Draw bar height

[ford 7810]

I thought there was standard drawbar height on modern pickups and trailers and such like .Son-in-law has just bought a new ifor Williams flatbed trailer .on his discovery the trailer sit’s 1 inch lower at the front than the back of the trailer.not ideal other way round would be good.hooked up to my Isuzu and exactly the same. Both vehicles ball hitch on top holes just seems bloody silly.

 

[colhonk]

I reckon the ball needs to be 16.5 inch to top of ball. and yes ,I have come across the same problems.

 

[Kevtherev]

Good way to go through the hedge if trailers don’t sit correctly on drawbar.
Nearly went through a hedge once with borrowed stock trailer due to being too high on front.

 

[clbarclay]

Is that nose down when unladen?
How does it sit when loaded?

When doing B+E, I recall being told to set a tow ball so that the trailer was level when loaded and it's axle springs compressed. That would make it sit nose down slightly when unladen.

 

[pettsy]

Why would it be better lower on the back when empty, would just be worse when loaded. Does it not level out when loaded (correctly)?

 

[Farmer_Joe]

If it’s a proper adjustable one on discovery 3/4 it needs to be in top holes for if it to sit correctly with ifor trailers mine seems about spot on there

 

[jellybean]

Anybody who has done much towing will know the importance of correct ball hitch height and nose loading of the trailer. Never assume that a borrowed trailer will behave the same as your own. I use an adjustable Dixon Bate type carrier for the ball hitch; when the trailer is loaded and hitched to the vehicle I use a tape and measure the height of the trailer bed to the road at front and back and adjust hitch height until the trailer is running level or until I reckon the nose loading and height are the best I can get. If I go somewhere with an empty pick up and trailer with a load and then get a load on the pick up too I repeat the procedure. Once you have had a few near accidents you learn to get it right.

 

[ford 7810]

Is that nose down when unladen?
How does it sit when loaded?

When doing B+E, I recall being told to set a tow ball so that the trailer was level when loaded and it's axle springs compressed. That would make it sit nose down slightly when unladen.

Why would it be better lower on the back when empty, would just be worse when loaded. Does it not level out when loaded (correctly)?

Yes nose down unladen I only put two 600kg bags of fert in and looked loaded right still nose down .but probably 1/2 inch all around but if it is nose down it’s in effect trying to lift the towing vehicle up. it felt like it. a pick-up on springs will squash down when loaded but disco on air won’t

 

[ford 7810]

Anybody who has done much towing will know the importance of correct ball hitch height and nose loading of the trailer. Never assume that a borrowed trailer will behave the same as your own. I use an adjustable Dixon Bate type carrier for the ball hitch; when the trailer is loaded and hitched to the vehicle I use a tape and measure the height of the trailer bed to the road at front and back and adjust hitch height until the trailer is running level or until I reckon the nose loading and height are the best I can get. If I go somewhere with an empty pick up and trailer with a load and then get a load on the pick up too I repeat the procedure. Once you have had a few near accidents you learn to get it right.

Yes that’s what I mean or something like that.if it is an inch high on the nose unladen will travel great. Then load it up the pickup will sink a couple of inch and trailer should be level if loaded correctly. Just my thoughts.

 

[Netherfield]

Once saw one on a Land Rover which was adjustable, standard wheel brace would wind it up and down, tried to find the same thing for ours but never did discover who made it.