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Subject Topic: Raising the trailer hitch height Post Reply Post New Topic
via mobile 16/4/2023 at 10:32am
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When I got my trailer i noticed, when hitched, it seemed to be quite "nose high" (eg the trailer was sloping backwards. My towbar is a detachable one so the height is fixed. When I measure from the ground to centre of the ball on the car it's measuring 450mm (that's unladen so likely to drop to within the 'law' when laden - if we ever do get it fully laden 🤣). If the car is laden, the trailer will also be carrying stuff so that's likely to drop too.

I've measured the height of the trailer hitch (trailer unladen and top horizontal) and that was 350mm, so in total we have a difference of approx 100mm both unladen. I know i can fit a height adjusting spacer bar but is there a limit to the size? The ones I see online seem to be 2" x 2" box section but if I could use 3" x 2", thus dropping the nose another inch, that would bring me nearer to horizontal. Would I be OK to do that?


16/4/2023 at 10:47am
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
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100mm. is about 4" so you could but two pieces of 2" x 2" box section on top of each other which would achieve the 100mm. distance you need.


via mobile 16/4/2023 at 5:47pm
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Makes sense, thanks. Do you know if there is a maximum you can go to?


16/4/2023 at 6:08pm
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
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All you need to do is get the trailer hitch level with the towball so just make the adapter the thickness you need to achieve the required height. What weight you carry in the trailer is irrelevant because it's no different to a caravan noseweight bearing down on the towball.

Is it a braked trailer that you are referring to?


via mobile 16/4/2023 at 7:16pm
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No it's a small, unbraked one (Caddy 430)


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16/4/2023 at 8:31pm
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the issue would be better sorted if you replaced the wheels to the next size up, making it more suitable for using on motorways etc


via mobile 17/4/2023 at 1:07pm
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Quote: Originally posted by marg6 on 16/4/2023
the issue would be better sorted if you replaced the wheels to the next size up, making it more suitable for using on motorways etc


Thanks marg6. I've only just purchased a new set of 8" wheels and tyres for it so don't want to waste that. The trips we are likely to be doing for the foreseeable aren't too great (80 miles each way) and not all motorway.


17/4/2023 at 1:23pm
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Quote: Originally posted by russ-g-uk on 17/4/2023
Quote: Originally posted by marg6 on 16/4/2023
the issue would be better sorted if you replaced the wheels to the next size up, making it more suitable for using on motorways etc


Thanks marg6. I've only just purchased a new set of 8" wheels and tyres for it so don't want to waste that. The trips we are likely to be doing for the foreseeable aren't too great (80 miles each way) and not all motorway.




yes we did the same thing a couple of years ago with our little trailer too but realised that the 8 inch ones just arent suitable for rod use as you are now finding out, great for behind a quad or farm use, so we bought the proper size wheels and tyres set which didnt cost the earth i think in all it came to about £40 but the whole thing sits better now behind the car and doesnt seem to bounce around as much either, but the main concern was wearing the wheel bearings out, anyway we put the new set up for sale and sold then within a couple of days and put the money towards the cost of the larger ones which we should have got in the first place.



via mobile 17/4/2023 at 7:41pm
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Quote: Originally posted by marg6 on 17/4/2023
Quote: Originally posted by russ-g-uk on 17/4/2023
Quote: Originally posted by marg6 on 16/4/2023
the issue would be better sorted if you replaced the wheels to the next size up, making it more suitable for using on motorways etc


Thanks marg6. I've only just purchased a new set of 8" wheels and tyres for it so don't want to waste that. The trips we are likely to be doing for the foreseeable aren't too great (80 miles each way) and not all motorway.




yes we did the same thing a couple of years ago with our little trailer too but realised that the 8 inch ones just arent suitable for rod use as you are now finding out, great for behind a quad or farm use, so we bought the proper size wheels and tyres set which didnt cost the earth i think in all it came to about £40 but the whole thing sits better now behind the car and doesnt seem to bounce around as much either, but the main concern was wearing the wheel bearings out, anyway we put the new set up for sale and sold then within a couple of days and put the money towards the cost of the larger ones which we should have got in the first place.




What size did you get and where from at that price?


via mobile 21/4/2023 at 8:16pm
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Sorted that job today (along with the new wheel bearings!). Couldn't get hold of any small bits of 3x2 so I've got a couple of 2x2 and one 2x1. At the moment I've just stacked one of the 2x2 and the 2x1 to give me a 3" hitch lift. I'll try that on the car and if it does need more, I can take off the 2x1 and put another 2x2 on there (when I've got some longer bolts 🤣).

Thanks for your advice.




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