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All purpose ball mount recommendation

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dm6

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I have a new Ram 2500 on order and I currently tow an occasional small boat, utility trailer or popup with my Tahoe. I plan to get a travel trailer in the next year or so and I know I will need a WDH for that (I know nothing about them but will deal with that when the time comes), but I will also need a hitch for these other applications and to pull the pop up until I get the larger trailer. I have like 3 different ball mounts now but they range from 0" drop to 2' drop and judging from the height of the Ram, I am probably going to need something in the range of a 6-8" drop. Is my best bet here to get some sort of adjustable ball mount so I am able to pull any smaller trailer if needed, even though it won't be very often, or to just get a couple of different fixed balls mounts of various drops as needed?
 
I'm a big fan of my Bulletproof hitch setup. One drop shank and I can insert the appropriate adapter for whatever I am towing. Reversible ball, pintle attachment for my utility trailer, WDH shank, etc... I'd recommend at least giving them a look.
 
dm6 said:
I have a new Ram 2500 on order and I currently tow an occasional small boat, utility trailer or popup with my Tahoe. I plan to get a travel trailer in the next year or so and I know I will need a WDH for that (I know nothing about them but will deal with that when the time comes), but I will also need a hitch for these other applications and to pull the pop up until I get the larger trailer. I have like 3 different ball mounts now but they range from 0" drop to 2' drop and judging from the height of the Ram, I am probably going to need something in the range of a 6-8" drop. Is my best bet here to get some sort of adjustable ball mount so I am able to pull any smaller trailer if needed, even though it won't be very often, or to just get a couple of different fixed balls mounts of various drops as needed?
Click to expand...

Don’t do like me and assume they have 2” receivers!! I have 5 dang hitches and all were 2”! Had to go out and buy a 2.5”!


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2.5 BW with 7 inch drop and three ball. Anti rattle security hitch pin. Well built, I like the stow and go feature. My second would be the bulletproof hitch based solely on looks and others review
 
Ok great, thank you. I hate to ask a bunch of questions here and waste everyone's time without doing some research first, but I think I am understanding this right in that this would be totally independent of the WDH that I would get later on, right? I think I have seen enough about WDH's to know they come with everything and you just slide them into the receiver, correct?

So if I am assuming right, this would only be used to pull regular trailers, namely lighter ones under 3k-4k that wouldn't need WDH. That being said, I don't really want to spend several hundred dollars on something I am just going to use every once in awhile in case I need it, but if this is going to be utilized with a WDH someday, that I don't mind spending a lot because I will be using it often. I think the consensus is to get the adjustable kind though rather than different fixed ones, right? Is there a big enough range in different types of smaller trailers that would justify this rather than getting a fixed one? And something with a 7 inch drop will handle most everything, even like a small fishing boat trailer? I will look into these various ones mentioned. Thank you.
 
dm6 said:
Ok great, thank you. I hate to ask a bunch of questions here and waste everyone's time without doing some research first, but I think I am understanding this right in that this would be totally independent of the WDH that I would get later on, right? I think I have seen enough about WDH's to know they come with everything and you just slide them into the receiver, correct?

So if I am assuming right, this would only be used to pull regular trailers, namely lighter ones under 3k-4k that wouldn't need WDH. That being said, I don't really want to spend several hundred dollars on something I am just going to use every once in awhile in case I need it, but if this is going to be utilized with a WDH someday, that I don't mind spending a lot because I will be using it often. I think the consensus is to get the adjustable kind though rather than different fixed ones, right? Is there a big enough range in different types of smaller trailers that would justify this rather than getting a fixed one? And something with a 7 inch drop will handle most everything, even like a small fishing boat trailer? I will look into these various ones mentioned. Thank you.
Click to expand...
You definitely can go that route. But one of the reasons I went with Bulletproof is because instead of using a whole new setup, I could use an E2 head bolted to the WDH adapter and no need for another shank. I'm not familiar enough with B&W, but then may also have a similar adapter.

As for adjustable versus fixed - Of the trailers that I tow around most, none of them sit at the same ride height. I could probably get by with three different fixed length shanks, but the adjustable makes much more sense to me (plus it's something I don't have to ever think about when another trailer may come into my life).
 
+1 B&W.

One important feature for me is the whole thing can be locked with a single locking pin. By design, you need to remove the hitch from the truck receiver to remove the adjustable slider out of the hitch. So the ball can't be removed even if you remove the unsecured pins.

Many adjustable hitches require many locking pins to fully secure the hitch.
 
And do all of these ones you mention fit a 2.5" receiver, or are they 2" and using the adapter that comes with the truck?
 
Pronto said:
Love my B&W.
View attachment 16087
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Love that photo of your truck!

I have an old Andersen 2" shank with ball I use for every old trailer except my TT. I use the newer version Andersen WD & Sway hitch almost exclusively for my TT. I love it and the company has great customer service. Some say with a very heavy TT it is not ideal. My setup is about 8,300 lbs. total with about 1,000 of that tongue weight and it works well for me.
 
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dm6 said:
And do all of these ones you mention fit a 2.5" receiver, or are they 2" and using the adapter that comes with the truck?
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Typically these large manufacturers like b&w have a version of each.
 
I run an aluminum adjustable hitch from shoppers. It’s rated for over 10k pounds if I remember correctly. Comes with 2 different size balls. Only thing is it has the 2” shank so you need to run the adapter and I can hear it rattle on bumps. I need to make me a shim to help stop the rattle.
It’s not the most expensive hitch but works great for utility trailers.
 
I have Uriah adjustable aluminum hitch with the 3 different ball sizes. It's a knock off of more expensive brands but its a local company so I supported them. Zero issues and I pull a 8k lbs boat and trailer with it.
 
I transport high end boats for a living and log over 150K miles per year... DO NOT BUY ALUMINUM HITCHES. Geezus Dudes... They are JUNK! I have seen SO many nice trailers on the side of the highway due to hitch failures.

Buy the best... BULLETPROOF HITCHES (BPH). When you are not using it, add one of their accessories like the step, lights or whatever to increase it's value in your day to day use. I have the 10" drop with the frame support bars. When hauling an 18K+ boat through the mountains and in the Midwest where crosswinds can exceed 50mph gusts, is not the time to worry about the hitch.

BPH have a perfect fit, no adaptor needed and if you call them, mention my name, David Wilks & Alden Transport... they will give you a discount!

Get the AirLift Suspensions Air Bags, wireless compressor system and the Towtector Debris Device for the ultimate in protection with Peace Of Mind!

waterlily-ram.jpeg
 
I use a weighsafe in 2-1/2” shank 10” drop, fully adjustable.Mine is a 14k model. I only have one trailer that used the lowest setting, majority probably at the 6 & 8” drop. It was bought for the 2500. I would have to bet that lots of hitch failures are more on foreign made products and using balls that are not rated for the load. Some think a 2” ball is a 2” ball across the board, and they are not. Same with other sizes. Ratings vary Balls have different shank sizes as a result. Your average 17.99 receiver is not what you want.
 
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