Towing a Trailer with a Coupler that is Higher than the Trailer Hitch on a Jeep Wrangler

Question:

My Jeep Wrangler hitch is lower than my boat trailer tongue. Is there a hitch made to compensate for the height difference. And if so, does towing something with a height difference a long way adversely affect either vehicle? Thanks

asked by: Colleen

Expert Reply:

All you need is a ball mount that allows you to tow the trailer level. You can measure for the amount of rise needed to select the correct model. A ball mount with rise is needed when the trailer coupler is higher than the hitch receiver on the vehicle.

Have the trailer and the Jeep Wrangler parked on level ground. Disconnect the trailer from the Jeep. Measure from the ground to the top of the hitch receiver opening. Then use the trailer jack to make the trailer level and measure from the ground to the bottom of the coupler. The difference in height is the amount of rise you will need. I have linked a help article that covers this as well as a link to our ball mount main page.

If you were to tow the trailer with it pointed nose down it will put extra tongue weight on the hitch and might exceed the capacity of the hitch in that regard. It will also make steering and braking more difficult and put additional stress on the vehicle suspension.

If you towed the trailer nose up then the tongue weight would be too low which can lead to sway and too much weight on the trailer axle(s). That could lead to tire wear and suspension problems.

If you tow the trailer level, even if the trailer is taller or shorter than the vehicle, then you won't have those problems!

expert reply by: Michael H