[rob99rt]

So I have a popup camper with a hitch height (measured off of the bottom of the tongue coupling with it being pretty level) of 17 1/2" (camper weighs in around 2800 lbs, btw). The top of the hitch receiver on the new Transit is 13 1/2" without any weight in it at all. When we go places with it, it will have 10 folks, weighing in around 1000 lbs or so (for now, but the kids are going to grow), plus another couple hundred pounds of stuff (food, clothing, etc.). I am assuming it will squat it down just a touch, but not a lot at this point.

So, a 4" rise ball mount would get it pretty darn close to level, but I definitely don't want it to be nose-up on the camper hitch to keep it from swaying. If I'm off just a bit on the measurements due to the concrete being weird where I parked the camper, that could throw it off just enough to be nose up slightly.

Therefore, a 3" rise ball mount might be in order, but that's going to definitely put it in a nose-down attitude. I see a lot of 2 1/2-3" rise mounts, several 4" rise mounts, but nothing in the 3 1/2" range, so I'm going to have to make a choice. With any weight in the van, though, it might look a bit like \ / going down the road.

The other thing I don't want to have happen is the camper causing the rear of the van to start "porpoising" up and down over bumps, which would likely make everybody in the rear of the van sick. The camper has a C frame for the tongue, and from what I've read, that makes it a bit more difficult to put any sort of WDH on it due to clamping issues. So, I'll just have to get the hitch height right to hopefully knock the porpoising down as best I can.

So, do you guys have any suggestions for me on this? I don't really want to drop another $150+ on an adjustable mount since this is likely the only thing I'm going to be towing with the van for a while, and most of them are in 1" or more adjustments anyway, so to me it makes sense to pick a mount and go with it.

Thanks for the help.

 

[suitcase]

There are tow balls with longer studs that can accept 1/8 inch washers. Then you could dial in the correct ride height. The ball I have on my ball mount will accept 6 8 inch washers and a lock washer and nut and still have threads exposed below the nut. The ball mount for my pickup is adjustable from Harbor Freight. The one on the transit is a Curt with a 3 & a half inch drop I believe. Check out Walmart and etrailer dot-com.

You can do it.

 

[brittles]

I'd get the 3" rise and try it. You might be surprised.

 

[brownbear]

Honestly I would not fret it. I would stick it on with a nose down angle and go.

It will have a good weight transfer and keep from wagging.

On my tandem axle trailer it's down a bit too, and with the dual axles it puts a bit more on the front axle than I would want, but you spend a bit more effort loading.

Loading to the back of the trailer is a no no, as the proper distribution is 60 front 40 rear. But don't go over 60.

The reality is you won't even feel the pop up behind this van. It won't control the van at all. My 14 foot heavy tandem cargo trailer doesn't move it much either.

And if you go with a 3" lift to the ball, that's okay too. Slight nose up is no issue at all, just make sure there is adequate tongue weight. Unless you are a hulk it should be enough tongue weight you cannot lift it with out chance of a hernia. Like 200 plus pounds. Then it's solid.