According to the airstream.com site, the ball height on all the 70's trailers is 19.5. (I'm assuming that means "inches"). I just checked the receiver on my truck, and the bottom of the receiver is 19.5 inches off the ground. (I was kind of surprised by this, because the truck seems to sit up high...its a 4x4....and airstreams have always looked to me like they sit low). Anyway, can I assume that a straight ball hitch (as opposed to a "drop-down") is appropriate? Certainly, the 580lb hitch weight is going to lower the rear-end of the truck some. The smallest drop-down they have is 2", and I'm not sure where exactly what they mean by "ball height". Is that the top of the ball...the middle? what? I suppose if they mean 19.5 to the top of the ball, then a 2" drop would be just about right....
(have I mentioned how great you guys are for answering all of these newbie questions for me? I really appreciate it...)
Hi Chuck.
The manual for my '77 Sovereign says 19.5" to the top of the ball when the tow vehicle is loaded. Presumably with your truck, unless you are putting a lot into the bed, the passengers, etc. won't cause the truck to sit lower than when unloaded.
I have a '94 Ford F-350 that I use to tow a horse trailer (gooseneck), but I also have a hitch for the receiver for when I want to tow a regular trailer. That hitch has an 8" drop because anything shorter made the trailer tilt back. If your truck is like mine, 4x4 with overload shocks, it is a LOT higher than a conventional (SUV) vehicle.
When I bought my A/S a couple of weeks ago, the hitch with weight-distributing bars came with it. Even with several inches of drop, the trailer still tilted back. Then I tried hitching up to the regular hitch with the 8" drop and it was almost perfect. So today I had the hitch device mounted onto a receiver bar with an 11" drop, although we didn't use the whole 11 inches. Once thing the man who changed the hitch told me is that you have to adjust the tilt of the ball so that the weight distribution bars don't drag or sit too high. The Reese hitch I have has a spline device that can do the adjustment. Other hitches use different mechanisms.
Wish I had a digital camera to attach pictures of all this. But hope it helps anyway.
Chuck,
What kind of hitch do you have? the hitch I am buying says to measure from level ground to the inside top of the receiver box, for the trailer measure from level ground to the top inside of the trailer coupler.
Also check web sites of the manufacturers, I know Reese has one for example.
My hitch (or should I say, "receiver") came from the Dodge truck factory...factory installed tow package. Its not something you can adjust, anyway...it bolts to the frame of the truck. So it is what it is.
My question is: how much of a drop-down do I need for the gizmo (ball mount) that sticks into the square hole on the receiver? I think it should be 2", because the ball is going to be 2" (thereabouts) and the reciever is already at 19.5.
I was thinking before that I should let the ball mount stay high, and the trailer's weight would make it sag down to "level", but now I'm thinking that this is the job of the weight distributing hitch. I should start out "level", let it sag, and remove the sag with the weight distribution system. yes?
hitch question- I just got a Saturn SL2 to tow behind my motorhome. It has the roadmaster attachments for a roadmaster or stowmaster tow bar, which I intend to get later in the summer.
My question is concerning the drop down of the hitch. My hitch was used for a jeep by the prior owner, so should I assume I will need a greater drop to accomodate the Saturn, which is lower to the ground? Or does the bar ride up enough so that it does not matter which car you tow?
Chuck,
All Airstreams since the middle '60's have had a 19.5" ball height. If the trailer has a gross weight rating greater than 5000 lbs. it requires a 2 5/16" ball, this is from Federal standard V15 for trailer tow.
You will need a weight distributing hitch which when properly set up will have the trailer level or slightly nose low, never nose high. When the weight distributing bars are hooked up the truck will drop equally front and rear. My 1500 Dodge Ram drops 1" at all 4 corners when the trailer is hooked up. If you have a 2500 series it will not drop as much but will still drop at all 4 corners. The amount of drop is influnced by the tongue weght. Follow the manufactuers recommendations in the instructions for set up.
There are several good hitches on the market including some very expensive hitches such as the Hensley Arrow or Pull-Rite, however I use the Reese with Dual cam sway control. I do not recommend using any of the friction type sway controls avaliable. You should also weight your trailer in a loaded condition and make sure you have a minimum of 10 % tongue weight. 12% is considered ideal and the trailer will tow and track fine and will be stable under windy conditions or with passing trucks.
I do not belive that you will need any kind of drop on the ball to tow your Asturn. The tow bar is hinged where it conects to the tow cat so level is not an issue. The only thing I would be concerned with is if the tow bar drops at an exterme angle that could cause it to be pryed of the ball when going into or out of a gas station and such. I would assme that a straight out hitch with the standard amount of drop would work. You will want to be very carful with regard to how you mount your bikes if you are going to tow the car. I have heard of dents, scratched, and lost bikes beacuse the car to bike gap was not big enough.
__________________
Brett G
WBCCI #5501 AIR # 49
"Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey." -- Fitzhugh Mullan
Wise men talk because they have someting to say; fools, because they have to say something. -- Plato
In politics, absurdity is not a handicap— Napoleon
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