TRAILER BALL MOUNTS, PINTLE HITCHES & HITCH BALLS
IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA
The ball mount or pintle mount is one of the most important components of your towing system. It connects your tow vehicle's receiver hitch to your trailer's coupler or lunette ring while helping position the trailer at the proper towing height. Choosing the correct mount is essential for safe towing, proper weight distribution, trailer stability, and reduced wear on both the trailer and tow vehicle.
Deer Valley Trailer stocks a wide selection of standard ball mounts, pintle mounts, combination ball and pintle hitches, trailer hitch balls, hitch pins, receiver locks, and towing accessories for utility trailers, enclosed cargo trailers, equipment trailers, dump trailers, car haulers, landscape trailers, horse trailers, boat trailers, RV trailers, and commercial towing applications.
Whether you're replacing a worn hitch, towing a different trailer, or setting up a new tow vehicle, our experienced parts specialists can help you choose the proper towing equipment for your application.
WHAT IS A TRAILER BALL MOUNT?
A trailer ball mount is the removable steel component that slides into the receiver hitch on the tow vehicle. It provides the mounting platform for the trailer hitch ball and positions the trailer at the proper towing height.
Ball mounts are available with different drops, rises, lengths, receiver sizes, weight capacities, and ball-hole sizes to accommodate various trailers and tow vehicles.
The correct ball mount allows the trailer to tow as level as possible while maintaining proper ground clearance and weight distribution.
STANDARD BALL MOUNTS WE CARRY
A conventional enclosed trailer ramp-door assist is normally mounted above the rear door opening. Steel lifting cables connect the spring assembly to the lower sides of the ramp door. As the ramp is lowered, the cables turn the drums and apply tension to the torsion spring or springs. That stored spring force then helps lift the door when it is raised.
The complete system must work together. Spring capacity, shaft length, cable length, drum size, mounting position, door width, door height, and actual ramp-door weight all affect operation. A spring assembly that is too weak may provide little assistance, while one that is too strong can make the door difficult to lower or cause it to rise unexpectedly.
COMMON RECEIVER SIZES
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1-1/4 Inch Receiver Ball Mounts
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2 Inch Receiver Ball Mounts
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2-1/2 Inch Receiver Ball Mounts
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3 Inch Receiver Ball Mounts
COMMON DROP & RISE OPTIONS
Different tow vehicles sit at different heights. Ball mounts are manufactured with various drops and rises to help keep the trailer level.
Common sizes include:
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Straight Ball Mounts
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2-Inch Drop
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4-Inch Drop
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6-Inch Drop
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8-Inch Drop
Some ball mounts can also be installed upside down to create a rise rather than a drop.
WHY TOWING LEVEL IS IMPORTANT
One of the most common towing mistakes is using a ball mount that causes the trailer to tow nose-high or nose-low.
A trailer that sits level helps:
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Improve trailer stability
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Improve braking performance
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Reduce tire wear
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Reduce suspension stress
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Improve weight distribution
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Improve handling
Even a small change in trailer height can affect how weight is distributed across the trailer axles.
TRAILER TOWING TOO HIGH
When the hitch ball is too high, the trailer tilts upward toward the tow vehicle. This can reduce tongue weight while increasing the load carried by the rear axle of the trailer.
Possible problems include:
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Trailer sway
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Reduced steering control
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Increased bouncing
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Uneven tire wear
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Poor braking performance
TRAILER TOWING TOO LOW
If the hitch ball is too low, the trailer tilts downward toward the tow vehicle.
This may result in:
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Excessive tongue weight
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Reduced ground clearance
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Increased suspension wear
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Poor weight distribution
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Difficulty entering driveways
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Increased chance of dragging the trailer jack or rear frame
UNDERSTANDING BALL SIZE
The trailer coupler and hitch ball must always be the same size.
Using the wrong size hitch ball can prevent the coupler from locking correctly and may allow the trailer to disconnect during towing.
COMMON HITCH BALL SIZES
Deer Valley Trailer stocks the industry's most common trailer hitch balls including:
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1-7/8 Inch
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2 Inch
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2-5/16 Inch
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Specialty Ball Sizes
Each ball must also match the required shank diameter and overall weight capacity.
HITCH BALL SHANK SIZE
The threaded shank underneath the hitch ball passes through the ball mount and is secured with a lock washer and nut.
Different hitch balls use different shank diameters.
Common shank sizes include:
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3/4 Inch
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1 Inch
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1-1/4 Inch
The hole in the ball mount must match the hitch ball's shank.
