Towing is one of those things that seems straightforward and simple at first glance, but there are a lot of considerations that go into it to ensure it's done safely and securely. If you hook your trailer up to your truck or SUV and the trailer isn't level with the ground, then you need to invest in a drop hitch.

Let's take a look at why you need a drop hitch in this situation. When towing a trailer, the trailer must be as level with the ground as possible to ensure that it's stable while towing.

If your truck or SUV is too tall, i.e. it has a lift kit installed, or the hitch receiver is mounted too high in relation to the trailer hitch, getting the entire setup level may not be possible.

Can you still tow like this? It's not a good idea. If your trailer and tow vehicle aren't level, then you risk trailer sway or the trailer hitting the ground when you encounter a grade change.

Trailer sway isn't just annoying, it's dangerous. If it gets out of control, it could cause a major accident.

Source: WFLA Tampa

Keep reading to find out how using a drop hitch can solve this problem.

What is a Drop Hitch?

A drop hitch lives up to its name by dropping the height of the hitch ball on your towing vehicle, which works to keep your trailer level with the ground.

A drop hitch receiver changes the height of your hitch ball so that the trailer can be connected without creating an unbalanced tow setup. A level trailer is extremely important for a safe towing experience.

Drop hitches come in various sizes and styles to fit in standard hitch receivers. They can add between two and 10 inches of drop to allow you to connect a trailer to a tow vehicle and have it level with the ground.

Source: Ranger Forums

How To Measure Hitch Drop

To measure hitch drop, the term you need to know is drop height. This indicates how far the drop hitch lowers the ball connection point below the current receiver height.

Some drop hitches have a fixed drop height and others can be adjusted to fit various heights. An adjustable drop hitch is handy if the hitch drop height changes based on different trailers or loads in the bed.

To find the correct hitch drop for your towing setup, you'll need to ensure you're parked on level ground. Position your trailer to a level height by raising or lowering the tongue and using a bubble level.

Measure the height between the ground and the bottom of the trailer coupler, then move to the tow vehicle and measure from the ground to the top of the inside of the receiver opening.

The difference between these two measurements indicates your drop height and shows what size of drop hitch you need.

For example, if the difference between the two measurements is four inches, then you'll need a four-inch drop hitch.

What Size Drop Hitch Do I Need?

Along with the measurements above, you'll also need to measure the opening of your tow vehicle's hitch receiver. Most receivers are two inches square, but there are other ones out there.

To take this measurement, you'll need to measure from one inside wall to the other side. Now that you know the size of your receiver and your hitch drop height, you can figure out what size of drop hitch you need.

For example, if you have a six-inch drop and a two-inch receiver, you'll need a six-inch drop hitch with a 2x2 shank. If you happen to have a less common 2.5-inch receiver, you can also buy an adapter that will allow you to use a drop hitch with the more standard 2x2 shank.

The other thing to take into account is how much weight capacity the hitch is rated for. For example, a particular hitch might be rated to tow 7,500 pounds. To determine what you need here, you'll need to know how much your trailer weighs.

What Size Drop Hitch Do I Need for a 2-inch Lift?

If you have a lifted truck and taller tires, chances are your hitch will be out of alignment with the trailer you want to tow. A two-inch lift doesn't seem like much, but if you also add tires that are a few inches larger than stock, you have a good amount of additional ride height.

However, the measuring process stated above still applies. A two-inch lift doesn't necessarily equate to a two-inch drop hitch.

What Size Drop Hitch Do I Need for a 4-inch Lift?

You'll need to measure from the ground to the top of the inside of the receiver opening and find the difference between this measurement and the height between the ground and the bottom of the trailer coupler.

What Size Drop Hitch Do I Need for a 6-inch Lift?

The good news about adding a large lift to your truck is that if you invest in an adjustable drop hitch, you can take the measurements stated above and then adjust your drop hitch as necessary to keep your trailer level.

Enthuze 6 inch lift kit installed on a 2021 Ford F150

Enthuze Aluminum Adjustable Drop Hitch

The benefits of choosing an adjustable drop hitch from Enthuze include the ability to adjust it in one-inch increments. The Enthuze adjustable drop hitch comes with three interchangeable balls and a maximum six-inch drop with a 6-3/4-inch rise.

It's constructed of sturdy aluminum alloy material and is rated for up to 12,000 pounds of towing capacity. With the Enthuze adjustable drop hitch, you won't have to worry about whether you need more than one size of drop hitch to complete your towing setup.

You can count on Enthuze to outfit your truck, SUV, or Jeep with quality accessories and parts like an adjustable drop hitch kit. All Enthuze accessories are rigorously tested for the highest quality before using the Enthuze name.