Shocker Hitch Frustration: Ball Height

[jeffmc306]

Originally Posted by Tyler2you

Jeff--do you have 20" wheels? Thinking that might account for a bit of the height.

My 3500 is spot-on 23" to the center of the receiver with 18" wheels. I was still over 2" too high.

Get that 3" lift, some 18" wheels and it's sure to work

Yep, i think the 3” lift is the simple solution.

I have 20” wheels but I think the overall circumference is the same because the 18” tires have a taller sidewall. Plus, I just replaced the tires with new Michelins. Andy from Can-Am recommends 20” for towing because the stiffer sidewalls so we’re good there.

Thanks for sharing your receiver height and wheel size. It’s helpful to understand what everyone else has.

[VeloBuckeye]

FWIW, here are my specs for my Shocker Hitch/Blue Ox set up.

- 2020 F250 stock, but Sulastic Springs make it sit 1/2" higher when unhitched
- 2018 FC 27 with 3" lift and 16" tire upgrade
- Ball height before Shocker = 24 3/4"
- Ball height after Shocker was installed = 24 5/8"
- With Shocker, ball distance from bumper increased by 2 1/8"
- My Shocker is the Class 5 - 3" receiver version

As you can see from photo, I still have a decent amount of adjustment up and down the 10-hole mount.

Hope that helps a bit.

[s1000pre]

What weight are your WD bars rated at? If they are over 1k, that could be your FES issue.

[Tyler2you]

And if anyone was wondering, the Shocker set-up is about 39 lbs lighter than the Gen-Y. Pretty significant difference.

Gen-Y w/ 10K Equalizer head and ball: 115 lbs

Shocker w/ 10K Equalizer head and ball: 76 lbs

Maybe I'll be coming back to the Shocker with a Dexter Lift in a few years. I can barely lift the Gen-Y into the receiver now at a spry 57 years.

[jeffmc306]

Originally Posted by VeloBuckeye

FWIW, here are my specs for my Shocker Hitch/Blue Ox set up.

- 2020 F250 stock, but Sulastic Springs make it sit 1/2" higher when unhitched
- 2018 FC 27 with 3" lift and 16" tire upgrade
- Ball height before Shocker = 24 3/4"
- Ball height after Shocker was installed = 24 5/8"
- With Shocker, ball distance from bumper increased by 2 1/8"
- My Shocker is the Class 5 - 3" receiver version

As you can see from photo, I still have a decent amount of adjustment up and down the 10-hole mount.

Hope that helps a bit.

VeloBuckeye, thanks for sharing your setup. I set my Shocker to the same position on the XR mount as yours and my ball height was 28” (need to be 22 3/4” for the trailer to be level or down a little).

This must mean your F250’s receiver is quite a bit lower than mine plus your 16” trailer tires and 3” axle lift are contributing to the difference and help move your Shocker towards the middle of the XR mount’s adjustments.

If Shocker were to add another pin position near the top I could get to the right ball height (see mockup photo below). Otherwise, it looks like I’m spending another $1700 for the Dexter 3” axle lift.

[jeffmc306]

After weighing the options we decided to have JC install the Dexter Axle Lift during our June appointment and keep the Shocker hitch. I hate the extra expense but like the benefit of more height when approaching dips in gas station driveways and getting the trailer level.

Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions and shared their setups!

[KCurtis]

The lift is well worth it. One of the other benefits is it raises the sewer outlet 3 inches. LOL

[jeffmc306]

Originally Posted by KCurtis

The lift is well worth it. One of the other benefits is it raises the sewer outlet 3 inches. LOL

Ha! That is a great reason, thanks for the tip

[JDG]

Jeff,

Just another option to consider is the Gen Y hitch. Here are a before and after (lift kit installed) pictures. I have a 2018 RAM 2500 (no air suspension) so our trucks should be about the same height. My coach sat level on the bottom set of holes before the lift and then had to move it up once the kit was installed. Extremely happy with both the GenY hitch and the Lift Kit. JC installed the lift kit. You will also notice the lift jack for the GenY, as mentioned, it is quite heavy. Best of luck.

Jerry

[jeffmc306]

Thanks Jerry for the photos - I really like the amount of adjustment you get with the Gen-Y. GOUSC has been happy with his as well. He’s got a GMC 3/4 ton and the same Globetrotter without the lift.

The elephant in the room is the weight (pun intended)…. I’m able to remove the Shocker and store it on the receiver mount on the trailer frame once we get to our destination. I’d be worried about backing into someone if I left it on the truck.

Now that I’ve made peace with the cost of the lift, I’ll give the Shocker a try and hope it works as advertised. Others who have them (with lifted trailers) are happy with them.

Appreciate the additional info!

[Life is a Highway]

For those of you like myself with a equalizer 14000 hitch head I had to have .250 milked off the bottom of the c channel. Of course Equalizer will now void a warranty but I am no where near a weld and the washer pivot bolt goes through the hitch and channel anyway.

It was not cheap but I knew a skilled machining teach was worth every dollar ve me with a grinder.

The hitch now fits the Shocker and I should line up just fine with the 3inch lifted Airstream.

[crispyboy]

JeffMC306 - there is a cheaper and easier option for your predicament. One of my good AS friends whom I camp with had the same issue. He also owns a 2019 Ram 2500. I gave him this recommendation and it has worked well. He was able to keep all his original hitch equipment without changing anything.
Install a B&W heavy duty receiver. It sits below the factory receiver. You don't even have to take off the factory receiver. This should put you right in the sweet spot for the shocker hitch you purchased. The receiver option is much cheaper than a lift.

https://www.bwtrailerhitches.com/sit...structions.pdf

https://www.bwtrailerhitches.com/kits/hdrh25502

[jeffmc306]

Originally Posted by crispyboy

JeffMC306 - there is a cheaper and easier option for your predicament. One of my good AS friends whom I camp with had the same issue. He also owns a 2019 Ram 2500. I gave him this recommendation and it has worked well. He was able to keep all his original hitch equipment without changing anything.
Install a B&W heavy duty receiver. It sits below the factory receiver. You don't even have to take off the factory receiver. This should put you right in the sweet spot for the shocker hitch you purchased. The receiver option is much cheaper than a lift.

https://www.bwtrailerhitches.com/sit...structions.pdf

https://www.bwtrailerhitches.com/kits/hdrh25502

Attachment 428745

Steve, thanks for that! It would be an option except the BW HD Receivers only come in 2”. I have a 2 1/2” Shocker XR mount. I could request a swap but at this point have decided the lift has other benefits and will have JC install it during our June appointment.

I do appreciate the suggestion though! I’m glad to know we’re not the only ones who ran into the height issue.

[Tyler2you]

Just wondering if the design of the Blue Ox head contributes to the increased ball height a bit? It appears it might.

[jeffmc306]

Very possible Tyler2you.

A friend from the forum also has a Shocker hitch (with an Equalizer) and recommended an engineer at Shocker to discuss the issue with him. He said they’re aware of the situation and “are working on a solution” but can’t say when it would be available.

My situation has changed. Battle Born had a 48 Hr. Flash Sale and after discussion with the CFO (DW) she said “I know you’ve been talking about them for a while. Too bad you got the hitch that needs a $1700 axle lift to make it work”. Hmmm… the wheels started turning. If I returned the hitch and didn’t spend the money on the lift, I could buy a GC3. That’s what I ended up doing.

And, I got the budget approved to order a Victron MultiPlus II 3000/120x2 and associated gear. Installation has already started.

If Shocker comes up with a different mount that doesn’t require a lift, I would consider it again.

[Tyler2you]

Very nice! Looks like you've got some fun ahead of you. Hope it all goes well.

A Multiplus II is somewhere in my future. Still working on CFO approval

I really hope Shocker comes up with a good solution for our trucks. While the Gen-y is working great, every time I have to lift it up into the receiver, my back says it's not worth it.

[Life is a Highway]

Here are some completed pictures,

If I had not had our Airstream trailer lifted then I would have been in the same predicament as my friend the original Poster. I feel bad for him we both worked hard to make this work. Both wanting a good shock absorbing hitch product but the company has not YET- delivered on a shank that will work for a Ram 3/4 ton and a non lifted Airstream trailer. A important additional note -I had to have my equalizer 1400 head machined down 1/4 of an inch at the bottom for mounting clearance.

I have not towed yet but while setting it up I was Happy to see when the trailer was lowered on to the ball the trailer shock was absorbed by the Air Bag and the Truck do not lurch ahead- See attached pictures.

[Tyler2you]

Originally Posted by Life is a Highway

Here are some completed pictures,

Purdy

Now get out there and get some rust on that thing . . .

[Life is a Highway]

I’m chuckling,

I use em but when that truck and trailer come home I clean em. That equalizer head has 47k mikes of towing and the latest trailer over 30 k. The shocker is still awaiting road trails which will be JC in June for warranty work.

Originally Posted by Tyler2you

Purdy

Now get out there and get some rust on that thing . . .

[Tyler2you]

Originally Posted by Life is a Highway

I’m chuckling,

I use em but when that truck and trailer come home I clean em. That equalizer head has 47k mikes of towing and the latest trailer over 30 k. The shocker is still awaiting road trails which will be JC in June for warranty work.

That's impressive. Maybe you should do a YouTube video or write-up on how to keep everything looking that good