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Stupid Towing Question of the Day (Week, Month, Year)

5K views 26 replies 12 participants last post by  Todd3.6 
#1 ·
I have a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland which has the Towing package. Yesterday I bought a Ball Mount and Ball to tow a trailer with.

Here's my stupid (never-towed-before) question: Is it necessary/recommended that the Ball Mount fit flush up against the end of the Receiver? My mount sticks out three, four inches. It fits fine and I'm thinking everything is good to go, but just want to be sure ...

Bill
 
#5 ·
They usually stick out a few inches since many vehicles have receivers tucked behind the bumper a little bit. For towing light loads, I also have a longer ball mount that holds a bike rack in addition to the trailer.

BTW, there are no stupid questions -- only stupid answers.
 
#6 ·
OK. I'm going to piggy back on this thread and ask another question as I'm ignorant.

I also have a 2014 JGC Overland with the tow package. I need a hitch and ball and will most likely go for this:

Hitch Receiver - 82212180AC | Mopar

My question is, since I have the tow package already installed, I'm assuming I do not need the 7/4 way connector (56055632AC). Correct?

Also, do I need the dealer to use their scan tool to add hitch sales code to activate trailer wiring? Or, since the car already has the tow package, that it is set up to go?

Thanks,
T.J.
 
#10 · (Edited)
"Ball mount" may also be called "draw bar" by certain manufacturers / retailers. Both names refer to the same thing.

My favorite is the Reese Interlock models. They have a hexagonal indentation in the mount/drawbar, and their balls have a corresponding flange on them. Basically when you go to screw in the ball, the ball won't rotate as you torque down the nut. Doesn't sound like a big deal, but as someone who was switching between 1 7/8" and 2" balls on an almost weekly basis, it was a godsend. It also is less likely to spin as you tow or work itself loose.
 
#27 ·
Convert-A-Ball hitch systems products, hitchballs and towing accessories

Best invention ever!
I have a chrome one right now, but I will be upgrading to the stainless steel model in the near future.

My neighbor just gave me a 5.25" drop drawbar. Thought it might be a little too high, but the Jeep must have settled 3/4" over the last year because it's perfect. 16" to the top of the ball mount area.
 
#11 ·
Rumline, honestly, I just keep separate ball mounts for different sized balls. Some folks also use the interchangeable ball systems where you don't unscrew the stud, but just swap out the actual ball.

I like the heavy cast ball mounts...the one I use with my heavier trailer is from Northern Tool and is a strong beast!
 
#12 ·
Depends on your needs, I guess, like everything. I wouldn't want to take up the room with having two complete setups in my spare tire well. Too much stuff in there already!

Thanks for suggesting Northern Tool mounts. I've had good experience with their products and didn't know they made those. They sure look legit!
 
#13 ·
Yea, the mount from NT is really, really stout. I'd buy a lot more stuff from them, but they don't have any stores in the northeast, so I only get things from them while on vacation. LOL I did see a similar ball mount at Tractor Supply recently, although I didn't really inspect it closely.

BTW, I don't actually carry all my ball mounts with me. The 2 5/16" is on the JGC all the time because that's what I use the most. (for small horse trailer) For the rare moments I need the 2" ball, I just grab it out of the garage.
 
#14 ·
Something to not forget about is the "drop" of the ballmount/drawbar..

You want the trailer to end up pretty much level when everything is hitched up.

My '07 GC needed about 1.5" more drop than my '03 durango. I haven't hitched anything to the '14 GC yet, so haven't sorted that out.

The Reese drawbars and balls are perfectly fine.. you can readily get them at walmart/HD/etc.. I also like the series with the hex cast into the top side..

...tom
 
#15 ·
Tom, both of my trailers required a 4" drop with the JGC as it turned out, but you bring up a great point. Folks do need to actually measure the ball height for a "leveled" trailer and then calculate what the proper drop will be to provide that.
 
#21 ·
I have atleast 6 draw bars....but then I bought an Anderson Rapid Hitch...love it. Now I just carry the one for use with all my trailers.


Sent from my iPhone using JeepGarage
 
#23 ·
Thanks for the info Jim, very informative.

I only used to tow a standard 6 x 4 trailer, which are very commonly used in my area, and I think that the "drop" on the Jeep Dealer delivered hitch was for that particular (6 x 4 trailer) set up.

Cheers,

Marty
 
#24 ·
Yea, while the majority of folks likely only tow one thing, there is still "endless variety" relative to the varied needs across the board. Mind-boggling sometime! :p
 
#26 ·
Yep...you can black-ball the chrome ball if you want to. :D
 
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