How to attach high trailer?

[JSFoster75]

I picked up an off-road trailer and the trailer tongue is higher than what lines up with the Jeep's tow hitch. On the Jeep side, it's 20.5" from the ground to the top of the receiver. On the trailer, it's 26" from the ground to the bottom of the receiver, when the trailer is level. I would thing I need a ~6" rise on the Jeep to level it up with the trailer. I also have a stock JLU Rubicon with the stock tires (33"). I also have a ball, but I'm going to buy probably a lock n load articulating coupler for this.

I tried a Smittybilt drop/rise adjustable ball hitch but if you flip it around (to raise it), the spare tire interferes with it. I tried a 12" extension but the chains were too short. I later read that extensions cut the tongue weight capacity in half, and I'm already at about 300lbs of tongue weight for the trailer.

I was wondering if anybody has a solution for this. I read that extensions put a lot of stress on the frame, so I'm a bit leery about using them. I was reading online and a guy put a 4" drop receiver on the trailer and then a straight ball hitch in the Jeep to make it work. I see that Reese makes a hitch that's a 7" rise but 11" long (hitch pin to center of ball). Is this a wise choice, or is it less stress on everything to drop the trailer receiver?

Turn the hitch receiver upside down and flip the ball to the top (formerly bottom) side...

So, a 6" drop receiver will now give you a 6" rise receiver...

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[Apples491]

Personally I have never seen a trailer with a receiver as the connecting point for the ball coupling.
I have had boat trailers with the fold away front section of the frame to allow you to fit it in the garage or just give you more walk around room

The 2" receiver is somewhat common on off-road trailers. Both Max Coupler and Lock'n'Roll make trailer side hitch systems for 2" receivers.

It's also a nice theft deterrent. Need to drop the trailer and run a trail for the day? Pull the trailer side hitch from the receiver, put the locking pin back in, and any potential thief will not only need the correct hitch kit but also need to cut through the pin before using it.

 

[richk225]

Turn the hitch receiver upside down and flip the ball to the top (formerly bottom) side...

So, a 6" drop receiver will now give you a 6" rise receiver...

The problem he has a clearance issue because of the spare tire.

He can use a short hitch extension with a riser ball mount or raise the spare on the factory mount or a combination of both to keep the ball as close to the Jeep as possible

 

[JSFoster75]

The problem he has a clearance issue because of the spare tire.

He can use a short hitch extension with a riser ball mount or raise the spare on the factory mount or a combination of both to keep the ball as close to the Jeep as possible

Ahhh, gotcha.

 

[richk225]

The 2" receiver is somewhat common on off-road trailers. Both Max Coupler and Lock'n'Roll make trailer side hitch systems for 2" receivers.

It's also a nice theft deterrent. Need to drop the trailer and run a trail for the day? Pull the trailer side hitch from the receiver, put the locking pin back in, and any potential thief will not only need the correct hitch kit but also need to cut through the pin before using it.

That is a great idea! Learned something new

 

[nU7OuxIx]

Turn the hitch receiver upside down and flip the ball to the top (formerly bottom) side...

So, a 6" drop receiver will now give you a 6" rise receiver...

Unfortunately, the spare tire gets in the way...

 

[Rubigone]

Euro tests are super low tongue weight (3-7%) and max of 60 mph.

EDIT: They also have like a 2' bumper hanging off the front to balance it off, lol.

Not really that low, it’s rated at 275lbs vs the us 350lb. It also states in the manual if i stay under 100km/h or 60mph i can add 10% to the towable weight. So i assume the ratings in the manual are good for above 60mph since the car technically can travel to countries which doesn’t have the 60mph restriction.

I’ll check on the door jamb sticker and get back to you.

 

[GATORB8]

Not really that low, it’s rated at 275lbs vs the us 350lb. It also states in the manual if i stay under 100km/h or 60mph i can add 10% to the towable weight. So i assume the ratings in the manual are good for above 60mph since the car technically can travel to countries which doesn’t have the 60mph restriction.

I’ll check on the door jamb sticker and get back to you.

Low percentage of trailer weight. 275 is a 5% tongue weight for a 5500 lb trailer.

 

[MerPinXEss]

IF u have a trailer, why not put the spare in the trailer? Also someone said about a front steel bumper. Based on a 300 lb load i put in a Viking double stack rack last month on a 12" extention I believe any weight you can put in the front would be beneficial...

 

[richk225]

Trailer size and how you load will make all the difference in the world. I would raise the spare and take it from there.

 

[Shibadog]

Cheapest solution, us a drop tow upside down and put the carry the spare on the trailer. No mods to Jeep, no playing around with tongue weight issues.

 

[richk225]

Possibly no spare tire of it`s not locked down LOL
That is a great idea, I don`t even know if it is an open or closed trailer or size etc.......

 

[nU7OuxIx]

OK, I finally got around to this and I think I got it figured out. I ordered a "Lock n Roll" articulating hitch. Part numbers 501, 502, and 505. The 505 allows you to select a height and fits into the trailer. 502 bolts onto 505. And 501 goes into the Jeep.

I didn't hook it up to the trailer but I would say that it's about a half inch off, which I think will be OK. It doesn't interfere with tire unless you have the trailer at like a 70 degree angle, which I think I would have bigger issues. I do think that I won't be able to open the tailgate unless the trailer is totally flat or on a bit of a upward angle.

I'm going to hook it up probably next week to see how it all really fits. If anything, I'll probably get a tire relocation to move it up an inch and then I should be fine.

Thank you all, and I'll post some pictures once I get it all done and hooked up!

 

[richk225]

OK, I finally got around to this and I think I got it figured out. I ordered a "Lock n Roll" articulating hitch. Part numbers 501, 502, and 505. The 505 allows you to select a height and fits into the trailer. 502 bolts onto 505. And 501 goes into the Jeep.

I didn't hook it up to the trailer but I would say that it's about a half inch off, which I think will be OK. It doesn't interfere with tire unless you have the trailer at like a 70 degree angle, which I think I would have bigger issues. I do think that I won't be able to open the tailgate unless the trailer is totally flat or on a bit of a upward angle.

I'm going to hook it up probably next week to see how it all really fits. If anything, I'll probably get a tire relocation to move it up an inch and then I should be fine.

Thank you all, and I'll post some pictures once I get it all done and hooked up!

Great news! Please post some pictures when you can. I have a Smittybilt tire relocation bracket from my JK, let me check if it`s the same for a JL

 

[UncleJimmy]

OK, I finally got around to this and I think I got it figured out. I ordered a "Lock n Roll" articulating hitch. Part numbers 501, 502, and 505. The 505 allows you to select a height and fits into the trailer. 502 bolts onto 505. And 501 goes into the Jeep.

I didn't hook it up to the trailer but I would say that it's about a half inch off, which I think will be OK. It doesn't interfere with tire unless you have the trailer at like a 70 degree angle, which I think I would have bigger issues. I do think that I won't be able to open the tailgate unless the trailer is totally flat or on a bit of a upward angle.

I'm going to hook it up probably next week to see how it all really fits. If anything, I'll probably get a tire relocation to move it up an inch and then I should be fine.

Thank you all, and I'll post some pictures once I get it all done and hooked up!

I'm in the same boat. Looking for solutions. Did you get it to work? Any pictures?

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