Every new trailer owner reaches the same moment of truth at the back of the truck, coupler in hand, wondering whether the ball they bought last week is even the right size. Get it wrong and the coupler will not latch properly, or worse, it latches with slop you feel through every stop sign. The ball mount is the small, cheap, deeply misunderstood part of the whole towing setup, and it is the only component that has to satisfy three separate constraints at once: the receiver tube, the coupler, and the height of the tow vehicle.
That is why picking the best trailer hitch ball mount is more than a popularity contest. We went through ten of the highest-reviewed mounts on the market, pulled the published ratings for every ball size rather than just the headline number, and checked what each one actually does with rise, drop and receiver size. Some of the most-reviewed mounts in this list are the simplest steel brackets you can buy, and they still win for most people. A couple of the fancier adjustable mounts earn their place too, but not everyone needs one.
This roundup covers fixed 2 inch drops, 3/4 inch rises, tri-ball mounts that cover three coupler sizes at once, dual-ball channel mounts for precise levelling, and a heavy-duty 2-1/2 inch receiver unit rated well past anything a half-ton will pull. If you are still assembling the rest of the rig, our guide to the best trailer hitches covers the receiver side, and we have separate picks for truck tires for towing and trailer tires for travel trailers once the hitch is sorted.
Table of Contents
What Is a Trailer Hitch Ball Mount?
A trailer hitch ball mount is the removable, pin-secured bracket that slides into your vehicle’s receiver tube and holds the hitch ball that latches to your trailer’s coupler. The shank goes in the receiver, a hitch pin and clip lock it in place, and the ball welded or threaded to the platform sits inside the coupler latch while the trailer pivots underneath you.
Three separate parts get confused here constantly, so it is worth naming them. The receiver is the square tube welded to your vehicle’s frame. The ball is the metal sphere. The ball mount is the bracket that joins them and sets the height of the ball. Swapping the mount changes the tow height; swapping the ball changes which coupler it will fit; you cannot swap the receiver without tools and a lift.
Why does the height matter so much? A trailer sitting nose-high or nose-low tracks unpredictably, pushes back on the hitch, sways more, and in a crosswind behaves like a sail. Get the ball close to the height the trailer designer intended and the trailer tows straight and brakes evenly. That is the entire job of this component, and it is why a 2 inch drop and a 6 inch drop are not interchangeable even when both fit your receiver.
Top 3 Best Trailer Hitch Ball Mounts in 2026
CURT 45036 Loaded Ball Mount
- 7500 lb GTW and 750 lb tongue weight
- 2 inch drop with 2 inch ball
- Pre-attached ball and hitch pin included
- Black powder coat with chrome-plated ball
CURT 45900 Adjustable Channel Mount
- Two ball sizes with published ratings for each
- 2 inch ball rated 10000 lb and 2-5/16 inch ball rated 14000 lb
- Flippable shank gives 5-1/4 inch rise or 6 inch drop
- Built-in anti-rattle design
MaxxHaul 70067 Adjustable Mount
- Eight height positions
- 5 to 11 inch drop and 4 to 10 inch rise
- 5000 lb GTW and 500 lb tongue weight
- Dual-pin system changes height without tools
- Powder-coated alloy steel
Best Trailer Hitch Ball Mounts in October
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| CURT 45036 Loaded Ball Mount |
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| CURT 45900 Adjustable Channel Mount |
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 CURT 45030 Class III Ball Mount |
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| MaxxHaul 70067 Adjustable Ball Mount |
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 MaxxHaul 70270 Tri-Ball Mount |
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 B&W Tow and Stow TS20037B |
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 ORCISH Tri-Ball Mount with Tow Hook |
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 OPENROAD TH-003 Adjustable Mount |
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 TOPTOW Tri-Ball Mount |
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 XPE Tri-Ball Mount with Hook |
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1. CURT 45036 Loaded Ball Mount – Best Overall
CURT 45036 Loaded Ball Mount, 7,500 lb, 2″ Drop
7500 lb GTW
750 lb tongue weight
2 inch drop with 2 inch ball
5/8 inch pin hole
Pros
- Over 10k reviews averaging 4.8 stars
- 2 inch drop suits most pickup and SUV receivers
- Ready to tow with ball and hitch pin included
- Powder coat and chrome ball resist road salt
Cons
- Fixed drop means no height adjustment
- One reviewer reported the ball washer tightened slightly off-angle
- Sold as a single 2 inch ball so it will not fit a 2-5/16 inch coupler
This is the mount we kept coming back to. Over 10,500 reviews averaging 4.8 stars is not a rounding error in a category this small, and when a product accumulates that many owners it is almost always because it does one thing correctly and does not try to be clever. The CURT 45036 slots into a standard 2 inch receiver, drops the ball 2 inches, and locks down with the included pin. You are in and out in a few minutes with a basic tool set.
What we like most is that it ships loaded. The 2 inch ball is already welded to the platform and the hitch pin and clip come in the box, so there is no extra shopping and no guesswork about whether the pin diameter matches. Reviewers repeatedly single out the straightforward, rugged construction and the fact that installation is genuinely easy, which is the whole reason a first-time trailer owner lands on this mount.
Technically it is a modest piece of hardware in the best way. The 2 inch by 2 inch shank fits virtually any industry-standard 2 inch receiver, the overall length is 7-1/2 inches, and it weighs 4.6 pounds. The carbon steel body carries a black powder coat with a polished chrome-plated ball, a combination that has a good track record through winters and salted roads. The published capacity is 7,500 lb gross trailer weight and 750 lb tongue weight, which covers a mid-size boat, a small utility trailer, or a pop-up camper without drama.
The one recurring complaint in the reviews is a manufacturing detail rather than a design flaw. A small number of owners found the ball screw washer was not sitting squarely against the pipe and the nut ended up tightened slightly off-angle. It is a five-minute correction at install time with a wrench, and it is worth checking before the first tow rather than after.
