Proper height for trailer hitch ball mount?

[Dave 205]

Hope you are all having a good holiday weekend and thank you to our veterans!

I'm making the transition from my 2002 Durango to my 2012 F150. When I bought my sport boat three seasons ago, I had a ball mount that I had been using with rental moving trailers. My dealer said it was fine for my boat trailer, and I've used it without trouble.

The bottom of the opening on my F150 receiver is 18.5" off the ground, as opposed to 15" for the Durango. Do I need a new ball mount with approximately 3" more drop. I'm guessing that might be an easy "yes."

But, considering the lack of science picking my my first ball mount, how do you properly select one?

Thanks all!

 

[KC_Sundancer]

The best ball height is with your trailer frame running parallel to the ground with the truck carrying a typical load.
I would load it up with your current ball mount and see how it sits parked on a flat roadway. A slightly higher tongue is OK with a lightly loaded truck.
Take a few measurements of the trailer frame height front and back and go from there. A slightly higher tongue is OK with a lightly loaded truck.
Somewhere to start anyway - :huh:

 

[Lazy Daze]

In the end, the goal is to have the trailer tongue as level as possible so the brakes function to their best. For most runabouts, this means you should have about 18"-20" from the ground to the center of the ball. But ultimately, it all depends on how it looks once it's hooked up.

 

[Dave 205]

Thanks guys!