Do I need to buy a New WDH?

[traveltrailerrookie]

I recently purchased a new to me 2019 F350 w/6.7 Pwrstroke. Hitch Height is 23.75" *(top of receiver opening). I am going from 2002 1500 Suburban w/ hitch height of 17". I am currently using (I think) is a a Reese WDH. See Photo. If I want to keep the ball height the same, it looks like I need to drop the ball down approx. 6" but I don't have that much drop w/ current hitch. Do I need to purchase a new WDH? Or are there other options w/ my current set up? With all the rain we've been getting in the Chicago land area, I have not been able to get the trailer out of storage. So I have not been able to see what the trailer looks like connected to the new truck. (v, ˄) If truck and trailer are not on the same horizontal "plane".

[Jfkmk]

You should be able to just replace the shank with a longer one.

[Wileykid]

I went from a 3/4 ton to a 1 ton truck just recently, and bought a new longer shank off the internet. The difference between the two in height was 2 1/2". I just went through the instructions as if I was installing the hitch for the first time. Ended up my hitch was 3" "lower" on the shank then before (truck height and less sag).

Understand that the truck will not sag anywhere near what the suburban did, so it is best to set everything up like the first time to get it right. Don't use the measurement differences between the two vehicles.

[Chuck_S]

How much weight do you have on the trailer tongue? There's really no substitute for hooking up your trailer but you can simulate that on the new truck by piling weight on the tailgate. Got 750 pounds? Recruit friends and neighbors that add up to whatever number you've recorded. Judging from the "walkers" around my neighborhood finding 750 pounds of mobile weight would be simple.

Just from the receiver heights off the ground you're gonna need a taller drawbar.

The receivers on the 3 Ford SUVs I've owned all exhibited a lot of vertical slop and I assume the pickups are the same so don't automatically assume the same settings on your WDH will directly transfer.

-- Chuck

[coachjeff1]

I went from a 1/2 ton suburban to a 3/4 ton suburban with a 10" taller hitch. I ordered a longer shank with a 12" drop and put my ball back at the same height of the old suburban and my trailer is level and pulls great!

[traveltrailerrookie]

I was able to connect trailer t truck today. I out the current setup to the lowest setting on the shank. When the trailer was disconnected and removed from the truck the height of the tongue is 17.5” see pic. The ball height on the truck is 24.25”. I was able to find a Husky shank (30859) with enough drop that should work from a local dealer. From what i’ver read on this forum, I should set the ball height about 1” higher that trailer tongue height. Am I correct with my numbers?

[DougW]

Originally Posted by traveltrailerrookie

Am I correct with my numbers?

Yes, those numbers sound good.