UNDERSTANDING BALL MOUNT CAPACITY
Every ball mount has a maximum weight rating established by the manufacturer.
The towing system is always limited by its lowest-rated component, which may include:
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Receiver Hitch
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Ball Mount
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Hitch Ball
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Coupler
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Tow Vehicle
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Safety Chains
Installing a higher-capacity ball mount does not increase the tow rating of the vehicle or trailer.
WHAT IS A PINTLE MOUNT?
A pintle mount is designed for trailers equipped with a lunette ring instead of a conventional ball coupler. Pintle systems are commonly used on heavy-duty commercial trailers, military trailers, equipment trailers, construction trailers, agricultural equipment, and other severe-duty applications.
Pintle systems provide a durable connection capable of accommodating rough terrain and greater articulation than many standard ball couplers.
LUNETTE RINGS
Rather than attaching to a hitch ball, a pintle trailer uses a heavy forged steel lunette ring that fits inside the pintle hook.
The pintle hook closes over the ring and is secured with a locking mechanism before towing.
PINTLE HOOKS
Pintle hooks are available in several capacities and mounting styles.
Common configurations include:
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Bolt-On Pintle Hooks
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Receiver Pintle Mounts
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Forged Pintle Hooks
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Combination Ball and Pintle Hitches
COMBINATION BALL & PINTLE HITCHES
Combination hitches combine a standard hitch ball with a pintle hook into one assembly. They allow the same tow vehicle to pull either a conventional ball-coupler trailer or a lunette-ring trailer without changing the complete hitch setup.
These systems are commonly used by contractors, municipalities, farms, construction companies, rental fleets, and commercial operators.
HITCH PINS & RECEIVER LOCKS
The ball mount is secured inside the receiver using a hitch pin or locking hitch pin.
Deer Valley Trailer stocks:
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Standard Hitch Pins
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Hitch Pin Clips
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Locking Receiver Pins
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Receiver Locks
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Anti-Rattle Devices
The hitch pin should always match the receiver size and be fully engaged before towing.
SAFETY CHAINS
Safety chains provide a secondary connection between the trailer and tow vehicle should the primary coupler connection become disconnected.
Chains should be properly crossed beneath the trailer coupler to help support the tongue if an accidental uncoupling occurs. They should also have enough length to allow normal turning without dragging on the ground.
Deer Valley Trailer carries replacement safety chains, hooks, repair links, clevis hooks, and related towing hardware.
HOW TO SELECT THE CORRECT BALL MOUNT
Choosing the correct ball mount involves more than simply matching the receiver size.
Several factors should be considered including:
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Receiver Size
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Trailer Coupler Height
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Tow Vehicle Receiver Height
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Required Drop or Rise
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Hitch Ball Size
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Ball Shank Diameter
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Trailer Weight
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Tongue Weight
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Ground Clearance
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Intended Trailer Type
Our experienced staff can help determine the correct combination for your trailer and tow vehicle.
WHEN SHOULD A BALL MOUNT BE REPLACED?
Trailer ball mounts and pintle mounts are built for years of service, but they should be inspected regularly for wear and damage.
COMMON WARNING SIGNS
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Bent Ball Mount
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Cracked Welds
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Elongated Hitch Pin Hole
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Excessive Rust or Corrosion
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Damaged Hitch Ball Threads
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Loose Hitch Ball
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Worn Pintle Hook
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Excessive Wear in Lunette Ring
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Broken Safety Pin
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Damaged Receiver Lock
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Missing Hardware
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Excessive Movement Inside Receiver
STANDARD BALL MOUNTS VS. ADJUSTABLE BALL MOUNTS
Standard ball mounts are available in fixed drops or rises and are an excellent choice when towing one trailer or multiple trailers that share similar coupler heights.
Adjustable ball mounts offer the flexibility to quickly change ball height and often accommodate multiple hitch ball sizes. Because they provide additional features and adjustment options, they are covered in greater detail on our Adjustable Ball Mounts page.
DEER VALLEY TRAILER EXPERT TIP
One of the most common mistakes we see is customers selecting a ball mount based only on the receiver size. The receiver size simply determines whether the mount fits the truck—it does not determine whether it is the correct mount for the trailer.
Before purchasing a ball mount, measure the height of the trailer coupler when the trailer is level and compare it to the height of the tow vehicle's receiver opening. This allows you to determine the proper amount of drop or rise needed for safer, more stable towing.