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Trailer Maintenace
How do I figure out the proper hitch height for my vehicle?
For safe towing, the trailer must ride level so that the frame and tongue are parallel with the ground. The most accurate way to establish the proper hitch height is when the trailer is empty:
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Park the trailer on flat, level ground.
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Raise or lower the tongue jack until the trailer frame and tongue are parallel with the ground.
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Using a tape measure, check the height from the ground to the bottom of the frame at two points:
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Near the rear of the trailer, close to the taillights.
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Where the frame meets the tongue.
Adjust the tongue jack until both measurements are equal.
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With the trailer level, measure from the ground to the top of the coupler. This measurement is the required tow ball height for the tow vehicle.
When properly loaded, the tongue weight should remain between 5% and 7% of the trailer’s gross weight. This ensures the trailer remains level under load, as any suspension drop will be relative to the unloaded measurement.
TIP: Be sure to have your tongue weight between 5%-7% of your gross weight. Insufficient tongue weight may allow the frames to distort or deflect making it difficult for the frames to be parallel with the ground. Need to know how to calculate tongue weight?