What to check before you buy
Confirm the coupler on your trailer actually takes a 2 inch ball. The 2 inch is the most common size in North America and the safest default guess, but it is not universal, and a coupler that is slightly loose on a 2 inch ball will not latch fully. Look at the stamped size on the coupler body rather than eyeballing the diameter.
Then confirm your receiver is genuinely a 2 inch opening and that your vehicle’s tow rating covers 7,500 lb. A ball mount cannot raise your vehicle’s capacity. The lowest-rated component in the chain always governs, and on many half-ton trucks the receiver or the tow rating sits below 7,500 lb before the trailer is even considered.
Where it falls short
The 2 inch drop is fixed, and fixed means it is right for a particular vehicle and trailer pairing and wrong for everything else. If you switch between a boat on a tall bunk and a low utility trailer, you will be changing mounts, not just re-hitching. That is a nuisance, not a safety problem.
It also carries a single ball size. Owners who tow more than one trailer often end up buying a second mount anyway, which is exactly the argument for one of the tri-ball options further down this list.
2. CURT 45900 Adjustable Dual-Ball Channel Mount – Best for Precise Levelling
CURT 45900 Adjustable Dual-Ball Channel Mount, 2″ Shank, 6″ Drop
10000 lb on 2 inch ball
14000 lb on 2-5/16 inch ball
5-1/4 inch rise or 6 inch drop
Built-in anti-rattle
Pros
- Two ball sizes with published ratings for each
- Flippable shank gives rise and drop from one mount
- Two pin holes for 11 inch or 12 inch shank lengths
- Anti-rattle design cuts movement in the receiver
- 3500 reviews at 4.8 stars with 89 percent five-star
Cons
- Heaviest and priciest of the conventional mounts listed
- Capacity and channel geometry limit very light trailers
- Requires a Class III or IV vehicle to use the full rating
This is the one to buy if you tow a genuinely heavy trailer and care about getting it level. The 45900 is a channel-style adjustable mount with two balls on the same platform: a 2 inch ball rated at 10,000 lb and a 2-5/16 inch ball rated at 14,000 lb. Because the ratings are published per ball rather than as one headline number, you always know exactly what you are hooking up.
The mechanism is simpler than the category’s reputation suggests. Two hitch pin holes give you shank lengths of 11 inches or 12 inches, and flipping the shank over converts that into a maximum rise of 5-1/4 inches or a maximum drop of 6 inches. The channel itself then gives you incremental adjustment. Reviewers describe the result as precise levelling rather than an approximation, and the built-in anti-rattle design is the detail that separates this from cheaper adjustable designs.
The construction is carbon steel with a powder-coated, zinc-plated finish, and it mounts on any hitch with a 2 inch by 2 inch receiver tube opening. The published weight in the listing is 8 ounces, which is almost certainly a data entry error in the catalogue rather than a real measurement, so do not plan your lifting strategy around it. Budget for this one being a genuine two-hand lift and consider supporting the receiver when it is extended.
The honest limitation is capacity class. The 14,000 lb figure only means something if your vehicle, receiver and trailer coupler are all rated for it. On a half-ton truck you will be living in the 10,000 lb 2 inch ball configuration, and even that demands a serious receiver. Buyers who pair it with a light utility trailer report the geometry feels oversized for the job, which is the mirror image of the usual complaint.
What to check before you buy
Measure your receiver height and your coupler height before ordering, because the entire value of this mount evaporates if you guess the drop wrong. The 6 inch maximum drop and 5-1/4 inch maximum rise cover most pairings, but they are not unlimited, and a low minivan or crossover receiver can exhaust that range quickly.
Verify your vehicle’s receiver class too. A 2 inch receiver on a Class II vehicle is not a Class III receiver, and the 10,000 lb ball rating is only meaningful when the vehicle, hitch, ball, coupler and trailer are all rated for at least that figure.
Where it falls short
It is the most expensive of the 2 inch receiver mounts here, and you pay for capability you may never use. If your heaviest trailer is a 14 foot jon boat, the adjustment range is genuine overkill.
The channel geometry is also designed around ball sizes of 2 inches and above. A 1-7/8 inch coupler, common on small utility and landscaping trailers, is not what this platform is built for.
3. CURT 45030 Class III Ball Mount – Best Standard 2 Inch Fit
CURT Manufacturing 45030 Class III 2″ Ball Mount
7500 lb GTW
750 lb tongue weight
2 inch drop and 3/4 inch rise
High-strength steel
Pros
- Fits virtually any industry-standard 2 inch receiver
- 2 inch drop and 3/4 inch rise in one bracket
- Gloss black powder coat resists snow and road salt
- 2146 reviews averaging 4.8 stars
- Weighs just 2.58 kg
Cons
- Trailer ball and hitch pin sold separately
- Fixed height with no adjustment at all
- Capacity capped by the lowest-rated component in the chain
The 45030 is the bare-metal answer to the same problem the 45036 solves. It is the classic Class III bracket: high-strength steel, a 2 inch by 2 inch shank that fits virtually any industry-standard 2 inch receiver, a 2 inch drop and a 3/4 inch rise, and a 1 inch hole to accept a ball with a 1 inch diameter shank. It is a 3 by 12 by 4 inch, 2.58 kg piece of hardware that does nothing clever and everything reliably.
Over 2,100 reviews at a 4.8 average describe it exactly that way. Owners praise the powder coat durability and the universal 2 inch receiver fit, and the rounded shank makes it easy to install with a standard hitch pin. If you want a plain name-brand Class III bracket with nothing extra attached, this is the one, and the geometry is so conventional that it pairs with nearly any trailer you will meet in a parking lot.
The important thing to understand before buying is that the ball and the pin are not included. The 1 inch hole is a threaded mount for a ball with a 1 inch diameter shank, sold separately, so budget for a 2 inch ball with the matching 1 inch threaded shank and a hitch pin with a clip. If you already own both, this bracket is all you need; if you own neither, the 45036 above is the same geometry with the hardware pre-attached.
