Question

The Trailer Boat Experts

Is there any difference in performance between having a trailer ball or a receiver hitch? Does one do better than another? F. Grimes, Sarasota, FL

F. Grimes

Answered on: 6/2005

MIKE: A trailer ball is mounted on a receiver hitch or a trailer ball is mounted on a bumper hitch. The trailer ball is simply a ball with a threaded shaft that mounts to a hitch. Trailer balls come in varying sizes (1 7/8", 2' and 2 5/16") a receiver hitch is better than a bumper hitch, hands down. The advantages of a receiver style hitch are: 1. Greater towing capacities. 2. It allows you to remove the ball platform for out of the way storage and theft prevention. 3. You can easily change the ball height by using a ball mount with a differing drop or rise. 4. You can also change the ball size with greater ease if you have multiple trailers with different size couplers. GEORGE: You will have a greater capacity when using a receiver hitch. That's the way to go.

The Trailer Boat Expert: Mike and George