Towing with an adjustable drop hitch attached to your lifted truck may help enhance the overall hauling experience. But what are the best adjustable drop hitches for your vehicle? Also, what size model do you need? We researched these concerns for you and here’s what we found.
The correct adjustable drop hitch size for a lifted truck depends on different factors. Here are some excellent candidates if you’re looking for the right model for your vehicle:
- Curt 45900 Adjustable Trailer Hitch
- MaxxHaul 70380 Adjustable Dual Ball Mount Hitch
- B&W TS20049B Adjustable Trailer Hitch
Continue reading as we discuss these adjustable drop hitches for lifted trucks in greater detail. We’ll also talk about how to find an adjustable drop hitch that has the right size for your lifted truck as you progress through this post.
3 Best Adjustable Drop Hitches For Lifted Trucks
1. Curt 45900 Adjustable Trailer Hitch
The CURT 45900 has a channel-style shank that allows 6-inch drop and 5-1/4-inch rise adjustments. It also comes with an anti-rattle construction, allowing for quieter, more stable towing sessions with your lifted truck and hauled load than before.
As for the assembly’s material, most of its construction uses high-strength steel. This choice of material allows the adjustable drop hitch to have a maximum weight capacity of 10,000 pounds. With this weight limit, this hitch should be able to pull different trailers without serious problems.
Moving forward, this hitch has a standard shank design. That means that many lifted trucks and other towing vehicles should have little to no issues in using this model for towing.
Perhaps the only major downside presented by this model is its initial assembly. Some customers report that putting this hitch together took more effort and time than expected. But it’s still a case of “set it and forget it,” since it’s likely that you won’t be detaching this hitch frequently.
Check out this product on Amazon.
2. MaxxHaul 70380 Adjustable Dual Ball Mount Hitch
Unlike the Curt 45900, the MaxxHaul 70380 has a maximum towing capacity of 8,000 pounds. Nonetheless, interested buyers will see that MaxxHaul’s offering is less expensive than Curt's drop hitch. That also means that the 70380 can be a good choice for budget-conscious buyers.
Plus, the overall weight of this assembly is only 29.5 pounds. With that weight, installing this hitch shouldn’t make you pull more muscle than needed.
As for its durability, this drop hitch has a steel construction, along with a black and chrome finish. Also, the construction and build quality meet the terms presented by the SAE J684E standards.
So using this hitch to tow with your lifted truck shouldn’t put you or the hauling setup at risk of encountering different problems.
But be wary as the hitch’s connection to your lifted truck’s hitch receiver may not be as secure as expected. One customer said that someone was able to steal this drop hitch from their vehicle.
Check out this product on Amazon.
Watch the video below if you want another person's perspective on using this product:
Tip: Secure this hitch with a trailer hitch lock to prevent thieves from stealing it.
Check out this trailer hitch pin lock on Amazon.
3. B&W TS20049B Adjustable Trailer Hitch
Some interested buyers may back away from buying the B&W TS20049B adjustable trailer hitch upon looking at its price. But you may justify its expensive price tag by looking at and experiencing its premium features.
For starters, this model has a solid, durable construction, thanks to the use of heavy-duty steel and stainless steel pins. This combination of materials should help the adjustable drop hitch last longer than many of its competitors.
Although the stainless steel pins are rust-resistant, the steel ball and mount aren't. So users should apply a rust-protecting finish on these components to prevent them from corroding.
Aside from this adjustable trailer hitch being reasonably easy to install, it also has a fairly straightforward removal process.
Users only need to remove the stainless steel pins before removing the ball mount and its platform. Then, store the disassembled parts underneath the hitch when you’re not using the assembly.
Also, this adjustable drop hitch kit comes with a three-ball mount hitch. This feature alone can beat many of its competitors, particularly those with only two-ball mount setups. Thanks to its three-ball capability, this adjustable trailer hitch is more flexible and versatile than many others.
Check out this product on Amazon.
What Size Adjustable Drop Hitch For Lifted Truck?
It’s important to mention that each lifted truck user often has different adjustable drop hitch requirements. But perhaps the most important aspect of finding the right size for an adjustable drop hitch is the model's rise and drop.
Here are the steps to measure the rise and drop needed for your new adjustable drop hitch:
Step-By-Step Guide
- Park the lifted truck on flat, level ground.
- Use a measuring tape to measure the distance between the ground and the top of the hitch receiver.
- Repeat the previous step for the trailer or load you're going to haul.
- Subtract the maximum height of the hitch receiver to the coupler’s maximum height. The answer will be the rise needed for your adjustable drop hitch.
- Repeat the previous step but for the drop.
For example, the rise on your lifted truck's hitch receiver is 15 inches from the ground. Measuring the rise on your trailer gives you a reading of 10 inches. That means that the rise needed for your adjustable drop hitch is five inches.
How To Find The Right Adjustable Drop Hitch
Take note that an adjustable drop hitch should help fix the problem of a lifted truck drooping while towing.
Even though you checked out the products mentioned in this post, you should still think about certain factors to help finalize your purchasing decision. That way, you can buy and use an adjustable drop hitch that’s worth your money.
Some of the things to think about are:
Maximum Towing Capacity
Generally, it’s ideal to use an adjustable drop hitch with a higher towing capacity than you need. Using a drop hitch with a low towing weight limit may increase the likelihood of on-road accidents.
Here are some examples of trailers and their typical weight ranges:
- Kayak trailers: 100 to 800 pounds
- Motorcycle trailers: 300 to 3,500 pounds
- Open utility trailers: 300 to 1,800 pounds
- Travel trailers: 1,200 to 4,500 pounds
- Car trailers: 1,500 to 15,000 pounds
Construction Materials
Trailer hitches, including adjustable drop hitches, typically use steel and aluminum for their construction materials. Steel is generally more durable than aluminum. However, this particular material may increase a drop hitch’s development and retail costs.
On the other hand, aluminum is a less expensive option than steel. However, this tradeoff typically means that it’s less sturdy than its steel counterpart. Nonetheless, it can still be a good option if you’re following a strict budget.
Price
Price can be an important element for many buyers in choosing their adjustable drop hitches. An interested customer may still back out of purchasing a high-quality drop hitch if the product's costs exceed the maximum spending allowance.
Take note that you can purchase quality adjustable drop hitches for lifted trucks at around $100. Some models, like the MaxxHaul 70380, have a fairly reasonable price tag. But it doesn't sacrifice providing quality features significantly.
Do You Need A Drop Hitch For A Lifted Truck?
Towing with a lifted truck often requires an adjustable drop hitch. This assembly helps ensure that the truck’s hitch ball sits in a position that won’t put the towing setup at risk of experiencing issues.
Can You Use A Weight Distribution Hitch On A Lifted Truck?
You may use a weight-distribution hitch instead of an adjustable drop hitch for towing with your lifted truck. But you need to find a weight distribution hitch with a shank that offers a sufficient rise and drop for your towing needs.
Check out this weight distribution hitch on Amazon.
You can read our post about chain and bar weight distribution hitches if you’re looking into buying one for your lifted truck.
Final Thoughts
Take your time when selecting the right adjustable drop hitch for towing with your lifted truck. Make sure to measure the rise and drop of your towing setup to avoid buying the wrong hitch.
If you’re not looking to pursue a drop hitch for your lifted truck, you may also think about using a weight distribution hitch.
If you’re looking for answers to other hitch-related concerns, check out these other great posts:
How To Lift 5th Wheel Hitch Out Of Truck [Step By Step Guide]?