Ball Mount Trailer Hitch Guide (Canada)
Ball Mount Trailer Hitch Guide (Canada)
A CURT receiver hitch is only half the story. The ball mount (drawbar + hitch ball) drops or rises to level your trailer, sets the ball diameter your coupler needs, and carries tongue weight within the hitch rating. This guide covers drop vs rise, ball sizes, tongue-weight basics, and how a ball mount pairs with a CURT hitch.
1. How a ball mount pairs with a CURT hitch
Your vehicle-side CURT hitch is the receiver tube bolted to the frame. The ball mount slides into that tube and is pinned in place. On top of the mount (or integral to it) sits the hitch ball that the trailer coupler locks onto.
- CURT receiver hitch — vehicle-specific fitment; sets class / GTW capacity and receiver size.
- Ball mount (drawbar) — drop or rise shank that levels the trailer tongue.
- Hitch ball — diameter must match the trailer coupler (usually 1⅞″, 2″, or 2‑5/16″).
Always respect the lowest rating among the hitch, ball mount, ball, and your vehicle’s towing capacity. A Class 3 CURT hitch with a light-duty ball mount is limited by the mount — not the hitch alone.
2. Drop vs rise — level the trailer
Drop
Use a drop mount when the trailer coupler sits lower than the top of your receiver. The shank angles the ball down so the trailer rides level. Common on trucks and SUVs with a high receiver.
Rise
Use a rise mount when the coupler sits higher than the receiver (or you flip a reversible mount). The ball sits above the shank so a low-slung tow vehicle can still level a taller trailer tongue.
Measure with the trailer loaded as you normally tow: park on level ground, measure from the ground to the inside top of the coupler, then from the ground to the top inside of the receiver opening. The difference is your target drop (or rise). Many CURT ball mounts are reversible — one side drop, flip for rise — so one part covers both directions within its rated range.
| Situation | Typical choice |
|---|---|
| Truck / SUV, high receiver, utility or boat trailer | Drop mount (often 2″–6″) |
| Car / crossover, low receiver, taller trailer tongue | Rise mount (or flip a reversible bar) |
| Coupler and receiver already nearly level | 0″ / straight mount |
A trailer that sits nose-high or nose-low is harder to control — take a few minutes to measure rather than guessing.
3. Hitch ball sizes
Match the ball diameter to the trailer coupler stamped on the tongue. Mixing sizes is unsafe and illegal on the road.
| Ball diameter | Typical trailer |
|---|---|
| 1⅞″ | Light utility, small boat, and many older light trailers |
| 2″ | Everyday utility, cargo, and mid-size boat trailers — the most common size in Canada |
| 2‑5/16″ | Heavier gooseneck-alternative bumper-pulls, larger boat / equipment trailers (within ball & hitch ratings) |
- Confirm the shank diameter and thread fit your ball mount’s hole (common: ¾″ or 1″ shank).
- Torque the ball nut to the manufacturer’s spec and use a lock washer / cotter where required.
- Chrome, stainless, and forged options exist — prioritize the correct diameter and rating over looks.
Browse ball mounts after you know your receiver size and drop/rise. Pair with the hitch from your vehicle’s fitment page.
4. Tongue weight basics
Tongue weight (TW) is the downward force the trailer coupler puts on the hitch ball — typically about 10–15% of gross trailer weight for a conventional bumper-pull. Too little TW and the trailer can sway; too much and you unload the tow vehicle’s front axle.
- Stay under the TW rating of the ball, the ball mount, and the CURT hitch — whichever is lowest.
- Also stay under your vehicle’s maximum tongue / hitch load in the owner’s manual.
- Weight-distribution (WD) hitches change how load is shared; only use WD if your CURT hitch and ball mount are WD-rated and you follow the install sheet.
- Cargo on the trailer should be loaded so TW lands in the safe range — not all the heavy gear behind the axle.
5. Quick checklist (Canada)
- CURT hitch fitted to your exact year / make / model.
- Ball mount shank matches receiver (1¼″ or 2″) with the correct drop or rise.
- Hitch ball diameter matches the coupler; nut torqued.
- Pin / clip securing the mount in the receiver.
- Trailer lights working via a proper harness — see the wiring guide.
- Free shipping across Canada on CURT hitch and towing parts from Lots of Parts.
Popular hitch pages (then add a ball mount)
Start with fitment, then size the ball mount to that receiver:
