Hitch ball mount with 1/4 inch rise

[seanbaker]

I'm new to towing, so I thought I would post this here. Between my 2016 Expedition and my Cadita trailer, I have a 1/4 inch rise. Looks like my choices are a straight ball mount with no rise, or a ball mount with a 3/4 inch rise.

Which would be better?

 

[Grrumpy]

Un-hooked, make sure your trailer is perfectly level.
Back your truck up to it with the hitch shank/ball inserted into hitch, Back up to the trailer to where you can see the hitch ball and the trailer coupling.
To set up properly the TOP of the ball should be between 1 and 3 inches HIGHER than the top of the coupler.
Not knowing exactly what type/weight/tongue weight of your trailer, and not knowing what type of hitch assemble your using, that about all the info I can give you.
It would help if you indicate what type of hitch your using.....just a straight drop shank or a weight distributing hitch, tongue weight, ect.
When hooked up properly, the front of the trailer should be slightly "nose down" when looking at a side view of the entire rig.
The picture I'm posting shows our rig with our previous Ranger pickup....you can see the nose down attitude.
Dosen't have to be a lot, just enough where your placing weight on the hitch/back of truck. I'll post a pic of the rig hooked up to the Expy later....just getting it set up now.
Pic 1 is the day I picked trailer up at dealer...it was unloaded, about 6000 lbs/575 tongue weight, so not too nose down.
Pic 2 & 3 are just today...first hook up to the Expy for a trial run to set it up. Trailer now at 7000 lbs with a 700 lb tongue weight. You can see the nose down attitude on the trailer....I'm still tweaking it but you get the idea.
Tows beautifully !!!!!
Also...did you mean Casita when you gave the make of your trailer ???? If it is it's probably a very light trailer with a very light tongue weight, Just verify please.

 

[seanbaker]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, it's a Casita, max 3500lbs, 350lb tongue. No weight distribution hitch, but it has an anti sway friction bar. From everything I've read, I thought the ball height needs to be as close to the tongue coupler height as possible. So now I'm confused lol.

I have a ball mount that the previous owner used with his tacoma, but my I thought it had too much rise. I'll need to measure again.

 

[Grrumpy]

Even with a light tongue weight and light trailer, you still need to set it up with a slight nose down attitude. Running level or with the front of the trailer "up" can lead to stability problems, even towing with a heavy suv like the Expy.
My first post was based on the possibility of your using a weight dist. hitch. Since your using just a stright drop shank just use one that has the ball level with or just below the trailer coupling. That way when you hitch up, the tongue weight will drop the front of the trailer..
For some very good info and instruction, google up ETrailer. They are probably the best when it comes to towing....lot of excellent videos and how too's.
Trying to explain via posts is very hard....I've set up dozens of hitches/rigs/trailers and each one is a bit different.....parts/heights/weights/tow vehicles all are different.....I could probably set your rig up in less than an hour, but it's hard to do via computer.
But, get it set up right and with the heavy Expy it will be a very easy tow for a light trailer.

 

[seanbaker]

Thanks for the info. I took measurements and pics of the trailer coupler, and will go to Riverside Hitch tomorrow to get setup. They are a pickup location for etrailer, very helpful on the phone.

The ball mount I have is 8 1/2" in length. At that length, the liftgate just barely scrapes the electric tongue jack (which has already been reversed). Do you see any problem going a little longer on the ball mount? I've read the closer the tongue is to the vehicle the better, and even an inch or two makes a difference.

 

[Grrumpy]

Have the same problem with my hatch/tongue jack. In your case, with a light trailer, don't think adding an inch or so will hurt anything. Check with your installer...adding length can actually decrease the tow capacity and place more strain on the hitch. But when referring to adding length to a hitch shank causing problems it is usually by 6-12 inches. I don't think adding 1 to 1 1/2 inches to yours will hurt anything.
My rig is to big/heavy so I just have to live with it.

 

[Grrumpy]

Thanks for the info. I took measurements and pics of the trailer coupler, and will go to Riverside Hitch tomorrow to get setup. They are a pickup location for etrailer, very helpful on the phone.

The ball mount I have is 8 1/2" in length. At that length, the liftgate just barely scrapes the electric tongue jack (which has already been reversed). Do you see any problem going a little longer on the ball mount? I've read the closer the tongue is to the vehicle the better, and even an inch or two makes a difference.

How did your trip to the hitch place go as far as setting up your rig ? Did you get it squared away ?

 

[seanbaker]

I ended up with a 3/4 rise ball mount, which puts me only 1/2 inch off. Also got an anti-sway tab welded on.

I also went with a 10 1/2 inch length, and the liftgate still rubs exactly the same as when I tested it before (that was just a test with the truck lined up with the trailer best I could). So, glad I went with the extra two inches.

We only drove from the storage yard to my house, 1.5 miles lol. First time pulling a trailer, first time backing into a driveway. All seemed to work well, but i need a longer test at freeway speeds.

 

[Grrumpy]

I came from a 2021 Ranger towing our rig, and while it towed fine, being a mid size truck, it needed a lot of driver input
The Expy is in a whole different category. Only had it a few weeks, and just last week got it dialed in with our trailer. Took it out for a 100 mile run to make sure everything was OK...pulls fine. Plenty of power and no "wiggle" or sway at speed. And. our trailer weighs 7000 lbs....with your 3500 lb rig, well, it will handle it just fine.
I have forgotten how pleasurable it is to tow with a large, heavy tow vehicle (came from motorhomes over the last 2 decades). Once you get the rig dialed in and a few miles behind you it will become second nature when you tow.