Finishing is gloss black powder coat, and the reviews specifically call out its resistance to rain, dirt, snow and road salt. That is the finish you want if you tow through winter, and it is the reason this bracket holds up when a cheaper painted mount starts blooming with rust around the pin holes.
What to check before you buy
Buy the ball to match the coupler, not to match the mount. The 1 inch threaded hole in this bracket will accept a 1 inch shank ball, and the standard 2 inch ball is what almost every modern coupler expects. Confirm the coupler size on the trailer before you order either part.
Also check the condition of your receiver’s pin holes. This mount is quiet and stable in a healthy receiver and develops a familiar rattle in one whose holes have elongated from a previous ball that did not match. Inspecting the receiver takes two minutes and prevents a frustrating diagnosis later.
Where it falls short
It does not arrive ready to tow. Two separate purchases before the first hookup is friction that the loaded mount in position one simply does not have, and for a first-time owner that matters.
The fixed drop and 3/4 inch rise are also the entire adjustment range, so this is a bracket for one vehicle and one trailer height. Change either and you are shopping again.
4. MaxxHaul 70067 Adjustable Ball Mount – Best Budget Height Adjustment
MaxxHaul Adjustable Ball Mount, 5,000 lb Towing Capacity with 8‑Position Height Adjustment, Fits 2″ Receivers, Heavy‑Duty Steel Tow Hitch with Dual‑Pin System (70067)
5000 lb GTW
500 lb tongue weight
Eight height positions from 4 inch rise to 11 inch drop
Dual-pin system
Pros
- Eight positions spanning 4 to 10 inch rise and 5 to 11 inch drop
- Height changes without tools thanks to the dual-pin system
- 5776 reviews at 4.6 stars
- Powder-coated alloy steel
- Low-cost route to real adjustability
Cons
- 5000 lb capacity is the lowest in this roundup
- Hitch pin is not included
- 14.8 pounds is bulky to stow
Adjustable mounts have a reputation for being complicated, and largely they earn it. The 70067 is the exception. Instead of a threaded sleeve or a sliding channel, it uses a dual-pin system: move the pins, drop the mount into one of eight positions, done. Drop options run 5, 7, 9 and 11 inches, and rise options run 4, 6, 8 and 10 inches. No tools, no guesswork about which hole is which.
That range gives you eight discrete positions, more than any other mount in this roundup, and it is the reason this mount shows up in the hands of people with mixed fleets. Nearly 5,800 reviews at 4.6 stars reflect broad satisfaction with having that many options, and the recurring note is that the height change takes seconds rather than a trip to the garage.
The spec sheet is where the compromise shows. Capacity is 5,000 lb gross trailer weight and 500 lb maximum tongue weight, the lowest rated pair in this group by a wide margin. That is fine for a small utility trailer, a landscape trailer, a boat on a modest bunk, or a cargo box, and it is not fine for a travel trailer or anything with a meaningful tongue weight. The hitch pin is not included either, so add that to your list before the first tow.
Construction is powder-coated alloy steel in universal fit, with a 90 days manufacturer warranty behind it. At 14.8 pounds it is heavier than the fixed mounts, and the bulk is noticeable when you are trying to get it out of the way of a garage door or your own shins. That is the cost of carrying a frame that can reach 11 inches of drop.
What to check before you buy
Do the capacity math first. Five thousand pounds of gross trailer weight sounds generous until you remember it is the weight of the trailer, not the weight of what is in it. If your loaded trailer approaches that figure, this is the wrong mount and no amount of adjustability will change it.
Confirm you can accept the bulk. Some people remove the mount between tows and stow it; at 14.8 pounds with a wide frame, that is a two-person job. If your mount lives permanently in the receiver, the weight matters far less.
Where it falls short
The 500 lb tongue weight ceiling is the number to respect. A travel trailer that weighs 5,000 lb typically puts 500 to 750 lb on the ball, so this mount can be at or past its own structural limit while the gross trailer weight number still looks fine.
There is also no anti-rattle provision, so expect more movement inside the receiver than the channel-style adjustable mounts deliver. It is not unsafe, but it is audible over expansion joints.
5. MaxxHaul 70270 Tri-Ball Mount – Best Low-Cost Three-Ball Setup
MaxxHaul 70270 Trailer Hitch Hollow Shaft Triple Ball Mount – Black
1-7/8, 2 and 2-5/16 inch balls
2000 / 5000 / 7500 lb per ball
10 inch hollow shaft
Black powder coat
Pros
- Three ball sizes in one mount cuts the swapping between trailers
- 7500 lb capacity on the 2-5/16 inch ball
- Hollow shaft improves clearance and tight turns
- 2053 reviews at 4.7 stars
- Low cost for a tri-ball configuration
Cons
- 1-7/8 inch ball is rated at only 2000 lb
- Black balls scuff and show wear faster than chrome
- Fixed height with no rise or drop adjustment
The tri-ball answer is the practical one if you own more than one trailer, and the 70270 is a low-cost version of it. A single bracket carries 1-7/8 inch, 2 inch and 2-5/16 inch balls on one hollow shaft, so the same mount that handles your utility trailer on Sunday handles the boat on Friday. Just rotate it to the ball the coupler wants.
Owners consistently point to the hollow shaft as the underrated feature. It shortens the distance between the shank and the ball, which improves clearance over obstacles and lets you make tighter turns than a solid-shaft mount of the same length. At 10 inches overall and 10.6 pounds, it is also a genuinely manageable object to lift in and out.
Read the per-ball ratings before you commit, because they are steeply stepped: 2,000 lb on the 1-7/8 inch ball, 5,000 lb on the 2 inch, and 7,500 lb on the 2-5/16 inch. The 2,000 lb figure is the one people miss. It is a small-ball rating, not a typo, and it means the 1-7/8 inch position is for light utility and landscaping trailers only.
