What drop ball mount for my truck?

I have a 3" lifted 2013 Tacoma. The center of the receiver is 21 1/4" from the ground. All I have to pull now is a trailer but may get another bass boat one day. For the trailer to be sitting level the bottom of the hitch is at 17". Do I need a 4" drop ball mount? I assume you would want the trailer to ride level or nose slightly higher?

Is Reese the brand to get or others comparable? Best place to buy? Steel or aluminum?

Thanks

Jeff

 

Currently there is no weight pulling down on your bumper. Put some tongue weight on, and you will drop a bit. So a 2-3" drop. The exact # will depend on the weight.

 

http://www.etrailer.com/Ball-Mounts/Andersen/AM3410.html
Consider one of these adjustable aluminum drops. All of my trailers are a little different... This allows you to do all of them. The only complaint is I use all three ball sizes, but my 2 5/16 trailers use the same drop. Also helps when I have a load in the bed vs none to compensate. Downside is the less-than-honest people that would "borrow" it. It is actually illegal in Ohio to have a receiver in when not towing (rarely enforced). It's pricey, but I really like it.

 

Yea, expensive, but it DON'T RUST! and if changing balls, you don't get rust all over yourself. Lol

 

I have a 2011 with aftermarket rear leafs that sit about 1-1/2" higher than stock. Typically, a 2" drop is about right. For some trailers it's a little high, but those tend to be the ones that will have enough tongue weight so that compensates.

I do occasionally tow one trailer that needs a pintle hook type. That's a slight rise from the hitch, but the way the trailer is built the tongue is a little higher than most.

 

If you're going to drive anywhere rough, those adjustable hitches will drag bad. I have a different hitch for each trailer. Some of my trailers are lifted, so the drop is flipped to rise 2" or whatever. Just make sure that the ball is the right size and rated for the correct weight. The standard 2" drop will do fine for what you described.