Enter the height of your vehicle’s receiver and the height of the trailer’s coupler into the calculator to determine the required hitch height for level towing.

Hitch Height Formula

The following formula is used to calculate the hitch height. 

HH = VH - CH

Variables:

  • HH is the hitch height (inches)
  • VH is the vehicle height, specifically the height of the receiver (inches)
  • CH is the coupler height of the trailer (inches)

To calculate the hitch height, subtract the coupler height of the trailer from the height of the vehicle’s receiver. This will give you the height at which the hitch should be set for level towing.

What is Hitch Height?

Hitch height is the distance from the ground to the point where the hitch ball should be located to ensure the trailer is level when attached to the towing vehicle. Proper hitch height is crucial for safe towing, as it helps maintain balance and control of the trailer. It also reduces strain on the vehicle’s suspension and prevents the trailer from swaying or causing uneven tire wear.

How to Calculate Hitch Height?

The following steps outline how to calculate the Hitch Height.

  1. First, measure the height of the vehicle’s receiver from the ground (VH) in inches.
  2. Next, measure the coupler height of the trailer from the ground (CH) in inches.
  3. Use the formula from above = HH = VH – CH.
  4. Finally, calculate the Hitch Height (HH) in inches.
  5. After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.

Example Problem : 

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.

Vehicle Height (VH) = 20 inches

Coupler Height (CH) = 15 inches