trailer hitch recommendation

[Bic]

That B&W unit looks good, just wish they'd offer a single 2" ball version. I ain't NEVER going to tow a trailer that needs a 2-5/16" ball.

Not sure what your bias against Curt is, but my Curt ball mount indicates Made in USA,,,,,

HRG

I stand corrected. Curt (a Lippert company now) is making their stuff here in the USA. My post above is edited to correct the mistake. Thanks for the correction!

Sponsored

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Also keep in mind different ball sizes are used on items towed, most common are 2” and 1 7/8 ball sizes. KNOW what size your towed item uses.

2" most common for little / light weight stuff.

2 5/16" most common for campers and larger heavier stuff 3000 lbs and up.

Never have I used a 1 7/8" in 35 years of towing.

 

[Escapologist]

I stand corrected. Curt (a Lippert company now) is making their stuff here in the USA. My post above is edited to correct the mistake. Thanks for the correction!

That "is" might be a bit in doubt, aren't they one of the brands in that conglomerate that is teetering on the verge of dying?

 

[sanpablo]

Here you go.
Here's a hitch for your Maverick.
This should cover you up to 11K

Seriously, don't be pressured into overthinking it. Otherwise you'll end up with the hitch picture above.
You own a 23 hybrid XLT. That means going to be towing a recommended 2,000 lb or less.
You stated, you're going to be 'Towing Very Rarely.' You did not say how far.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say probably less than a 1,000 miles.
Other than ball size 2" or 1 7/8"
the hitch below or the Harbor Freight one will probably handle 95% of your needs more than adequately.

Good Luck

GB

Local towing only. Dump run about 3 miles. Farthest tow would be 8 miles.
Sounds like 2" drop will be the way to go. I'll ask my brother-in-law to measure the height of the log splitter. Thanks guys.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

That "is" might be a bit in doubt, aren't they one of the brands in that conglomerate that is teetering on the verge of dying?

First brands is in bankruptcy.
First brands owns Reese and Draw-Tite hitches.

 

[Bic]

That "is" might be a bit in doubt, aren't they one of the brands in that conglomerate that is teetering on the verge of dying?

No they are NOT (but two of their competitors are)

 

[Bic]

2" most common for little / light weight stuff.

2 5/16" most common for campers and larger heavier stuff 3000 lbs and up.

Never have I used a 1 7/8" in 35 years of towing.

Ancient tent trailers below 2000 pounds used to use 1-7/8. But if you encounter such a trailer a new coupler is a better fix than a matching ball.

 

[notfast]

If you want to buy the best there is the B&W and it's well worth the small price premium.

No doubt that B&W is amongst the best, but I doubt that it's a "small" price premium.

I suggest @sanpablo get the coupler heights and ball sizes of the trailers, and then choose something. A $30 Towing Starter Kit from U-Haul might be all that is ever needed, compared to $250+ for a B&W that @sanpablo will rarely use.

 

[Bic]

No doubt that B&W is amongst the best, but I doubt that it's a "small" price premium.

I suggest @sanpablo get the coupler heights and ball sizes of the trailers, and then choose something. A $30 Towing Starter Kit from U-Haul might be all that is ever needed, compared to $250+ for a B&W that @sanpablo will rarely use.

It's a small price premium over competitive adjustable ball mounts with multiple balls. As you noted its not price competitive with a simple non-adjustable (but flippable) ball mount with a single ball.

There is also an inherent safety issue with any ball mount without height adjustments and that issue is so obvious that we don't even think about it. If you show up at a rental place with a ball 18 inches off the ground (perfect for a U-Haul trailer) and the wood splitter you are renting tows level with a ball 12 inches high (typical for wood splitters and small construction gear) what are you gonna do? The majority will simply say "oh well, good thing I'm not going too far..." and tow it away.

And that wood splitter is going to be wagging back and forth behind you at any speed.

 

[rk06382]

I bought this 5" hitch drop receiver below to use with my Maverick Blue-Ox tow bar.
Amazon: Gen-Y Hitch 5000 Lbs. Ball Mount
O'Reilly: Gen-Y Hitch 5000 Lbs. Ball Mount

 

[Escapologist]

First brands is in bankruptcy.
First brands owns Reese and Draw-Tite hitches.

Thanks for the correction, I couldn't find that to check and brain had it down as "most of the tow hitch companies."

 

[Bic]

Hey, don't cheap out on trailer hitches ...

Weigh Safe ball mounts are way cool!

 

[notfast]

There is also an inherent safety issue with any ball mount without height adjustments and that issue is so obvious that we don't even think about it.

I disagree. It depends on what you're towing, rather than making a blanket statement that any non-adjustable ball mount poses a safety threat.

If spending $250+ for a B&W makes you sleep better at night, that is money well spent. I'm just mentioning that a $30 ball mount could be more than sufficient depending on what you're towing.

I used the same 3 1/4" rise ball mount for tens of thousands of miles. I only recently switched to a cheap adjustable one because I don't tow as often anymore and the adjustable one is easily disassembled so it takes up less space in my truck's tool box.

And that wood splitter is going to be wagging back and forth behind you at any speed.

A single-axle anything will be wagging behind you if you're going too fast. The smaller the trailer, the lower its top speed will be before you run into stability issues.

Small single axle equipment isn't too picky on coupler height. Tandem axles need to be more reasonably level so that the axles carry weight more evenly and the leaf spring swingers aren't being overly stressed.

If your single-axle log splitter with the little 8" wheels is wagging, you're probably going too fast rather than having the coupler too high. If you need to go faster than about 45, I'd suggest loading the log splitter onto a trailer.

Keep in mind a log splitter with the 4.80-8 tires will have to do about 70% more wheel RPM to keep up with the truck. To put it into perspective, the log splitter doing 45mph would have about the same wheel RPM as the truck doing 70.

 

[Escapologist]

Short trailers that are equipment usually have the problem that the center of gravity is high such that with their shortness also, having them hitched too high means they no longer have 10%+ on the hitch. Be better off flipping the hitch if possible, or mounting toolbox or sandbagging the draw bar to make sure they put down 12% or better on the hitch.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Local towing only. Dump run about 3 miles. Farthest tow would be 8 miles.
Sounds like 2" drop will be the way to go. I'll ask my brother-in-law to measure the height of the log splitter. Thanks guys.

Sounds good. Seems like you have a plan.
Keep us updated.
Good luck.

Sponsored