The finish is black powder coat with black hitch balls, supported by a 90 days manufacturer warranty. Reviewers note the black balls show wear and scuff more readily than chrome-plated ones, which is purely cosmetic but does mean the coupler will look lived-in sooner. Capacity, not cosmetics, is the real conversation here.
What to check before you buy
Identify the ball size your heaviest trailer actually needs, then work down. If the biggest trailer you tow takes a 2-5/16 inch coupler, confirm your vehicle’s tow rating clears 7,500 lb, because the mount cannot exceed the vehicle.
Then check your receiver. This is a 2 inch receiver mount with a 10 inch length, and it has no rise or drop adjustment, so it works only at whatever height your vehicle and that trailer happen to need. Measure before buying, not after.
Where it falls short
It is fixed height, full stop. On a vehicle that needs a drop, or a trailer that sits high on its coupler, there is no way to compensate except with a different mount.
The 2,000 lb rating on the smallest ball is also a real ceiling rather than a nominal one. If the smallest trailer you own is anything heavier than a small utility trailer, the 1-7/8 inch position is decoration rather than a tool.
6. B&W Tow & Stow TS20037B – Best for Heavy Duty and 2-1/2 Inch Receivers
B&W Trailer Hitches Tow & Stow Adjustable Trailer Hitch Ball Mount – Fits 2.5″ Receiver, Dual Ball (2″ x 2-5/16″), 5″ Drop, 18,000 GTW – TS20037B
18000 lb GTW
5 inch drop
2 inch and 2-5/16 inch balls
Fits 2-1/2 inch receivers
Pros
- 4.9 stars across 1448 reviews - highest average in this roundup
- 18000 lb class rating for heavy equipment and combination trailers
- Rotates under the vehicle to clear shins and garage doors
- Anti-theft locking arm and stainless steel adjustment pins
- Dual-layer e-coat plus powder coat and a limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- 25 pounds is the heaviest mount listed
- Fits 2-1/2 inch receivers only without an adapter
- Heaviest steel demands support when lifting
If you own a three-quarter-ton or a one-ton with a 2-1/2 inch receiver, this is the only mount here that matches the hardware. The Tow and Stow carries an 18,000 lb pull force class rating, a 5 inch drop, and dual balls of 2 inch and 2-5/16 inch on an arm you can reposition with stainless steel adjustment pins. At 18,000 lb it carries the highest capacity rating of the ten mounts here, and the build is high-strength American steel made in Humboldt, Kansas, backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
At 4.9 stars across 1,448 reviews it holds the highest average rating of anything in this roundup, and the review consensus is unusually consistent: buyers like the 18,000 lb capacity, the ability to stow the rotating arm under the vehicle, and the anti-theft design that locks the adjustable arm in most receivers. Draw 92 percent five-star, which for a component this loaded is a strong signal.
The rotation is the feature people underestimate. After a tow, the ball assembly swings under the vehicle so it is not swinging at knee height in a parking garage or a drive-through. On a truck with 21 inches of receiver height, the alternative is a permanent shin hazard, and owners with tall lifts mention this specifically as the reason they bought it.
Protection against corrosion is layered: a dual-layer e-coat underneath an Ironclad black powder coat. For anyone towing through salted winter roads or coastal air, that two-stage finish is the difference between a mount that lasts a decade and one that pits. The box includes the adjustable pins and retainer, the hitch balls and instructions.
What to check before you buy
Measure your receiver opening. This mount fits 2-1/2 inch receivers. On a standard 2 inch receiver you need an adapter, and adapters add length, cost and a joint that you have to think about when the trailer is loaded.
Then check the whole chain, not just this mount. An 18,000 lb ball mount on a vehicle rated for 7,500 lb is a 7,500 lb towing setup. The lowest-rated component governs, and the ball mount is never the one that decides your capacity.
Where it falls short
Twenty-five pounds is the heaviest mount in this list by a wide margin, and reviewers say so plainly. Handling it into and out of a receiver takes support, and the stowing feature only helps once it is already installed.
It also carries the highest capacity rating in this roundup, and the gap is wide enough that for a trailer under about 10,000 lb the extra capability goes unused. Buy it when you need the 2-1/2 inch fit and the 18,000 lb class, not because it is the best-rated.
7. ORCISH Tri-Ball Mount with Tow Hook – Best for Recovery Gear
ORCISH Tri-Ball Trailer Hitch Mount with Tow Hook & Pin for 2″ Receiver
1-7/8, 2 and 2-5/16 inch balls
Chrome-plated tow hook rated 10000 lb
Fits Class III and IV 2 inch receivers
Pros
- Three chrome balls plus a 10000 lb rated recovery hook in one unit
- Chrome plating resists scratching during frequent towing
- Extra 5/8 inch hitch pin included for a more secure fit
- Works across trucks
- SUVs
- tractors
- UTVs and ATVs
- 942 reviews at 4.8 stars with 85 percent five-star
Cons
- Not compatible with 2-1/2 inch receivers
- No height adjustment whatsoever
- One reviewer found slight play in the receiver
- Steeel parts can oxidize over long weather exposure
The 4-in-1 pitch is straightforward and it delivers. Three chrome-plated balls at 1-7/8 inch, 2 inch and 2-5/16 inch, plus a chrome tow hook rated to 10,000 lb for recovery or strap use, all on one mount that fits Class III and IV 2 inch square receiver tubes. The per-ball capacities are 5,000 lb, 6,000 lb and 10,000 lb, and the 5,000 lb on the smallest ball is the highest 1-7/8 inch rating among the tri-balls here.
What separates it from the other tri-balls here is the hook. If you tow on dirt roads, run farm gates, carry a dirt bike or a UTV, or simply want a recovery point without bolting on a separate accessory, this saves a step. Reviewers also appreciate the extra 5/8 inch hitch pin in the box, which tightens the fit in the receiver compared with what ships as bare hardware.
