I have a boat trailer that is pretty low. Bottom of frame rail on the trailer is at 13.5". Top of receiver in truck is ~24". If the truck sags around an inch or so under the tongue weight, that puts me at around a 9.5" drop. Does anyone run a 9" drop B&W tow and stow with a stock Tremor? My worry is that while towing, the ball that is facing down will be really low to the ground and scrape. I would love to run a standard, fixed, 9" drop hitch with a single bolt on ball but cant find one with a 2.5" shank.
B&W 9" drop tow and stow on stock Tremor?
- OP 🔹 HitIt
- Start date
I feel like your worries are well founded.
I have a 7” tow & stow (that I don’t use) and a 8” Bulletproof with a double ball that I keep on permanently so far.
The 8” bulletproof is a bit too low if I have the double balls on the bottom rung. Nice to have in a pinch, but I wouldn’t want to run like that all the time.
If I were you I would consider a 8” Bulletproof with a single ball.
You could also run a 2” reducer if you want more options, assuming your boat isn’t massive.
I have a 7” tow & stow (that I don’t use) and a 8” Bulletproof with a double ball that I keep on permanently so far.
The 8” bulletproof is a bit too low if I have the double balls on the bottom rung. Nice to have in a pinch, but I wouldn’t want to run like that all the time.
If I were you I would consider a 8” Bulletproof with a single ball.
You could also run a 2” reducer if you want more options, assuming your boat isn’t massive.
- OP 🔹
- #4
I currently have a fixed 8" drop 2.5" shank Curt hitch on order.
Commercial Duty Forged Ball Mount (2-1/2" Shank, 20,000 lbs., 8" Drop)
When it comes to towing on the job, there is no room for messing around. Either your equipment can get it done or it falls to the wayside. Give yourself the advantage with a CURT commercial-duty forged ball mount. Defying all preconceived ideas about heavy-duty towing, these solid steel monsters...
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That should give me the most clearance under the hitch. I am just worried that an 8" drop wont be enough. Good thing about boats is that the wheels are set so far back, it generally isn't too much of a problem to ride nose high. Just bugs the crap out of me. Makes me look like a rookie
Happened to have this photo of mine up against a tape measure for a buddy who was trying to decide the same thing, hope it helps.
- OP 🔹
- #8
Last minute trip. Poor planning. I fly back into town 2 days before I need to tow the boat so whatever I end up buying is going to have to work. If B&W offered a single ball I think I would be good to go. FWIW, I couldn't find a 2" single ball for the Bulletproof either. Only 1 7/8".
- OP 🔹
- #9
It does help. Thanks. From what I can see, the bottom of the 9" drop would be around 12" or so off the ground and the bottom ball woudl be around 2" lower. That is getting pretty close to the ground!
If it’s a long trailer I don’t think the difference between the 8” drop you bought and a 9” is going to have a very meaningful impact on the trailer stance.
Seems bulletproof only makes the small ball as a single. Surprising.
My 2020 tremor drops, but not enough to warrant a 9" BW hitch. I have the BW 5" drop.
My boat trailer bottom of the I-Beam sits at 13 7/8"
With a tongue weight of 680lbs, I have the BW hitch set in the 2nd and 4th holes from the top. Truck sits dead level with the boat trailer on the hitch, and trailer is dead level from the front lower I-beam at 13-7/8" to the I-Beam between the axles 13-7/8 (so both trailer axles are evenly loaded, torsion axles btw).
Sorry about the dark picture, I just ran out and took the shot for ya
I will note though, that I do have 35x12.50r20, and while this might make a slight difference in drop height, I can't really see where a 9" drop would be needed, unless you truck has been raised, and I am thinking it's not as you mentioned "Stock Tremor" in your post..
My boat trailer bottom of the I-Beam sits at 13 7/8"
With a tongue weight of 680lbs, I have the BW hitch set in the 2nd and 4th holes from the top. Truck sits dead level with the boat trailer on the hitch, and trailer is dead level from the front lower I-beam at 13-7/8" to the I-Beam between the axles 13-7/8 (so both trailer axles are evenly loaded, torsion axles btw).
Sorry about the dark picture, I just ran out and took the shot for ya
I will note though, that I do have 35x12.50r20, and while this might make a slight difference in drop height, I can't really see where a 9" drop would be needed, unless you truck has been raised, and I am thinking it's not as you mentioned "Stock Tremor" in your post..
