Ball Mount and Trailer Ball
The clearest picture of why a mount flips between drop and rise, and why a level trailer matters more than a pretty number on the box.
Watch on YouTube →Hitch Height and Ride Height (Canada)
Hitch height and ride height are not the same measurement, but they argue with each other every time you change a truck or car. Lift a pickup and the receiver climbs with the frame. Lower a crossover and the coupler can sit too high for a stock ball mount. This Canada guide explains why drop or rise on the ball mount changes after a lift kit or lowering springs, how to measure again, and which CURT mounts we stock for common two inch receivers.
Practical height help for Canadian tow setups. Free shipping on CURT towing gear from Lots of Parts when the SKU is live on this store.
Pair this page with
how to measure ball mount drop,
ball mount guide, and
tongue weight explained.
Prefer the full index?
Open the towing guides hub.
Watch these CURT videos first
All four videos are from the official CURT YouTube channel (@curtmfg). Start with ball-mount height, then class selection, install habits, and wiring basics if lights are part of the job.
If an embed does not load, use the YouTube link under the card.
How to Select a Trailer Hitch
Class and receiver size come before drop shopping. A six inch drop mount still needs the right tube opening and rating.
Watch on YouTube →CURT Install Techniques
Useful after a lift when hitch hardware, exhaust clearance, and bumper steps may have changed with the new ride height.
Watch on YouTube →Trailer Wiring Harness Basics
Height fixes do not replace lighting. Keep the four-flat or seven-way plan in the same shopping trip as the mount.
Watch on YouTube →Ride height versus hitch height
Ride height is how high the vehicle sits on its suspension. Hitch height is the distance from the ground to the inside top of the receiver tube, measured on level ground with the vehicle loaded the way you actually tow. Change the first number and the second number moves with it.
A level trailer is the goal. When the tow vehicle sits higher than the trailer coupler, you need drop on the ball mount so the ball comes down to the coupler. When the tow vehicle sits lower than the coupler, you flip the mount for rise so the ball comes up. That is the whole story in one paragraph — the rest is measuring carefully after any suspension work.
What changes on a lifted truck
Body lifts, spacer lifts, and suspension lifts all raise the frame. The receiver is bolted to that frame, so the hitch opening climbs too. A ball mount that was perfect at stock height can leave the trailer tongue pointed downhill after a lift, which unloads the tongue, wrecks sway manners, and lights up every Canadian frost heave.
After the lift settles, measure again. Do not reuse the old drop guess from a forum post. Park on level ground, load the truck the way you tow, and follow the steps in our measure ball mount drop guide. Many lifted half-tons move from a two inch drop into a four inch or six inch drop, and some need an adjustable channel mount when the gap is large or still changing.
Also re-check tongue weight. A steeper tongue angle changes how weight sits on the coupler even when the trailer cargo did not move. Read tongue weight explained if the scale number feels wrong after the lift.
What changes on a lowered car or crossover
Lowering springs, coilovers, and air suspension drop the receiver with the chassis. Suddenly a stock two inch drop mount can put the ball too low, or you may need rise instead. Ground clearance for the mount shank also gets tighter on driveways and winter ruts, so a long shank hanging low can scrape even when the trailer is unhitched.
Measure the same way you would on a truck: level ground, normal load, coupler height versus hitch height. Rise mounts exist for a reason. If the car is lowered enough that the trailer still will not sit level, stop and rethink the trailer or the ride height rather than stacking adapters that move the ball farther from the axle.
Ball mounts we stock for common height fixes
These are live CURT mounts on Lots of Parts today with strong inventory. Match the shank to your receiver opening first — most Class 3 vehicle hitches on this store use a two inch tube. Free shipping applies on CURT gear from this store when the SKU is live.
In stock on this store
CURT 45030 ball mount
Two inch shank. About two inch drop or three quarters inch rise when flipped. Everyday stock-height and mild-change path.
In stock on this store
CURT 45070 ball mount
Two inch shank. About six inch drop or four inch rise when flipped. Common after a noticeable truck lift or tall SUV.
In stock on this store
CURT 45341 ball mount
Two inch forged shank. About four inch drop or three inch rise. Heavier rating path when the card matches your load.
In stock on this store
CURT 45902 adjustable mount
Two and one half inch shank channel mount. Useful when you need fine height steps — only if your receiver is that larger size.
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Stock ride height | Measure once. Many crossovers land on a small drop such as CURT 45030. |
| Lifted truck | Measure again after the lift settles. Expect more drop. Re-check tongue weight and clearance. |
| Lowered car | Measure again. You may need rise instead of drop. Watch shank ground clearance. |
| Still changing height | Finish the suspension work, then measure. Do not buy three mounts while the truck is mid-build. |
| Wrong receiver size | A two and one half inch adjustable mount will not fit a two inch Class 3 tube without the correct adapter plan. |
Measure again after any lift or lower
Step 1Park level
Flat ground, tires at normal pressure, fuel and cargo the way you tow.
Step 2Measure hitch height
Ground to the inside top of the receiver opening. Write the number down.
Step 3Measure coupler height
Ground to the bottom of the coupler with the trailer level on its own jack.
Step 4Pick drop or rise
Follow the measure-drop guide, then choose a mount whose shank matches your receiver.
Full walkthrough with diagrams lives on how to measure ball mount drop. Mount shopping context lives on the ball mount trailer hitch guide. If the trailer still feels light or heavy on the tongue after you level it, open trailer tongue weight explained.
Honest gaps and shopper notes
Adapters
Height first, adapters last
Stacking extenders to chase height moves the ball farther from the axle and can hurt stability. Prefer the right drop or rise on a proper mount.
Winter Canada
Ruts change the feel
A mount that clears a summer driveway can drag in packed snow. Recheck clearance after the first real winter storm.
Ratings
Lowest number wins
Hitch, mount, ball, vehicle door sticker, and trailer plate — the lowest rating in that chain is your limit, even with a perfect height.
Air suspension
Measure in tow mode
If the truck has selectable ride height, measure in the height you actually use for towing, not show height in the driveway.
Related guides we do publish
Measure ball mount dropStep-by-step height math
Ball mount guideShank size, drop, and rise shopping
Tongue weight explainedWhy level still needs scale numbers
Trailer ball size guideMatch coupler diameter in plain English
Towing guides hubAll vehicle and topic guides
Shop CURT 45070
A common two inch mount when a lift pushes you toward more drop, with free shipping on CURT gear from Lots of Parts.
Open CURT 45070 →Milder height change? Start with CURT 45030. Need the measuring walkthrough? Open measure ball mount drop.
Lots of Parts · Canada hitch height and ride height help for lifted trucks and lowered cars, with live CURT ball mounts and links to measure-drop, ball-mount, and tongue-weight guides. No fake reviews, no invented SKUs.
