Trailer Not Perfectly Level

[NorthernBasser]

So I just got a new vehicle the other day, and the hitch on it is higher than my previous vehicle's. My previous vehicle was an SUV that had an aftermarket hitch installed, so it was lower to the ground resulting in me having to use a 1" rise ball mount. The trailer tongue was perfectly level.

 

Now with this new SUV, I'll be needing a drop. So I got a 4" drop ball mount. But it isn't perfectly level. Now, I've read some places that say it can be high or low 1" either way and that's fine. Other places say if it's gonna be off, it is better if the tongue is raised as opposed to being lower, and other places say the opposite. In the past I've always been lucky with getting trailer tongues perfectly level.

 

Do you guys think this is level enough? Would a 5" drop (do they even make 5") be better, or would that drop it too much?

 

It is a single axle trailer, so it shouldn't be affected too much if it isn't level, right?

 

Here's a few pics. The first pic is right behind the coupler. That's where it's measuring the tongue being a tad high. A little further back and the readings are different. Appreciate it! 

 

 

 

 

 

[Vilas15]

Looks fine to me. Like you said i dont think it matters for a single axle unless you really mess it up.

[Ppennin986]

Tongue weight research how to measure correct positioning your hitch should be. shouldn’t be level should have lil down force on ball if for some reason it jumps off the ball of hitch it will fall onto safety chains and not send the tongue skyward and there are other reasons to figure proper height 

[diehardbassfishing]

The view of the trailer and vehicle shows well. No problem.

 

Tongue down force is really an independent measure from the trailer angle. If you have proper tongue weight and the hitch fails, the trailer will not flip up. No matter if there is an up angle from hitch height.

 

Karl

 

(There could be other elements involved if the angle of the trailer was HUGE, but that's not the case here.)

[Way2slow]

That looks like a fairly new outfit, call the manufacture and see what their recommend tongue height is.  level is not necessarily the right setting, a lot of times they want a little drop in them.

Ranger boats used to align the axles on their trailers and draw height was critical on those to have them in proper alignment.  I'm sure most brands don't do that and don't know if Ranger does now, but it's still needs to be where the manufacture set it up to tow right.     

 

As mentioned, tongue weight and draw height are two different animals.  Not enough tongue weight will make one eat tires because the trailer is wanting to sway back and forth, especially when stopping or going down hill.

[TnRiver46]

I like the front to be raised up slightly higher than the back, I drive through a lot of downpours 

[MickD]

It is fine.  go fishing.

[gim]

43 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I like the front to be raised up slightly higher than the back, I drive through a lot of downpours 

 

That was my thinking too.  The front slightly higher than the back allows water to drain properly using gravity.

[TnRiver46]

8 hours ago, gimruis said:

 

That was my thinking too.  The front slightly higher than the back allows water to drain properly using gravity.

I even flip my drop hitch upside down to create such an effect 

[DaubsNU1]

Looks good...SEND IT!

[WRB]

Put your normal load, full tank of gasoline and a person in the vehicle, the 1/8 bubble will center. It’s as good as it gets unless you use adjustable hitch.

Tom

[NorthernBasser]

Thanks for the replies fellas! 

[gim]

5 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I even flip my drop hitch upside to create such an effect 

Boy that brain of yours never stops working does it. At least the hitch isn’t completely rusted.

[slonezp]

Is your driveway perfectly level?

[GreenPig]

I gave in and bought a B & W hitch because I'm constantly towing different height/size trailers with different sized couplers. Yours looks fine to me.