Ball mount positioning

Mr. Lambdebois

Mr. Lambdebois

New member
Hey guys a quick question. I have a 2006 V-8 4runner. Should the ball hitch be in the low position for the v-8?

Reason I'm asking is the U-haul guy put it in that position when he hooked it up to the 6x12 trailer. It looks as if the trailer and vehicle are bottlenecking downward at the hitch if that makes any sence.

Is the hitch in the correct position for the v-8 and should the trailer roofline be level? Right now is sloped to the front...
 
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Ball position can be different depending on the trailer you are hooking up to, but I've always positioned my trailer ball with drops/rises to make the trailer sit level. If the trailer is leaning too far forward, weight won't be distributed evenly and their will be more weight on the tongue.
 
Well it's defenately leaning forward. I have the ball mount in the low position. Is it acceptable to move it to the high position to level it out.

I remember one position was recomended by toyota for the v-6 while the v-8's were recomended in the opposite possition if I remember correctly. I'm just trying to make sure everything is safe before I start my journey. The trailer leaning forward does concern me.......

I need more input.... I'm planning on leaving tonight.
 
What Snowjay said!

There is no "right" or "wrong" way to position the ball mount - it depends on the trailer you're going to tow. What you want to do is make sure the trailer tongue is level when the trailer is attached to the hitch ball.

My '03 came with a straight ball mount, which happens to be exactly what my Trailex trailer needs to tow perfectly. Lucky me!
 
I doesn't make a difference between V6 and V8 as far as the engine goes, they both have about the same hitch height. What matters is the tongue height of the trailer. You should always try to have the trailered vehicle riding as level as possible. So, the position of the ball mount on the tow vehicle is determined by height of the tow vehicle and what amount of drop or lift the ball mount needs to make the trailer sit level. If the trailer doesn't ride level, you can have control problems when braking, and clearance issues when entering/exiting driveways. I have two different ball mounts, because each of the two trailers is use has a different height requirement to ride level. When I had three trailers, I needed three ball mounts. What I usually do is jack the trailer tongue up or down, until the frame is level. Then measure the height from the ground to the inside top of the ball socket. I usually add an inch to compentate for suspension drop when the tongue weight is added to the two vehicle. This is then the height that I want the top of the ball to be at when the ball mount is in the receiver hitch. Then all you need to to is get a ball mount that puts the hitch ball at the proper height.
 
Toyota specifically says that the V8 should be mounted high whereas the V6 should be mounted low ....

Why ??? Who the heck knows .....

I have a V8 and always tow with mine in the high position ... which tends to always make the trailor level.
 
UoD said:
Toyota specifically says that the V8 should be mounted high whereas the V6 should be mounted low ....

Why ??? Who the heck knows .....

I have a V8 and always tow with mine in the high position ... which tends to always make the trailor level.
Click to expand...

Is that in the owners manual? I'll have to check in mine.

I can't begin to understand why they would specify a difference because of the engine. For the reasons I stated above, I have always understood the ball height on the tow vehicle was dependent on the trailer being towed.

Got me confused...............:confused:

PS: After thinking about it a little more, the V8 has a different hitch mount than the V6. I havent compared them, but maybe the V8 hitch is lower than the V6, and that could have something to do with their recomendation.
 
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There was a little tag that was attached to the hitch when you open the cardboard box (the factory packaging).

The tag stated that the different mounting position depended on whether your hitch was weight distributing or .... I think the other was weight carrying hitch???

Anyhow --- the V8's are a weight distrubuting hitch. It said to mount the ball UP when used with a weight distrubuting hitch.

The V6's are the other type (weight carrying??) .... which apparently is not as good as the weight distrubuting. The hitch is supposed to be mounted down for this one.
 
The height of the weight carrying hitch (V6) and the weight distributing hitch (V8) are different. The V6 receiver opening looks like it's in the bumper. The V8 receiver opening is below the bumper. Even though both V6 and V8 hitches have the rear bumper cutouts, thus Toyota recommends two different positions for the ball mount. Of course, getting the trailer and tongue level is more important.
 
Uneek got it. Its the difference between the Weight Bearing (V6) and Weight Distributing (V8) hitches. There is a difference in hitch height.
 
Thanks guys... I drove 200 miles with it in the low position. Now that I know it should be in the high position for the v-8 which is what I thought I will run it by U-haul and make them flip it with all the stuff in the trailer. :bigok:
 
Uneek said:
The height of the weight carrying hitch (V6) and the weight distributing hitch (V8) are different. The V6 receiver opening looks like it's in the bumper. The V8 receiver opening is below the bumper. Even though both V6 and V8 hitches have the rear bumper cutouts, thus Toyota recommends two different positions for the ball mount. Of course, getting the trailer and tongue level is more important.
Click to expand...

:iagree: But, what's most important is the trailer being level when all the weight is applied.

For the guys that are towing you would love the rear air and back-up camera, they really make towing sweet. I'm heading out Thursday for a Holiday weekend of camping (RV) and off-roading. I'll have a full report when I get back.

Koz
 
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