I have the wrong hitch

[cjaysanchez]

I was using a 2 drop curt hitch for my 2021 195s and then I tried a 3 drop hitch trying to clear our garage door, I need about one inch more of cleareance on the back where the Bimini metal conector is. The tower clears but the Bimini connector touches the top of the garage frame. I believe my logic from going from 2 to 3 inch drop hitch made the issue worse since dropping the front would raise a bit the back. Watching today a curt hitch video, I realize that for my 2015 ram 1500 Laramie measurements, I need a straight hitch without a drop. I follow curt’s video instruction measuring the trailer tongue and the truck hitch height. Now I realize that perhaps a straight hitch will raise the front and drop the back slightly and perhaps clearing the garage door frame. Will this make sense or is this just wishful thinking?

 

[TimW451]

If you look at the boat and trailer from the side is your high/interference point in front of or behind the center of the trailer wheel? As you raise the front, going from the 2&3 in drop to straight, what is in front of the wheel will rise and what is behind will lower.

 

[Lawman25]

I was using a 2 drop curt hitch for my 2021 195s and then I tried a 3 drop hitch trying to clear our garage door, I need about one inch more of cleareance on the back where the Bimini metal conector is. The tower clears but the Bimini connector touches the top of the garage frame. I believe my logic from going from 2 to 3 inch drop hitch made the issue worse since dropping the front would raise a bit the back. Watching today a curt hitch video, I realize that for my 2015 ram 1500 Laramie measurements, I need a straight hitch without a drop. I follow curt’s video instruction measuring the trailer tongue and the truck hitch height. Now I realize that perhaps a straight hitch will raise the front and drop the back slightly and perhaps clearing the garage door frame. Will this make sense or is this just wishful thinking?

I know this would be a pain in the ass to do all the time, but have you thought about letting some air out of the tires to get that last inch you need?

 

[cjaysanchez]

That is what I have been doing. I want to avoid over time having an issue with the air nipple. I also did the mod to the tower to lower it all the way down. It seems I believe the 195s tower has one of the tower bars thicker than the other side. I do not believe the ar195 has the same tower.

 

[AZMark]

If you look at the boat and trailer from the side is your high/interference point in front of or behind the center of the trailer wheel? As you raise the front, going from the 2&3 in drop to straight, what is in front of the wheel will rise and what is behind will lower.

This is how to look at it, but don’t compromise your towing to get in your garage.
You want the trailer as level as possible to tow, especially with surge brakes.
Depending how your driveway is sloped can you push the boat into the garage on the trailer jack?

 

[3 green tornados]

Not sure what your garage entry is like or your drive way but for $75 you can get a trailer dolly w/ a 2” ball to maneuver it pretty easy.

 

[Crob83]

That is what I have been doing. I want to avoid over time having an issue with the air nipple. I also did the mod to the tower to lower it all the way down. It seems I believe the 195s tower has one of the tower bars thicker than the other side. I do not believe the ar195 has the same tower.

Yes they do, they have the same tower with the bar closest to the bow being thicker

 

[biffdotorg]

a tip from my pontoon buddy. He was flipping his drop hitch and rise hitch when loading or trailering. He needed height on the highway to get it level, but needed a drop at the landing to float the boat off. So he would flip his hitch each time.

Now he bought an adjustable hitch, and just dropped his tongue jack to adjust height when he tows or lands his boat. You could use an adjustable as well if it had the range you are looking for.

 

[Dixie Highway]

a tip from my pontoon buddy. He was flipping his drop hitch and rise hitch when loading or trailering. He needed height on the highway to get it level, but needed a drop at the landing to float the boat off. So he would flip his hitch each time.

Now he bought an adjustable hitch, and just dropped his tongue jack to adjust height when he tows or lands his boat. You could use an adjustable as well if it had the range you are looking for.

x2 on this. Get an adjustable, I have an aluminum one that was god-awful expensive for a hitch but it's 4 or 6" range of motion and it can be flipped to make it a 12" range of motion. Then throw away or donate the 2 or 3 other ball mounts you have laying around because this is the last one you'll need. It also has 2" and 2 5/16" balls.

FLASH SECURE Adjustable Locking Ball Mount | Fastway Trailer

The FLASH SECURE is a specialized Ball Mount with an anti-theft system featuring built-in locking pins for ultimate security.

www.fastwaytrailer.com

 

[cjaysanchez]

my drive way is in a slight incline and concern I will not be able to hold on to the boat with a trolly. Also the bottom of the garage by the door has a small lip of about 1 inch height. I have a feeling this juggling around will get old pretty fast and will end up renting a storage space for $150 per month.

 

[steve0617]

Get a drop hitch and once you return from trailering it, chock the wheels and drop the hitch to the lowest it can go. Remove the bimini leaving just the attachments and back slowly. It will barely clear a 7’ garage height door. If you’re hitting the door and not the frame, raise the door until it’s above the frame and clamp it off to keep it in place.

If it still won’t clear, and you have a skinny, small person in your life, they can get upside down into the port and starboard storage areas and adjust the nut/washer longer to allow the tower to drop even lower. It's a serious pain to do this, but it can help and with you should only have to do it once.

I too have an incline up on my driveway into my garage and these things together allows it all to barely fit.

 

[cjaysanchez]

Just got a weigh safe adjustable hitch ordered. Hopefully this will work.

 

[Crob83]

Just got a weigh safe adjustable hitch ordered. Hopefully this will work.

Or u can take the nut and bolt completely off. Rest the tower on the steering wheel just until u get it into the garage so you don't indent the wheel. And then prop the tower up, that is what I do. Cut a 2 by 4 to height u want and out a blanket or pad of some sort over it to not scratch the tower