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What size boat are you pulling and what's your tongue weight?
- OP 🔹
- #13
Yep, stock. On my last truck (half ton Chevy), the top of the hitch receiver was at 16.5" and I used a 1.5"drop hitch with it and the truck squatted about 1.5"- 2" with the boat hooked up and the trailer sat perfectly level. Receiver on the new truck is 7.5" higher and the truck will squat even less. So I need at least 7.5" more drop than I had before. That is at least 9" drop.
It is really hard to understand how your hitch setup works unless your trailer is way different than mine. The top of the receiver and the bottom of the frame rail on your trailer are almost 10" difference and it looks like you have your hitch set for around a 3" drop. Is yours like this:
Mine is like this, with the hitch inline with the frame:
Boat and trailer are around 26'. 5k lb boat and ~500lb tongue weight.
- May 22, 2021
- 869
- 1,501
- F-350 Velocity Blue Tremor Lariat Ultimate and Sport Pkgs PowerStroke
- ‘05 Excursion EB 6.0, ‘24 Badlands Sasquatch dinghy for motorhome
Great point/reminder!?
I go thru my fair share of watercraft. 19 so far to be exact. I currently have two (one for fishing and the other family boating), both with 2-5/16” balls, so I don’t use a multi ball setup. Years ago, I started switching my safety chains out for HD rubber coated cables with about 8” of straight sections on both ends and a curled section in the middle. And I always cross the cables under the tongue. More and more trailer MFG’s (not just boat trailers) either are equipping them as OEM or as an upgraded option.
Seeing your picture now of how your tongue is setup and it's design, I see where the difference is. Its at the coupler. Yours is mounted "inline", whereas mine is mounted above the I-Beams on the tongue rail. The bottom lip of the tongue on my trailer sits at 19-1/4" when the trailer is sitting evenly, via the jack. It's roughly a 6" difference.
Bottom of the hitch tube on the truck is at 20" unloaded, which should put the top of it at roughly the same as yours, 24".
Boat and trailer for me are 6600lbs w/680 tongue weight, 26ft from tongue to end of trailer (add another 3ft with the engine).
I don't have an updated picture with the new truck, but here it is with the previous F150. I had to put in airbags and use a 2" up hitch as well, because the truck sagged so bad in the back, so in the image its sitting evenly.
I can't remember now, but I think my tremor drops 2 inches with the trailer on the tongue. I could load it on later today and check if you'd like.
Bottom of the hitch tube on the truck is at 20" unloaded, which should put the top of it at roughly the same as yours, 24".
Boat and trailer for me are 6600lbs w/680 tongue weight, 26ft from tongue to end of trailer (add another 3ft with the engine).
I don't have an updated picture with the new truck, but here it is with the previous F150. I had to put in airbags and use a 2" up hitch as well, because the truck sagged so bad in the back, so in the image its sitting evenly.
I can't remember now, but I think my tremor drops 2 inches with the trailer on the tongue. I could load it on later today and check if you'd like.
- OP 🔹
- #17
@Daimyo68 ahh, that would account for the difference. Thanks for the help. You current 2-3 inches of drop in your hitch plus the extra 6" you get from where your coupler is mounted would be the equivalent to the 9" drop I am looking at.
I love your boat. Looks like a blast.
I love your boat. Looks like a blast.
Smart. I’ve got to look into this. Have a brand you like?
One of my biggest fears is being the guy who starts a wildfire. ?
How about as
How about adding an adjustable height coupler on the trailer to reduce some of the drop from the truck?
How about adding an adjustable height coupler on the trailer to reduce some of the drop from the truck?
- May 22, 2021
- 869
- 1,501
- F-350 Velocity Blue Tremor Lariat Ultimate and Sport Pkgs PowerStroke
- ‘05 Excursion EB 6.0, ‘24 Badlands Sasquatch dinghy for motorhome
I have had them on OEM boat trailers from EZ-Loader, Zeiman, Float-On and Pacific.
I helped a neighbor replace his chains to coiled cables About 6 years ago and he picked up a set of Curt cables and they worked out well.
Featured Tremor Photos
Featured Tremor Photos
