Drop Hitch Recommendations

[SightsOfIron]

Looking for any input or experience with brands models you liked, didn't like, etc.
Pic for fun

Sponsored

 

[Saltymedic]

This is the one I have and I love it.

Curt 49500 I think.

 

[Mad Mac]

A cautionary tale.
The farther the hitch ball is from the rear axle
the greater the leverage the trailer has on steering.
A Gladiator already has a long tail end.
An adjustable drop hitch extends it another 2 to 3 inches farther out.

I could be wrong, I often am,
but death wobble takes on a whole new meaning
when a heavy trailer begins to sway
and push your tail end around.
Something I never want to happen again.

 

[SightsOfIron]

This is the one I have and I love it.

Curt 49500 I think.

i'll take a look! Do you happen to know the drop depth?

 

[SightsOfIron]

A cautionary tale.
The farther the hitch ball is from the rear axle
the greater the leverage the trailer has on steering.
A Gladiator already has a long tail end.
An adjustable drop hitch extends it another 2 to 3 inches farther out.

I could be wrong, I often am,
but death wobble takes on a whole new meaning
when a heavy trailer begins to sway
and push your tail end around.
Something I never want to happen again.

100%! When towing anything, alot more precaution is needed and taken. My truck has a lift on it and right now im in the research stages of it. I plan to pull a 2k lbs trailer so i wont be going too hard but definitely good info to know.

 

[Saltymedic]

A cautionary tale.
The farther the hitch ball is from the rear axle
the greater the leverage the trailer has on steering.
A Gladiator already has a long tail end.
An adjustable drop hitch extends it another 2 to 3 inches farther out.

I could be wrong, I often am,
but death wobble takes on a whole new meaning
when a heavy trailer begins to sway
and push your tail end around.
Something I never want to happen again.

Well, you better have your front end tightened down properly then. ?

I've been towing a RV camper trailer with 37"s and a 4" lift and "death wobble" has yet to occur.

The single and only time I've ever experienced death wobble is on a JKU that I broke the track bar bracket off of. Any experienced Jeeper knows how to avoid "death wobble" and how to track down the cause.

 

[Saltymedic]

i'll take a look! Do you happen to know the drop depth?

I'm sorry but I don't have that information off hand.

I can tell you that it sits very close to the receiver.

I suppose the only downside is that the ball isn't lockable w/o buying a separate locker.

 

[Bananaman]

I've got the B&W Tow and Stow on both my trucks. I have multiple trailers with different size hitches, so it's nice to just flip it around for whatever trailer I'm towing. On the Gladiator I usually store it under the back seat when I'm not using it.
Towed my 16' cargo and the only problem I had was when I was in strong cross winds. Felt like I was being pushed around a little.

 

[SightsOfIron]

I'm sorry but I don't have that information off hand.

I can tell you that it sits very close to the receiver.

I suppose the only downside is that the ball isn't lockable w/o buying a separate locker.

no worries there, I have a lock from my old hitch, but with the lift i have its too high now.

 

[SightsOfIron]

I've got the B&W Tow and Stow on both my trucks. I have multiple trailers with different size hitches, so it's nice to just flip it around for whatever trailer I'm towing. On the Gladiator I usually store it under the back seat when I'm not using it.
Towed my 16' cargo and the only problem I had was when I was in strong cross winds. Felt like I was being pushed around a little.

i'll take a look! thanks for the input!

 

[Mad Mac]

Well, my situation was much different,
but very memorable and left an impression.

An 11,000 pound sailboat perched on a three axle trailer
that had a mind of its own.
The tow vehicle was a 3/4 ton Chevy, not a dually or quad cab.
It had an extended 9-foot flatbed
that gave the trailer a lot of leverage.

One other consideration. It is my understanding that
U-haul trailers are all set up for an 18-inch coupler height.
That is the top of the trailer ball is 18-1/2 to 3/4 inches above the ground.
Unless a person knows they have a trailer of a different height
that might make a useful target height to select a fixed drop hitch.

Also, another rule of thumb is that the coupler should be lower than
but never higher than the trailer tongue
to avoid jackknifing on decelerating or braking
by levering the back wheels up enough to lose traction.

I see a lot of lifted 4x4s dragging trailers nose high.
Good luck with that.
And they look funny with a long drop hitch and no trailer
as if they plan on plowing furrows.

I once sent Reese Hitches a suggestion.
Make a drop hitch with a second perpendicular pin hole.
So that the drawbar could be installed horizontally
up and out of the way and also double as a step.
They did not reply.

 

[MPMB]

The single and only time I've ever experienced death wobble is on a JKU that I broke the track bar bracket off of. Any experienced Jeeper knows how to avoid "death wobble" and how to track down the cause.

And that's not even really the death wobble.

My wife came home after driving our JT post-lift and she said "we have the death wobble." I drove it and experienced nothing. The only thing I felt was an almost imperceptible shimmy in the steering wheel at 57mph, but only when going straight. Never feel it any other time. I had to tell her when to use the term "death wobble."

 

[SightsOfIron]

 

[CampThree]

I have the Weigh Safe drop hitch and highly recommend it. I've never towed with the JT but I have countless times with the Weigh Safe on other vehicles. Fit, finish and quality are second to none with the Weigh Safe, not cheap though.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Looking for any input or experience with brands models you liked, didn't like, etc.
Pic for fun

I have the b and h stow and go, I think in an 8 inch version. I can’t recommend it more. And they certify it for use upside down for rises as well. I use it for both. It’s great. My version has the 2” and 2 5/16” balls.

Sponsored