The hitch ball angle adjustment on weight distribution systems is designed to provide more or less distribution of the tongue weight on your trailer hitch to the trailer and vehicle axles. Angling the ball forward towards the towing vehicle puts less angle on the spring bars and therefore less weight is distributed.
Does trailer angle affect tongue weight?
Changing the trailer angle does very little to change the tongue weight. Having a level trailer helps with maneuvering, braking, and stability (i.e. its a safety thing). It can also help reduce oscillation when going over bumps.
What angle should a trailer be when towing?
Expert Reply: If the trailer is less than 1 inch off of being perfectly level either up or down then it will be perfectly fine. Having it slightly higher would be better because presumably the tongue weight of the trailer will pull it down a little.
What happens if trailer tongue is too high?
Too much tongue weight could overload the rear tires of the towing vehicle, pushing the rear end of the vehicle around. When this happens, the vehicle is difficult to control; corners or curves may become more difficult to maneuver and your vehicle may not be as responsive when you try to brake.
How high off the ground should a trailer hitch be?
We normally recommend at least 11” of clearance from the bottom of your LOADED trailer hitch ball mount to the ground, no less. That 11” of clearance gives you some leeway for bumps, dips, and slanted driveways so that you do not scrape the bottom of your hitch.
What happens if my hitch is too high?
If the hitch is too high for the travel trailer, it will tip backward, creating a slanted profile and an unbalanced weight distribution. Youll be less aerodynamic this way and your trailer is more likely to catch the wind and begin to sway.
Can you reverse with a weight distribution hitch?
Expert Reply: Some weight distribution system prohibit reversing because doing so could damage the system. If you are backing up in a straight line though it would be fine. To choose a weight distribution system you will need to go by the total tongue weight of the set up.