So i finally figured out how to tow my small garden trailer.
i had to get a Curt tow insert with a 10" drop to get the trailer to be fairly level! that is a BIG DROP!







If you look close at the top picture, you can see i added a metal clip to hold the tow cable on top of the hitch at that one point. that allows it to keep the tow cable from dragging on the road, but allows full turning movement too.

 

Yes, the drop needed, especially on trailers with lower tongue height, is pretty crazy! I have an 8" drop hitch for my small travel trailer (14" wheels) and it's still not quite enough drop.

 

I have both a horse trailer and an equipment trailer. Both trailers tow with an 8-inch drop, on both my LX570 and my 2500HD pickup. It's interesting that the Lexus has the same hitch receiver height above ground as the 3/4 ton pickup truck. The equipment trailer is really too big for the Lexus when loaded to capacity, but I have used it for light loads occasionally. It is a question of getting the load arranged so the tongue weight is correct for the Lexus. For that I use a WeighSafe hitch with a built-in scale.

 

i initially bought a curt 8" drop hitch, but my trailer was seriously tilted upward! then i just bought the 10" drop one. works fine.

 

Hi.. how high is your trailer tongue if it was level?
Mine requires the ball to be 15" or so.

But I have trouble figuring out 8" or 10" drop is needed.
I think the top of hitch is at least 22" off the ground and that's AHC in low.

I thought I would just reuse what I got, 3-4" drop was usually enought, but the LX has the hitch built into the frame which is at least 3" higher than other vehicles that have an accessory hitch that bolts under the frame.

 

My tongue height is just under 15". I use a 8" drop and it is still tilted up a little bit--maybe an 1" or so. A 10" drop would probably be perfect but I have a driveway with a sharp angle where it meets the road and I would bottom out the hitch if I went any lower.

 

This is mine. not very accurate as it's on the leg. Might be slightly lower than yours.
Towing tilted up is fine, except the trailer license plate is lower. I would just drop the AHC when parked.
I got the CURT 45110, they call it 10" drop but it's supposed to be 9.25" drop. Really have to fit it and test out. I am afraid of dragging too, rather drag the license plate than touch down the hitch and grinding.

 

Yes yours looks a little lower than mine, but with that drop I think you'll be fine. The AHC is really ruthless with eliminating rear squat. I also occasionally tow a car hauler that weights about 6500 lb loaded, and AHC just sucks it up

 

I just measured the Curt 8" drop. it is about 7 3/8" actual drop, top of shank to platform. The 10" drop on is supposed to have 9.25" drop.
I hope I will remember to wait 10-15 seconds for the AHC to go to normal height from full low before I back out my driveway.

Finally, got the cover off. The 8" drop seems to put me around 15". I can't put the cotter pin of the hitch pin. flange of the hitch opening makes it I cannot put the pin straight in. I have to use one with a key lock that goes on the hitch pin from the side.

 

Just finished towing my small trailer, it tows pretty good.. not noisy or I cannot hear it.

Just a question though, does the height control move the hitch up and down with it? I thought it just move the body up and down but the hitch is part of the frame.

 

It's a body on frame design. The suspension moves up & down, the body & frame move in unison. So if your tricky, back in low under the tongue & hit the up button to run the ball into the trailer tongue.