Ram 3500 - Which Hitch?

[DaveP]

The top of the receiver on my Ram 3500 is at 24" from the ground. The top of the ball receiver on my Airstream is at 17", so I need a drop shank that will get the top of the ball down by 7". The longest drop shank Blue Ox makes drops the top of the ball down to 22", so I am still 5" too high. What hitches are you other heavy duty (high-riding) truck owner using? Do I have to forgo using the Blue Ox hitch (which I like) to get the proper drop?

[Tyler2you]

Originally Posted by DaveP

The top of the ball receiver on my Airstream is at 17", so I need a drop shank that will get the top of the ball down by 7".

That's very low. Are you sure you're level. Most of the modern trailers need a ball height in the 22-24" range to get level.

[DaveP]

Originally Posted by Tyler2you

That's very low. Are you sure you're level. Most of the modern trailers need a ball height in the 22-24" range to get level.

Yes. It is level and I went through this 2 years ago when I put in a 3" lift so I have been through the measurements before. Airstreams ride low in comparison to trailers with the axles on springs.

[Tyler2you]

Originally Posted by DaveP

Yes. It is level and I went through this 2 years ago when I put in a 3" lift so I have been through the measurements before. Airstreams ride low in comparison to trailers with the axles on springs.

My 22 GT is at 22". Maybe the Classic rides lower

[Andy543]

I use a simple ball mount with a 4" drop to tow my FC 28' with a RAM 2500. The rear of the truck drops about 3-4" under the load and both the truck and the trailer ride perfectly level. Depending on what you're carrying in the bed of the truck and what your trailer tongue load turns out to be, you may need a different drop, but I would start with a 4" drop and see how it looks. The goal is to have both the trailer and truck level when you're done. Note that the truck is not level (it is a few inches higher in the back) when unloaded, but it should be close to level after applying the tongue load.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by DaveP

Yes. It is level and I went through this 2 years ago when I put in a 3" lift so I have been through the measurements before. Airstreams ride low in comparison to trailers with the axles on springs.

A three inch trailer lift decreased the tongue height...how does that work?

Ours is 20.5" to the top of the ball socket.(no lift)

Bob
🇺🇸

[DaveP]

Originally Posted by Tyler2you

My 22 GT is at 22". Maybe the Classic rides lower

Tyler, You got me thinking. Our trailer heights should be approximately equal. My driveway is quite slanted so I use blocks underneath the front jack to level it a bit. I took out a line level to check and I was measuring the height of the receiver from the wrong block/reference point. So much for my memory of what I did before but measure twice and cut once.

The correct height to the bottom of the receiver is about 20". Between that and Andy's points, I should be close using the 9-hole Blue Ox shank.

Thanks for both of your inputs.

[jeffmc306]

Originally Posted by DaveP

The top of the receiver on my Ram 3500 is at 24" from the ground. The top of the ball receiver on my Airstream is at 17", so I need a drop shank that will get the top of the ball down by 7". The longest drop shank Blue Ox makes drops the top of the ball down to 22", so I am still 5" too high. What hitches are you other heavy duty (high-riding) truck owner using? Do I have to forgo using the Blue Ox hitch (which I like) to get the proper drop?

DaveP, we also have a Blue Ox and our RAM 2500 was higher than our 1500 so I ordered a 2.5” CURT drop shank from eTrailer. I did cut the bottom 1 1/2” off once I got it dialed in.

[DaveP]

Originally Posted by jeffmc306

DaveP, we also have a Blue Ox and our RAM 2500 was higher than our 1500 so I ordered a 2.5” CURT drop shank from eTrailer. I did cut the bottom 1 1/2” off once I got it dialed in.

Thanks, Jeff! How high is the top of your receiver off the ground?

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by jeffmc306

DaveP, we also have a Blue Ox and our RAM 2500 was higher than our 1500 so I ordered a 2.5” CURT drop shank from eTrailer. I did cut the bottom 1 1/2” off once I got it dialed in.

Jeff,

I would shorten the breakaway cable so it engages before the safety chains are fully extended also best to attach to the TV not the hitch.

Bob
🇺🇸

Also get that umbilical up and away...

[jeffmc306]

Originally Posted by DaveP

Thanks, Jeff! How high is the top of your receiver off the ground?

Dave, it’s about 26” to the top of the receiver on our 2019 RAM 2500 4x4 gas truck.

[DaveP]

Originally Posted by jeffmc306

Dave, it’s about 26” to the top of the receiver on our 2019 RAM 2500 4x4 gas truck.

Thanks again, Jeff. I am surprised that your 2500 is taller than my 3500. I thought they would be about the same.

[JohnandDonna]

I have a Ram 2500 with the Air suspension. I put it into Alternate trailer height and it lowers the back end down so that the truck is completely level. This works great with towing my International 30RB (I have a Blue Ox with 1000 pound bars). Kind of wondering why you went with the 3500. Even the air suspension on the 1 ton truck works different. Do you have the Cummins and you wanted some decent payload, that would make sense. However I went with the 6.4 Hemi and 4.10 rear end as there is nothing that Airstream makes that actually needs a diesel to tow it.

[DaveP]

Originally Posted by JohnandDonna

I have a Ram 2500 with the Air suspension. I put it into Alternate trailer height and it lowers the back end down so that the truck is completely level. This works great with towing my International 30RB (I have a Blue Ox with 1000 pound bars). Kind of wondering why you went with the 3500. Even the air suspension on the 1 ton truck works different. Do you have the Cummins and you wanted some decent payload, that would make sense. However I went with the 6.4 Hemi and 4.10 rear end as there is nothing that Airstream makes that actually needs a diesel to tow it.

Exactly right! I wanted the payload capacity primarily for the Habitat builds I do and what I carry with me. I did get the diesel.

[Fungus]

Just wondering...

How do you determine "level"? I measure the distance near the front of the trailer under the frame (not the A-frame). Then do the same at the back of the trailer. Both are right up against the belly pan. When they are equal, the trailer is level.

[Life is a Highway]

Jeff likes to get High, Makes the guys at Shocker quiver in there boots
L”OL

Originally Posted by jeffmc306

Dave, it’s about 26” to the top of the receiver on our 2019 RAM 2500 4x4 gas truck.

[jeffmc306]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

Jeff,

I would shorten the breakaway cable so it engages before the safety chains are fully extended also best to attach to the TV not the hitch.

Bob
🇺🇸

Also get that umbilical up and away...

Thanks for the feedback Bob.

That’s an old photo - since then I put an eyebolt in the license plate lower hole for the breakaway cable. I’ll take a look at what I can do with the umbilical. Would be nice to have something like the semis use with a spring to support it.

[Tyler2you]

Originally Posted by Fungus

Just wondering...

How do you determine "level"? I measure the distance near the front of the trailer under the frame (not the A-frame). Then do the same at the back of the trailer. Both are right up against the belly pan. When they are equal, the trailer is level.

I believe the primary goal is to get the frame rails level, so I check at the A-frame. The axles are mounted to the frame and the primary purpose of leveling is to get the axles riding at the same height. Or, I could be doing it wrong . . .

[JDG]

Gen Y Hitch. You won’t regret it.

[DaveP]

Originally Posted by JDG

Attachment 432190

Gen Y Hitch. You won’t regret it.

JDG,

Thanks. But what about sway control?