RE: How high

[Preacher]

 
I was looking around some of the websites and noticed that several people said that the the ball on the pull bar should be 17 inches off the ground.  I have a 2002 Westlake and if I put mine 17 inches off the ground I will be towing it with its " nose up" .   It will be off level by about 2 inches.  I have always been told that it needs to be 1 inch or less one way or the other.  For some reason in the many years I have pulled a popup, I have never checked this out before.  I just made sure that the trailer was level when hooked to the TV.  I guess my question is, why the difference?  Is 17 inches correct?  Just has me scratching my bald head!

[Ab Diver]

 Preacher
Yes, it s best to tow the trailer with it s frame as level as possible. About 17"  seems to work out for most folks with Coleman trailers. Our old Starcraft was quite a bit lower (only about 12" , IIRC), but our current Bayside needs about 21"  cuz of the lift kit on the axle.
 
 Also, remember to choose a drawbar that will put your trailer at the usual towing height of your tow rig. If it rides a couple inches high when the TV is empty, but the TV usually drops a couple inches when loaded for a trip, your trailer should be about perfect (provided the TV isn t sagging too much) when you go camping.
 
 

[MtnCamper]

 Preacher
17 to the top of the ball, Did you measure to the drawbar?

[Preacher]

 Preacher
Mtncamper,
 
 You answered a question that I didn t ask.  I assumed they were talking to the bottom of the ball (to the draw bar) and that is what I measured.  If it is to the top of the ball, then that is a different thing!  As I said, I ve never bothered to measure before, because I alway made sure the popup was level by having the proper drawbar with the right rise or fall.  I just went out for the fun of it and measured and that is when I found the difference.  With your answer, I guess I can quit scratching my head now!

[The Eagle and the Hawk]

 Preacher
You might want to check your owners manual.  Our coachmen lists the hitch ball height in the back of the manual, on the " specifications"  page.  Actually, it lists several heights, depending on what size tires the camper has.  The height on ours is 15 1/2 inches.
 
 I am not sure if that 1/2 inch makes a difference, but that is what they list!

[Preacher]

 Preacher
E&H
 That is what caused me to ask my question to the distiguished members of this website, my owner s manuel doesn t give a highth.  I looked from front to back and it isn t there.  It just says to make sure it is level when towing.  You would think they would have something in there!  Out of curiosity, when they said 15 1/2 inches was it to the top or the bottom of the ball?

[mike4947]

 Preacher
Preacher different brands can have differing ride heights, BUt having said that for at least the last 5 years Coleman/Fleetwood has used 17 inches +/- 1 inch as their level ride height. I know this for a fact that your 2002 should be the same as I measured a couple last year  to see if I had the correct drawbar in my " stock"  in the garage when we were shopping for a new PU.

[Wayfarer]

 Preacher
17"  seems to be what everyone says, but I m not all that sure every Coleman or whatever brand is made to some exact, very specific, no tolerance, design and that all will be exactly the same.  Just load your PU the way you usually do for the average trip, hook it up and then drive to some level street or parking lot and get out and measure the height front and back.  That way you will know what adjustments you[/b] need to make for your particular PU, load, TV, etc.  Works every time.
 
 Happy Trails!
 

[MtnCamper]

 Wayfarer

 

ORIGINAL:  Wayfarer
 
 Just load your PU the way you usually do for the average trip, hook it up and then drive to some level street or parking lot and get out and measure the height front and back.  That way you will know what adjustments you[/b] need to make for your particular PU, load, TV, etc.  Works every time.
 
 Happy Trails!
 
 

 Or, just put it on the level, unhook, crank the jack to level, then measure from the ground to the top of the ball. []