Chrome plating is a real practical advantage over black powder coat on the balls. It resists scratching, it wipes clean, and it keeps the coupler from galling over years of hookups. The listed compatibility spans boats, campers, RVs, livestock trailers, ATVs and motorcycles, and at 12 pounds it is portable enough to move between vehicles.
The 1 year manufacturer warranty is modest next to the limited lifetime coverage on the heavy-duty mount later in this list, and the steel components can oxidize with long exposure to rain and harsh weather if the plating is breached. None of that matters much if the mount lives under a truck, but it does if it lives in a barn.
What to check before you buy
Check the receiver size and check the height. This is a 2 inch receiver mount with no adjustment, so the ball sits wherever the vehicle and trailer put it. On a high-receiver truck you may need a drop mount entirely instead.
Confirm the biggest trailer you tow. The 2-5/16 inch ball is rated 10,000 lb, which is fine for most Class III work, but it is not a substitute for a properly rated heavy-duty mount on a one-ton.
Where it falls short
Not compatible with 2-1/2 inch receivers, full stop, and no adapter is mentioned in the specifications. Owners with larger receivers are out of options with this mount.
A few reviewers also reported slight looseness in the receiver and wished the mount had a locking option. On a tow that is a nuisance, and an anti-rattle device is the cheap fix if it bothers you.
8. OPENROAD TH-003 Adjustable Mount – Best for Theft-Prone Parking
OPENROAD Adjustable Hitch Ball Mount with 2″ Ball for 2-Inch Receiver
7500 lb GTW
9-1/2 inch drop or 8-1/4 inch rise
Includes combination lock and two keys
Pros
- Very wide 9-1/2 inch drop and 8-1/4 inch rise range
- Combination lock with two keys deters ball theft
- 7500 lb rating suits most medium-duty towing
- Powder coat resists rust
- corrosion and UV damage
- Quick change-out ball pins
Cons
- 17.2 pounds is heavy to lift
- Ball nut and set screw need careful levelling and torquing
- 4.6 star average trails the fixed and tri-ball alternatives
Ball theft is a real problem, and a chrome 2-5/16 inch ball is a highly portable theft target. The TH-003 answers it directly: it ships with a combination lock and two keys that secure the mount against removal. Everything else about it is a solid adjustable design rated to 7,500 lb gross trailer weight with a 9-1/2 inch drop and 8-1/4 inch rise range, which is among the widest single-mount ranges in this roundup.
The other detail worth noting is the pin system for the balls. Quick change-out ball pins let you swap ball sizes without tools, and the mount is also listed for trailer connectors, rear bumpers, agricultural machines and dual receiver extenders, which makes it more of a general towing tool than a single-trailer bracket.
Across 882 reviews at 4.6 stars, the praise centres on the adjustability and the included lock-and-key security. The black powder coat is described as resisting rust, corrosion, UV damage, scuffs and dents, which is a good combination for a mount that lives outside in all seasons.
The two complaints are physical. At 17.2 pounds it is one of the heavier adjustable mounts to lift into position, and installation demands care: the nut under the ball and the set screw must be tightened and levelled properly. Get that wrong and the ball sits at an angle, which is exactly the complaint that shows up on the fixed CURT 45036 as well. Take two extra minutes at install time.
What to check before you buy
Confirm the lock is the reason you are buying. If you park in a locked garage, the combination lock is a nice feature you will never touch. If you leave the truck at a trailhead overnight, it may be the difference between recovering your ball mount and replacing it.
Also check that you can manage the weight. If you plan to remove the mount between tows, 17.2 pounds plus the awkward extended shape is a two-person job for most people.
Where it falls short
The 4.6 star average is the joint-lowest here, and the review data attributes that to the physical bulk and the fiddly ball hardware rather than to any fundamental problem. It is also a single-ball adjustable, so it does not solve the multi-trailer ball size problem the tri-balls handle.
If you tow more than one trailer with different coupler sizes, you will still be changing mounts. If you tow one trailer at a time at varying heights, that is not a problem at all.
9. TOPTOW Tri-Ball Mount – Best With an Included Pin Kit
TOPTOW Trailer Hitch Tri-Ball Hitch Ball Mount with 1-7/8″, 2″ and 2-5/16″ Black Tow Balls, Fits for 2-inch Hitch Receivers
1-7/8, 2 and 2-5/16 inch balls
2000 / 6000 / 10000 lb per ball
12 inch hollow shank
5/8 inch pin kit included
Pros
- Three ball sizes with clearly separated capacity ratings
- Robotically welded balls and easy rotation for quick switching
- Includes a 5/8 inch hitch pin kit so it is ready to tow
- 12 inch overall length with 7-1/2 inch usable shank
- Powder coat with enhanced shank corrosion resistance
Cons
- One owner reports more play and noise in the receiver than a previous tri-ball
- 1-7/8 inch ball limited to 2000 lb
- No tow hook included
The TOPTOW is the most generously rated of the affordable 2 inch tri-balls, and it is the one that arrives complete. The 5/8 inch hitch pin kit is in the box, which removes the single most common reason a new ball mount feels loose on the first hookup. Three robotically welded balls at 1-7/8 inch, 2 inch and 2-5/16 inch give you per-ball ratings of 2,000 lb, 6,000 lb and 10,000 lb.
The TOPTOW carries a 2-5/16 inch ball rated at 10,000 lb, and that figure is the reason to look at this one over its cheaper rivals. It matches the highest big-ball rating among the tri-balls in this roundup, and it means the mount can carry a mid-size travel trailer or a loaded cargo trailer on the big ball while still handling a light utility trailer on the small one. Across 464 reviews at 4.8 stars, owners describe solid construction, easy installation and hassle-free ball switching.
The hollow shank is 12 inches overall with 7-1/2 inches of usable length, and it is the reason the mount turns tightly and clears obstacles well. Finish is a heavy-duty black powder coat with enhanced corrosion resistance on the shank specifically, which is where moisture actually collects on a mount like this.
