I need a measurement.

[Maxtor]

When I go to pick up my 2006 F350 XLT 6.0 4x4 S/C 8 ft. bed 12.5k hitch,
I will be bringing my trailer with me. I need the measurement from the ground up to the receiver hitch. That way I will know what offset I will need to bring to keep my trailer level. My Ford dealer does not have one on the lot, that is why I had to order one from the factory. Measuring their trucks on the lot, gave me measurements from 18" to 24" from standard F250 to the F350FX truck. Anyone have a truck like mine? Standard tires and wheels.
Thanks

 

[bushpilot]

ive got an 04 crew cab lariat w/ long bed and 12.5k
the suspension might be too different...but how can i help...

 

[Maxtor]

measurement

Thanks for writing back. Probably suspensions would be too different. I can not find a dealer with my kind of truck on the lot to find out the height from the ground to the receiver. Mine will have the camper package, which might make it higher or lower than most trucks.

 

[rgdillon]

My truck when new - with the camper package, 4x4, FX, etc etc - short bed though - was 22"

Question for you though - what kind of trailer and how much does it weigh? If I'm not mistaken - there is a break-in period before you should tow from what I remember in the manual. Don't have it handy - but maybe someone else knows. Think it was like 500 or a 1000 miles or so.

Anyway - I'd think really hard about whether or not you really have to tow something (again - I don't know the wieght) until you have reached the mileage.

Ron

 

[F350DRW1]

5" inch drop should work.

 

[Maxtor]

Thanks

The trailer that I will be pulling is a 17 foot car trailer, 2,200 pounds empty. It will be empty. I will check to see if that would be a problem. You are right, with the 22" height, and ball is three inches tall, a five inch drop would put it just about right. Thank you both for the information.

 

[bushpilot]

it ALL depends on the trailer...my my case i had to go to a 10" drop
the fixed 8" would not level out my car/all-purpose flatbed...

i needed the better part of 9inches to get my trailer level...then
my issue was i had a 7000lb trailer and the fixed drop hitches
were only rated for 5000lb....didnt make sense to have a hitch/ball
rated less than the capacity of the trailer <as the saying goes...
youre only as good as your weakest link>

 

[Maxtor]

I found some ball hitches that are rated for 12,000 lbs. I think i'll check on if the trailer will hurt the truck, with less than 20 miles on the truck. What does the owners manual say about towing on a new engine? The trailer is only 2,200 pounds, but I will be pulling long 6% grades in the first 200 miles pulling the trailer. So far I have not found anything about it on the internet.

 

[bushpilot]

your trailer weighs about the same as my 18ft car/all-purpose
trailer (see my pics for comparison)...empty itll be like having
about 200lbs of stuff in the bed of the truck <a drop in the
bucket IMO>

i wound up going w/ a 10k lb rated adjustable drop RAPID HITCH...
http://www.hitchsolutions.com/rapidhitch.html

personally i wouldnt wanna tow that trailer empty too far (although
ive towed my 400mi plus empty to go get the cobra in ct)...mine
trailer rides rougher empty then when its loaded.

 

[Maxtor]

adjustable ball hitch

The ajustable ball hitch looks great. I think I will get the 12,000 lb. one though, for the extra safety of a higher weight rating. The adjustable one is rated at 10,000 pounds maximum. When I tow my tractor, it is a little over 10,000 pounds. Our current truck is a 1993 F350 Turbo Diesel (idi) dually, 4.10 differential. I look forward to the increase in power from the 93 to the 06. I hate it when going up a grade at 40 mph. Last year going up a grade, I was passed by a 2005 psd pulling a good size 5th wheel at 65 mph. I decided then that it was time for a upgrade.