How to Measure for Hitch Rise and Drop

With the many different tow vehicles and trailers out there, it's rare that any vehicle and trailer line up perfectly for towing. They come with different amounts of rise and drop to compensate for differences in height, and they come in different lengths to position a trailer closer to or farther from the tow vehicle. To find a ball mount (draw bar) with the proper dimensions for your tow vehicle and trailer, you need to measure. Read about how to measure, below.

(Step 1) Measure Hitch from ground to top of receiver

For safe and comfortable towing, the trailer should always be as level as possible. A High Camp teardrop trailer has a coupler height of 12" from the ground (see photo 1 below) .  Unless the distance from the ground to the top of the receiver tube on the vehicle hitch (see photo 2 below) is roughly 12", you will need a ball mount (drawer bar) that has a Rise or Drop to make up the difference. With the tow vehicle parked on level ground, measure from the ground to the top of the receiver opening. 

(Step 2) Subtract coupler height from vehicle hitch height
 

If the hitch height is greater, use a ball mount with a drop; if the coupler height is greater, use a ball mount with a rise. Select a ball mount that has a rise or drop measurement that is closest to the difference between the hitch and coupler heights.