The reported drawbacks are narrow. One owner noted slightly more play and noise in the receiver compared with a previous tri-ball they owned, which points at receiver fit rather than the mount itself. And like the other tri-balls here, the 1-7/8 inch position is rated at only 2,000 lb, so keep that in mind for the small trailer in your fleet.
What to check before you buy
Confirm your receiver. This is a 2 inch by 2 inch receiver mount with no adapter option, and no height adjustment, so the ball height is entirely determined by your vehicle and trailer.
Check what is already on your vehicle. If you have a hitch pin of the correct 5/8 inch diameter sitting in the glove box, the included kit is a bonus rather than a necessity. If not, it is the difference between a five-minute install and a trip to the parts store.
Where it falls short
No tow hook, which narrows it against the ORCISH and XPE options if you want a recovery point built in. Some will add one separately; others will not tow off-road enough to need it.
Fixed height is the other limitation, and it is shared with every tri-ball in this roundup. A tri-ball solves ball size, not height, and if you need both you are looking at an adjustable mount with a single large ball.
10. XPE Tri-Ball Mount with Hook – Best All-Round Utility Pick
XPE Tri Ball Trailer Hitch Mount with Hook Fits 2 Inch Receiver Matte Black
1-7/8, 2 and 2-5/16 inch balls
3500 / 5000 / 7500 lb per ball
10000 lb rated hook
Fits standard 2 inch receivers
Pros
- Sits at number one in Towing Ball Mounts on Amazon with 1191 reviews at 4.8 stars
- Three ball sizes plus a 10000 lb rated recovery hook
- Welded steel construction that owners describe as tight and wobble-free
- Installs in seconds without tools
- Listed for RVs
- cargo
- livestock
- farm and off-road use
Cons
- Heavy at 5.95 kg
- Per-ball GTW ratings are modest against some competing tri-balls
- Fixed height with no rise or drop adjustment
The XPE is the one we would hand to someone who has not thought this through and just needs a mount that works. Three ball sizes at 1-7/8 inch, 2 inch and 2-5/16 inch with ratings of 3,500 lb, 5,000 lb and 7,500 lb, plus a tow hook rated to 10,000 lb, all welded from high-quality steel and finished in black powder coat with electroplating underneath for rust and corrosion resistance.
What is striking is the category position. It sits at number one in Towing Ball Mounts on Amazon with 1,191 reviews at a 4.8 average, and owners describe a snug, wobble-free fit in the receiver, a durable feel under real loads, and installation that takes seconds without tools. For a component category where fit quality varies so much, that consistency is the feature.
The 3,500 lb rating on the 1-7/8 inch ball sits between the 2,000 lb figures on the MaxxHaul 70270 and TOPTOW and the 5,000 lb on the ORCISH, which makes the small position genuinely usable for landscaping, ATV and small utility work rather than decorative. The trade-off is the opposite end, where 7,500 lb on the 2-5/16 inch ball is the lowest big-ball figure among the tri-balls listed here.
Physical size is 11 by 7.8 by 8 inches and 5.95 kg, so it is substantial in the hand. Owners note the weight as expected for quality steel rather than as a complaint. A one year warranty is included along with a 30-day return and exchange window.
What to check before you buy
Work out which ball your heaviest trailer needs, then read that position’s rating rather than the 10,000 lb hook figure. The hook rating describes the hook, not the towing capacity of the ball you will actually be using.
Confirm the fixed height suits your setup. This is a fixed-height mount on standard 2 inch receivers, so it needs no adapter and no adjustment, which is exactly why it is simple and also why it will not fit a setup that requires drop.
Where it falls short
The 7,500 lb ceiling on the 2-5/16 inch ball is the constraint. If your largest trailer is loaded close to or above that figure, step up to a mount with a higher rating rather than relying on the mount being number one in a category.
Like every other tri-ball here, there is no rise or drop adjustment. Owners with a low receiver on a minivan or crossover will need a different mount entirely.
How to Choose the Right Ball Mount
Every mount in this roundup fits some subset of the towing universe, and the fastest way to narrow the list is to answer four questions in order. The order matters, because each answer eliminates options that later answers might have made look attractive.
1. What size is your receiver? Nearly all of these are 2 inch mounts. The B&W Tow & Stow in position six is the exception, fitting 2-1/2 inch receivers. Measure the opening of your receiver tube with a tape measure across the inside before you buy anything, because a 2 inch mount forced into a 2-1/2 inch receiver is a waste of an afternoon.
2. What size ball does your coupler take? The three standard diameters are 1-7/8 inch, 2 inch and 2-5/16 inch. The 2 inch ball is the most common and fits the widest range of modern trailers. The 1-7/8 inch ball suits small utility, landscaping and some ATVs. The 2-5/16 inch ball suits travel trailers, cargo trailers and anything with a serious tongue weight. The size is usually stamped or cast into the coupler body.
3. How much do you actually tow? Here is the rule that settles most arguments: the lowest-rated component in the chain governs your capacity. Your vehicle’s tow rating, the receiver, the ball mount, the ball, the coupler and the trailer’s own GVWR all apply at once, and the smallest number wins. A 7,500 lb mount on a vehicle rated for 3,500 lb is a 3,500 lb towing setup. A ball mount cannot increase your vehicle’s towing capacity, no matter what the packaging says.
4. How much rise or drop do you need? This is the question most people get wrong, and it is covered in detail in the next section. Short version: measure the top of your receiver tube and the height of the coupler opening, and the difference tells you whether you need a drop mount, a rise mount, or a flat one.
Once you have those four answers, the mount type follows. A fixed mount is the simplest and most durable option, and it is correct whenever you tow one trailer at one height. A tri-ball mount solves the multi-trailer ball size problem but does nothing for height. An adjustable mount solves height, including low receiver heights on minivans and crossovers, and usually carries a single large ball. Gooseneck and pintle hook mounts sit in a different category entirely, handling 16,000 lb and upward loads from pickups and heavy equipment, and none of the mounts here are in that class.
