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Hitch with a 9" drop?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Excelknut, Jul 31, 2015.

  1. Jul 31, 2015 at 7:09 AM
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    Excelknut

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    Excelknut [OP] New Member

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    A few months ago I purchased a 2004 v6 Tacoma SR5. I need to tow a small, low trailer but it appears I need to purchase a hitch with a 9 " drop to keep the trailer level. Does that sound right? Am I doing something wrong? For some reason, I thought a 9 inch drop would be used for a large truck. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

    ~Jeff
     
    Excelknut, Jul 31, 2015
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  2. Jul 31, 2015 at 7:13 AM
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    ArcherTaco

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    ArcherTaco Well-Known Member

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    Do we have pics of the setup? I'm on 33" tires and still have only ever needed a 2" drop for a very low trailer...So something seems out of whack here.
     
    ArcherTaco, Jul 31, 2015
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  3. Jul 31, 2015 at 7:16 AM
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    Excelknut

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    Excelknut [OP] New Member

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    Tires on my trailer are 4.80–8. Should I try to buy larger tires for it?
     
    Excelknut, Jul 31, 2015
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  4. Jul 31, 2015 at 7:28 AM
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    Chickenmunga

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    Chickenmunga Nuggety

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    If you look around the internet there's some measurement guide, but the easiest thing to do is get your trailer level, measure from ground up to the tongue. Then go measure from the bottom inside edge of your truck's receiver hitch to the ground. Subtract the differences and that should give you needed drop.
    When I had my 3" lift, for most any trailer I've had to haul I just needed a 3" drop hitch. Now that I have a high clearance bumper with a hidden hitch, I need a 12" drop.
    If you have one of those small Harbor Freight trailers on the really small wheels, I can see needing a bigger drop, but 9" does sound really big.
     
    Chickenmunga, Jul 31, 2015
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  5. Jul 31, 2015 at 9:30 AM
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    ArcherTaco

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    ArcherTaco Well-Known Member

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    If the tires aren't bad I certainly wouldn't do that. There's no problem with running a 9" drop it just struck me as odd. I would buy a hitch before tires just out of monetary concern. Keep it in the truck and use it when you need it. I have 3 different hitch arrangements and I think 5 different balls in my truck currently. Just my .02
     
    ArcherTaco, Jul 31, 2015
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  6. Jul 31, 2015 at 9:34 AM
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    MrGrimm

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    MrGrimm Mall Crawler

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    had to get a 14" drop for mine, lol.
     
    MrGrimm, Jul 31, 2015
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  7. Jul 31, 2015 at 9:46 AM
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    Scamper

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    Scamper Active Member

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    Seems a bit unusual, but within reason - if you need it, you need it. You could also try a 6" drop. A little high on the tongue is better than too low, and sometimes better than level.
     
    Scamper, Jul 31, 2015
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  8. Jul 31, 2015 at 9:49 AM
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    ArcherTaco

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    ArcherTaco Well-Known Member

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    9" rise would scare the crap out of me...
     
    ArcherTaco, Jul 31, 2015
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  9. Jul 31, 2015 at 11:48 AM
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    Wyoming09

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    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    Only you know what you really need.

    Is this going to be the only trailer ??

    Do you need to worry about departure angle ??

    I myself might split the difference and drop the receiver 5"

    Then when one fabricates for a living we tend to think different.

    With tires that small there can`t be much weight is there??
     
    Wyoming09, Jul 31, 2015
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  10. Jul 31, 2015 at 12:05 PM
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    nzbrock

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    nzbrock Well-Known Member

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    nzbrock, Jul 31, 2015
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  11. Jul 31, 2015 at 12:35 PM
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    Sacrifice

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    Sacrifice Motorcycle Goon

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    is it me or does their product not make sense? how can it drop 6 inches but only raise 5?? all you would do is flip it over and have the same height up..
     
    Sacrifice, Jul 31, 2015
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  12. Jul 31, 2015 at 12:38 PM
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    Sacrifice

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    Sacrifice Motorcycle Goon

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    Not sure why that would matter, but i guess. Just thought it was weird
     
    Sacrifice, Jul 31, 2015
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  13. Jul 31, 2015 at 1:10 PM
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    nzbrock

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    nzbrock Well-Known Member

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    Hitch drop/rise are measured from the top of the shank to the top of the ball mounting surface. The rise is usually not equal to the drop due to thickness of material and in this case, the bolt hole locations. Most of the time the drop will be 2" more than the rise due to the hitch tube size. https://www.etrailer.com/faq-ballmount.aspx
     
    nzbrock, Jul 31, 2015
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  14. Jul 31, 2015 at 1:13 PM
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    Sacrifice

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    Sacrifice Motorcycle Goon

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    ah interesting. so its really just the fact that they are measured from an off center point of the hitch. the more ya know :thumbsup:
     
    Sacrifice, Jul 31, 2015
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  15. Jul 31, 2015 at 1:19 PM
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    nzbrock

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    nzbrock Well-Known Member

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    Correct. If they measured from the centerline of the hitch (which would make more sense to me) they would measure the same. Unless of course you are talking about an adjustable hitch, then it all depends on where the adjustment points are.
     
    nzbrock, Jul 31, 2015
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  16. Jul 31, 2015 at 3:32 PM
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    keakar

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    keakar Well-Known Member

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    if you aren't lifted then all you need is this: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Curt-Class-3-6-Inch-Drop-Ball-Mount-8-1-4/17648206

    that's what I use and it pulls my flatboat nice and level with "maybe" a 1" uphill angle to it which helps drainage of any water on the way home.
     
    keakar, Jul 31, 2015
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