ways to respond to this. As long as we're not talking about the big brass kind, yes what you're thinking will work. We have several different drop lengths to accommodate our multiple towing vehicles, and to accommodate family and friends who have or plan to tow the t@b. In your case, flip over a 1" drop to get a 1" upward adjustment. Good luck with this!

Denny16

I have several setups for the Jeep Truck, with the top of its receiver a 16.75 inches, for use with the different trailers and wood splitter that I need to tow.
nice to have the correct setup at hand.
cheers

lkc001

welcome Mike!  I knew others would have some good ideas for you😄 that would be more helpful than my comment!  This is a great group & helpful with good ideas & advice 

mikedec5to14

Thank you folks.  Double entendre aside, it was a serious question.  I'll go ahead and invest in the extra ball mount and ball!  Thanks for the info!

WilliamA

If you go to the places I go you'll need at least that many...

WilliamA 

VictoriaP

There is also such a thing as an adjustable ball mount. This is one example: https://smile.amazon.com/MaxxHaul-70067-8-Position-Adjustable-Mount/dp/B008CE06ZA/

AirBoss

I've found one set is more than enough...just sayin'...

Horigan

One concern with that type of hitch is that it moves the ball further away from the vehicle hitch receiver, thus increasing the torque on the receiver for a given tongue load.  This hitch has the ball 12.25" out from the hitch pin, when it's usually ~8".  So you'd have to reduce your tongue load accordingly...

Denny16

And it adds more movement from the trailer ball to the receiver.  

Cheers

TNOutback

To answer your question with a straight answer:  yes, I have observed that precise situation and use an adjustable ball mount by B&W for that very reason. I can add an extra inch of height to level out the truck and trailer if I’m loaded up in the truck bed.

Tampakayaker

HAUL-MASTER

8-In-1 Adjustable Ball Mount Hitch

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A ball mount hitch with adjustable rise and drop

$32.99

AirBoss

Curious. These type of ball mounts do move ball rearward by a few inches or so. What does that do to weight distribution, etc.? Always told to keep the ball as close to the tow vehicle as possible. These mounts do have their advantages...just curious is to what degree they may be offset.  

Slackers

We have an adjustable mount. Added a couple of hitch tighteners and it cleaned up nearly all of the movement. Also added a Tekonsha Primus breaker controller and our 320 CSS pulls easily behind our 2019 Ranger. The combo had no issues on a drive thru a twisty 25 mile section of Eastern Kentucky road.