On materials, steel is the default and forged or cast aluminum is the alternative. Steel is heavier and tougher, and it is what all ten of these mounts use in some form. Aluminum saves weight and resists corrosion slightly better, but costs more and has less tolerance for abuse. If you are buying one mount and towing hard, steel is the right answer, and the finish is what actually determines how long it lasts in a salted or coastal climate.
On finishes, powder coat over an e-coat or electroplating layer gives the best corrosion resistance and is what you want for winter salt or coastal air. Bare zinc plating is adequate for dry regions. Chrome plating on the ball is worth paying for on a coupler you use often, because it resists galling and wipes clean. Black powder coat is the most common and the least visible when it wears.
If you tow a travel trailer, ask whether you need a weight distribution hitch. Indicators are rear suspension sag, headlights aimed upward after hooking up, a steering wheel that feels vague, and a trailer that sways in crosswinds. A weight distribution hitch is a separate system with its own head unit, chains and weight bars. A better ball mount makes a level trailer more level, but it cannot replace weight distribution on a trailer that needs it. Our trailer hitch guide covers that decision separately.
How to Measure for Rise or Drop
Measuring for rise or drop takes about ten minutes and a tape measure, and getting it wrong means a trailer that tows nose-high or nose-low for as long as you own it. The confusion is understandable: a drop mount lowers the ball toward the ground relative to the receiver, a rise mount lifts it, and a flat mount leaves the ball roughly level with the top of the tube.
Step 1: measure the top of the receiver tube. Park the vehicle on level ground and measure from the ground straight up to the top edge of the receiver opening. For a half-ton pickup this commonly lands between 17 and 21 inches. A 2020 or newer Silverado or Sierra 2500 owner measuring roughly 21 inches is squarely in the range where drop matters.
Step 2: measure the coupler height. Measure the same trailer with the tongue jack down and the coupler resting at its normal height, measuring from the ground to the top of the coupler opening. Many travel trailer couplers measure between 18 and 24 inches, and boat trailer couplers on a tall bunk can be higher still.
Step 3: subtract. Receiver height minus coupler height gives you the answer, and the sign tells you the direction. If the coupler is lower than the receiver, you need a drop. If the coupler is higher, you need a rise. If the two numbers match within about an inch, a flat mount is fine and you have saved yourself a decision.
For example, a receiver at 21 inches and a coupler at 15 inches means you need about 6 inches of drop. A receiver at 21 inches and a coupler at 21-1/2 inches means you need about a 1/2 inch rise, which most adjustable mounts handle in their lowest position.
Then apply the clearance rule, which is the most useful number in the whole category. You want roughly 13 inches of clearance when the trailer is unloaded and roughly 11 inches when it is loaded. That is the vertical distance from the top of the ball mount’s ball to the bottom of the trailer’s coupler. If you do not have at least 11 inches loaded, the trailer will not articulate over a driveway slope or a speed bump, and it will hit.
Measure clearance on the loaded trailer, hitched up, with the tongue jack down. This is the step people skip, and it is the step that determines whether the trailer clears a steep driveway when you pull away from it. Owners posting on r/Trucks about mounting headaches are almost always missing this measurement.
Low receivers deserve special attention. Minivans and crossovers with factory hitches often put the receiver opening at 14 to 16 inches, and a travel trailer coupler at 20 inches then demands a large rise rather than a drop. Owners on r/ToyotaSienna and r/HondaElement report this being the single most frustrating part of their first tow, and the practical answer is an adjustable mount with a long rise range, not a stack of improvised spacers. Never fabricate your own extension or spacer to gain height; the pin holes and the steel are not rated for an unlisted load path.
If your trailer sits nose-high or nose-low after a correct-looking installation, check three things in order: the pin holes in your receiver for elongation, the coupler for a bent or worn latch, and the ball for a flattened or worn surface. A worn ball will not seat fully and the latch will not engage properly. Replace the ball rather than adjusting the mount, and check the coupler’s internal diameter with a ball gauge or a known-good ball before assuming the mount is wrong.
Ball Size and Receiver Size Cheat Sheet
Screenshot this one, because ball size is the single detail that trips up the most new owners and the easiest to get permanently wrong. Match the diameter to the coupler, not to the mount, and never force a ball into a coupler that feels loose.
1-7/8 inch ball: suits small utility trailers, landscaping trailers, some ATVs and small boat trailers. In this roundup the per-ball ratings range from 2,000 lb on the MaxxHaul 70270 and the TOPTOW, through 3,500 lb on the XPE, up to 5,000 lb on the ORCISH. The spread is large, so read the number rather than assuming all 1-7/8 inch balls behave the same.
2 inch ball: the most common size in North America and the safest default for pickups, SUVs and crossovers. Ratings in this roundup run from 5,000 lb to 10,000 lb, with the CURT 45900 holding the highest figure on that ball size. If you know nothing else about your trailer, this is the size to verify first.
2-5/16 inch ball: the heavy-duty size, used on travel trailers, cargo trailers, dump trailers and equipment haulers. Ratings here run from 7,500 lb to 14,000 lb, and the CURT 45900 and B&W Tow & Stow are the two that reach the higher end. This ball requires a coupler designed for it; a 2 inch coupler will not accept it and vice versa.
Receiver sizes: 2 inch receivers cover Class III and Class IV hitches and fit nine of the ten mounts here. The 2-1/2 inch receiver belongs to heavy-duty pickup hitches and Class V applications, and only the B&W Tow & Stow in position six fits it directly.
One last pairing note that catches experienced owners too: the ball mount shank diameter and the ball’s mounting hole are different specifications. Several mounts here accept a ball with a 1 inch diameter shank or a 1 inch hole, while a removable ball typically has a 1 inch or 1-5/16 inch threaded shank. Check the hole size before buying a separate ball for the 45030, the 70067 or any other mount that takes a bolt-on ball.
