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

mikedec5to14
mikedec5to14 Member Posts: 6
edited July 2020 in Trailer & Towing
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?

Comments

  • pthomas745
    pthomas745 Administrator, Moderator Posts: 4,656
    Welcome to the Forums, and thanks for the funniest headline ever.
    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
  • Mouseketab
    Mouseketab Member Posts: 1,262
    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.
    Carol
    MOUSE-KE-T@B
    2007 Dutchmen T@B Clamshell #2741
    2022 nuCamp T@B 320 CS-S
    2021 F-150 502A Lariat SuperCrew, 3.5 EcoBoost 4x2
    Harvest, AL
  • dragonsdofly
    dragonsdofly Member Posts: 1,928
    @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!
    2017 t@b sofitel(Dr@gonsFly)TV 2015 Silverado 2500hd(Behemoth). Wyandotte, Michigan.
    Draco dormiens numquam titilandus.
  • Denny16
    Denny16 Member Posts: 5,430
    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
    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
  • lkc001
    lkc001 Member Posts: 881
    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 
    2018 Tab 400
    2016 Nissan Frontier SV 4x4 Crew Cab
  • mikedec5to14
    mikedec5to14 Member Posts: 6
    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
    WilliamA Member Posts: 154
    If you go to the places I go you'll need at least that many...

    WilliamA 
    2021 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
    2017 T@G XL
    Can generally be found around west-central Wisconsin.  
  • VictoriaP
    VictoriaP Member Posts: 1,496
    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/


    2019 320s BD Lite, white with blue (“Haven”)
    2015 Subaru Outback 3.6r (unsafe 200lb tongue weight limit until 2020 models)
    2020 Subaru Outback XT
    Pacific NW
  • AirBoss
    AirBoss Member Posts: 740
    I've found one set is more than enough...just sayin'... B)
    2020 T@B 400 "OTTO" (build date 08/19)
    Factory Victron Solar; Norcold 3-way fridge
    '04 Chevy Tahoe Z71 DinoKiller
    San Diego, CA
    www.airbossone.com
    https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/owen-ashurst/shop


  • Horigan
    Horigan Member Posts: 906
    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...
    Rich
    2019 T@b 400
    2025 Toyota Highlander 2.4L Turbo
    Bellingham WA
  • Denny16
    Denny16 Member Posts: 5,430
    And it adds more movement from the trailer ball to the receiver.  
    Cheers
    2018 TaB400 Custom Boondock,  Jeep Gladiator truck, Northern California Coast.
  • TNOutback
    TNOutback Member Posts: 633
    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
    Tampakayaker Member Posts: 558

    HAUL-MASTER

    8-In-1 Adjustable Ball Mount Hitch

    A ball mount hitch with adjustable rise and drop

    $32.99



    2006 RAM 1500 4 door, 2016 T@B 320 MAX S 
    Tampa FL
  • AirBoss
    AirBoss Member Posts: 740
    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.  
    2020 T@B 400 "OTTO" (build date 08/19)
    Factory Victron Solar; Norcold 3-way fridge
    '04 Chevy Tahoe Z71 DinoKiller
    San Diego, CA
    www.airbossone.com
    https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/owen-ashurst/shop


  • Slackers
    Slackers Member Posts: 490
    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. 
    2019 Tab 320 CSS, 2019 Ranger TV, OH

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