Tired of hitch height issue

ChanW · August 2020

Possibility that your Tab's suspension is out of whack?

Don't I recall that the 'swing arm suspension' the Tab uses is adjustable for height? (Maybe that was the Dutchmen Tab)

Maybe you should compare axle height with other CSS models, and with a non-CSS Tab.

(You're not using 'low profile' Sleazy Rider tires, right? 😁😎)

2Cougs · August 2020

@AirBoss - Oh, we've been hitched for going on 39 years

No Apple Cup heavy sighs is better than the tears you would have shed

(Had to get a Dawg dig in...)

@Marceline - We currently have a 6" drop. With a 4" drop we would often drag tail going from flat to incline up a hill. Tire was on tongue and tow vehicle was loaded just as it is in the pictures above.

Denny16 · August 2020

You might try to find a 5-inch drop hitch, as a comprobetween the. 4 and 6-inch drop units.

Cheers

TabberJohn · August 2020

Least expensive 5" drop ball mount for 2" receiver I could locate is this:

https://www.amazon.com/CURT-45144-RockerBall-Diameter-Anti-Rattle/dp/B083LDQYBM/

Also available at Northern Tool and etrailer.com.

No experience with a "rockerball" but it sounds interesting. Reviews on Amazon look reasonable.
The only negative one I found mentions the trailer brakes differently due to the rocker action (tug/pull flex). There is also periodic maintenance to lubricate the polyurethane core via a zerk fitting on the bottom of the ball bolt.

In any case based on your photos I think this would solve your wheel install issue.
The question is whether a 1" rise difference will bring back any bottoming out.

Marceline · August 2020

2Cougs said:

@Marceline - We currently have a 6" drop. With a 4" drop we would often drag tail going from flat to incline up a hill. Tire was on tongue and tow vehicle was loaded just as it is in the pictures above.

This is just very strange. From the photo you posted with the tape measure, it looks like the height from the ground to the top of your ball is only 13" or 14." Since all the tow vehicles are different, this is the number that's relevant when comparing your setup to other owners' setups. I have always read that the correct ball height for non-Boondock T@Bs is 16" (https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/440/hitch-height-of-t-b) and this is the number that I've been using. The ball height on my receiver is actually 17" because my vehicle sags a little when it's fully loaded, bringing it down to 16."

With the 16" ball height and a clamshell, the only time I've had the tail touch bottom is when I still had the spare tire back there and I went from a driveway with no curb cut onto a street. That was the first day I owned the T@B. I moved the spare up front and it's never happened again. Today I went to where my trailer was stored and out of curiosity I crawled around under the trailer to see if there were any signs of the tail touching the ground and there's absolutely nothing. I've probably put 10,000+ miles on my trailer.

So it seems really really odd that you need to have your ball set so incredibly low in order to avoid having the tail touch the ground. Are your tires a different size? Did you maybe not have the stabilizers fully retracted?Is your axle different? Is there something wrong with your axle? Do you have a super steep driveway? I really think that there is something "off" and it would be better to figure that out before cutting the jack post.

Denny16 · August 2020

@TabberJohn, that 5-inch shock drop mount looks interesting, I like the anti-rattle pin connection. I have a bike rack,that uses a similar setup, with a lock over the end of the pin/bolt. You can get just the ball mount part foe $50, https://www.amazon.com/CURT-40047-RockerBall-Cushion-Diameter/dp/B07YXJ73KY
and this would add about 1.5 inches to the mounted ball height on the OP’s 6-inch drop draw bar,, this might jut solve his problem.

Cheers

TabberJohn · August 2020

@Denny16 - Aha! Hadn't thought about that.
Then this would probably work too: https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch-Ball/Brophy/CB28Z.html
@2Cougs -- There's your $35 fix.

A 2" ball with a 1" riser.

gspdx · August 2020

Might want to consider the jack-e-up. Could help
https://www.amazon.com/Jack-E-Up-5048-Black-Universal/dp/B01EVTKAJG/ref=asc_df_B01EVTKAJG/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312061936460&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13244210555636528116&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1027760&hvtargid=pla-570131682138&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=63195598478&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312061936460&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13244210555636528116&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1027760&hvtargid=pla-570131682138

Homebodyatheart · August 2020

@2Cougs I’ve got a simple work around for you! I finally got a 4” drop yesterday. When I got home I had the same problems you have, and it looked like exactly like Mr 2Cougs pic. I raised the jack stand until it was off the ball and hitch. I removed the hitch, turned it upside down and reinserted it in the TV, lowered the tongue onto it, raised the jack stand, put the wheel on with room to spare, continued my usual routine. Hope it helps!

BrianZ · August 2020

Clever solution, @Homebodyatheart; although, for those of us who keep a hitch tightener & drawbar lock installed, it would take longer than the 2x4's.

TabberJohn · August 2020

Note etrailer's 2" ball with 1" riser means anyone can dial in their hitch height by 1" increments.
0, 2, 4, 6, 8" drops can be 1" rise, or 1, 3, 5, 7" drops.
I wish I had known about that option before I switched out our 6" drop for a 4.
$35 is kinda pricey for just a ball though. I got a Curt Fusion Mount for less than that but the ball is permanently mounted.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004PL63Z6

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