Pre-Tow Safety Checklist and Common Mistakes
Working through this list takes about three minutes and catches nearly every failure that ends a tow early. None of it is complicated, which is exactly why it gets skipped.
1. Confirm the ball size matches the coupler. The ball must be the diameter the coupler is designed for, and it must seat fully with the latch closed over the top of it. A ball that can be rocked in the coupler is wrong and will not latch properly.
2. Check every rating in the chain. The vehicle’s tow rating, the receiver class, the ball mount, the ball, the coupler and the trailer’s GVWR. The lowest number governs. Repeat it because it is the most common misconception in this entire category: a ball mount cannot raise your vehicle’s towing capacity.
3. Inspect the hitch pin and clip. The pin should be the correct diameter for the receiver, pass fully through both holes, and be secured with a clip or a locking pin. A hitch pin that is one size under will walk out. An anti-rattle device fitted between the pin and the mounting surface removes the clunk you would otherwise blame on the mount.
4. Close and lock the coupler latch. The latch handle should be fully down and, where fitted, locked with a pin. A closed latch is not a locked latch, and the difference matters on grades and around corners.
5. Cross the safety chains and connect them to the vehicle. Chains should be crossed under the coupler, attached to rated points on both sides of the vehicle, and have enough slack for turns but not enough to drag. The safety chain loops on the B&W, ORCISH and XPE mounts in this roundup are rated well above the load their ball carries; a weak loop on a cheap mount is a hard limit on an otherwise sound setup.
6. Plug in and test the lights. Running lights, brake lights, turn signals and trailer brakes, all with someone standing behind the vehicle to confirm. Check the trailer brakes engage before you reach highway speed, not after.
7. Confirm tongue weight and cargo distribution. Tongue weight should be roughly 10 to 15 percent of the loaded trailer weight, and heavy cargo should sit forward and low. A ball mount that is correct for the height can still be overloaded by loading the trailer badly, and the two are independent problems.
8. Check tires and the trailer on the ground. Both tow vehicle and trailer tires inflated to their door-sticker pressures, lug nuts torqued, and the trailer’s landing jack fully raised before you pull away.
The common mistakes worth calling out specifically are these. Forcing a ball that is the wrong diameter into a coupler is the first, and it damages both parts. Ignoring rise or drop until the trailer tows badly is the second, and it is avoidable in ten minutes with a tape measure. Over-buying capacity is a less common mistake but wastes money, because a 14,000 lb mount on a 5,000 lb towing setup buys nothing, and a larger ball can even drop you into a lower per-ball rating on a tri-ball mount. Using an adjustable mount without checking the pin is fully seated is the fourth, and adjustable geometry is where this happens most often. Finally, buying a no-name mount because the listing looked similar is the fifth, and forum consensus in r/GoRVing and r/Trucks consistently points toward established towing brands for hardware that carries people and cargo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the strongest truck hitch available?
The strongest setups pair a Class V receiver with a gooseneck or pintle hook mount, which handle 16,000 lb and upward. For ball mounts, capacity tops out lower: the Bu0026amp;W Tow and Stow in this roundup carries an 18,000 lb class rating on a 2-1/2 inch receiver, and the CURT 45900 reaches 14,000 lb with its 2-5/16 inch ball. What you can actually use is governed by the lowest-rated component, so check the vehicle, receiver, ball, coupler and trailer together before buying.
How do I secure a trailer to a ball?
Seat the correct ball fully inside the coupler, close the latch handle and secure it with a lock pin where fitted. Slide the ball mount shank into the receiver, pass a correctly sized hitch pin through both holes, and secure it with a clip or locking pin. Cross the safety chains under the coupler and attach them to rated vehicle points, then plug in the wiring connector and test every light. Confirm the trailer is level and the tongue weight is within the mount’s rating before pulling away.
What is a hitch mount?
A hitch mount is the removable bracket that slides into your vehicle’s square receiver tube and holds the hitch ball that latches to a trailer coupler. Its shank is secured with a hitch pin and clip, and the ball welded or threaded to its platform sets the height at which the trailer rides. The mount is what determines whether your trailer tows level, and it must match both the receiver size and the coupler ball size.
How much does a trailer hitch cost?
A fixed Class III ball mount is the cheapest option and typically sits at the bottom of the range, while a complete tri-ball or adjustable mount costs meaningfully more. Heavy-duty 2-1/2 inch receiver models with rotating arms and limited lifetime warranties sit at the top. The most useful rule is that you are buying a load-rated steel component, not an accessory, so spending more usually buys higher capacity, more height range or corrosion protection rather than convenience.
Can a ball mount increase my vehicle’s towing capacity?
No. A ball mount cannot raise your vehicle’s towing capacity in any circumstance. Towing capacity is limited by the lowest-rated component in the chain, which usually means the vehicle’s tow rating, the receiver class or the vehicle’s payload capacity rather than the mount itself. Installing a higher-capacity ball mount changes nothing except the part that was never the limiting factor.
How do I know if I need rise or drop?
Measure the height from the ground to the top of your receiver tube, then measure from the ground to the top of the coupler opening on your trailer. Subtract the coupler height from the receiver height. A lower coupler means you need drop, a higher coupler means you need rise, and a match within an inch means a flat mount is fine. Then verify you still have at least 13 inches of clearance unloaded and 11 inches loaded.
Final Verdict
For most people reading this, the best trailer hitch ball mount is the CURT 45036, because it fits a standard 2 inch receiver, covers 7,500 lb, arrives with the ball and pin attached, and carries the deepest review base in the category at 4.8 stars across more than 10,000 owners. If you need height range, the MaxxHaul 70067 gives you eight positions and a tool-free changeover, and the CURT 45900 gives you precision and dual-ball capacity when the trailer is heavy. If you tow several trailers, take a tri-ball, and if you own a one-ton with a 2-1/2 inch receiver, the B&W Tow & Stow is the only mount here built for it. Measure your receiver height and your coupler height before you order anything, and the rest of the decision makes itself.