What is your ground clearance with your hitch

[cousin]

Hi,
I've bought a hitch (Hidden Hitch Brand) for my Sienna 2007 two days ago and was quite surprise with the poor resulting ground clearance of my Sienna... 8-1/4 inches when empty...

I saw many posts about ways to use air bags to at least maintain a "decent" height above the ground but I was wondering about the different brands of hitches and their differences in resulting ground clearances... This would probably allow me to return my model and switch it for another brand...

So basically, what kind of hitches are out there and what are their resulting clearance ?

Anybody out there with a "hidden hitch" with a 8-1/4 clearance ?

thanks,

JB

[robo5]

Welcome to the forum!! As you have been doing some reading. "search" hitches in this section.
There are many threads and opinions. The search may narrow it down so you will not have to read everything about "towing and hauling"

[tomNjo]

My Curt hitch mounted on a '06 LE is 8 1/2" from the ground to the bottom of the hitch opening.

[ArtD]

Your clearance is not unusual.

You will simply need to get a riser hitch ball mount if the coupler on your trailer is higher.

The real issue is whether the rear sags a lot or not.

With my little trailer and a weight distribution hitch, I have essentially no sag.

I do scrape once in a while when I enter a slanted driveway, but with practice that's very seldom nowadays. I tend to drag more with the hitch ball mounted, but without the trailer, because I forget the hitch is there.

By the way, what will you be towing?

[Zero260]

My Curt hitch mounted on a '06 LE is 8 1/2" from the ground to the bottom of the hitch opening.

I have the same measurement for my Curt on a '08 LE: 8 1/2" to the bottom inside of the hitch opening (equivalent to where the bottom of the ball mount shank is) - but only 8" to the bottom of the outside lip of the hitch opening.

Due to possible variances in different Sienna models (AWD models have a different suspension height I believe, and even 17" wheels will ride slightly higher, about 1/4", due to different tire size), a more telling measurement is distance from the bottom of the black bumper trim/lip to the bottom of the hitch - i.e. how far down the hitch drops. Mine is 3 1/8" below the black trim.

I tend to drag more with the hitch ball mounted, but without the trailer, because I forget the hitch is there.

I don't think I have ever had the hitch receiver itself drag the ground (but it's possible if the van was heavily loaded); it seems the bigger issue is the ball mount dragging, but like ArtD I have learned to avoid that. FYI, I have a WDH so my ball mount actually has a piece that drops below the receiver opening 2 or 3 inches (not sure) and I still don't drag the hitch very often - but the WDH system does counteract some of the sag in the rear suspension when towing...

[puff4]

Install an AirLift system on your Sienna... I have one and it works great... I tow a 3500 lb trailer (>350 lb tongue weight) and even with that weight it levels out the Sienna nicely.

[homer]

My Curt was low like yours, I've spent 95.00 Cdn for the airlift 1000 and the install was a breeze,the sag is now gone ,

[mar1990]

My Curt was low like yours, I've spent 95.00 Cdn for the airlift 1000 and the install was a breeze,the sag is now gone ,

Homer, where did you purchase your airlift? After towing the trailer, that next year's project.

[homer]

My Curt was low like yours, I've spent 95.00 Cdn for the airlift 1000 and the install was a breeze,the sag is now gone ,

Homer, where did you purchase your airlift? After towing the trailer, that next year's project.

From JC Whitney, whats nice with them is that they charge one fixed priced for shipping including custom tax etc etc. No surprise . The only little problem is that you have to be patient, I 've experienced a 7 day delay before shipping.....no big deal...

[RobB]

Has anyone tried out the 1-1/4" Curt hitch? I have a 2" Hidden Hitch now and it drags in low clearance situations even when I'm not towing anything. I'm thinking about switching over the to Curt, even if it only gains me just a little more clearance...

[brian_bp]

I have not tried the 1-1/4" Curt hitch, but at best it might provide the same improvement as the 1-1/4" Toyota OEM hitch (the DPS design)... and the OEM hitch is very well constructed, so I would prefer it (it's the one I have). The Curt, of course, would presumably be much less expensive if buying new.

[jh818]

Has anyone tried out the 1-1/4" Curt hitch? I have a 2" Hidden Hitch now and it drags in low clearance situations even when I'm not towing anything. I'm thinking about switching over the to Curt, even if it only gains me just a little more clearance...

Air lift bags would help in this situation.

[brian_bp]

Air bags (such as the Coil-Rites in my Sienna) help restore normal ride height under the load of passengers, cargo, or trailer tongue weight. Is the hitch dragging only when the van is loaded (then the bags will work), or even when empty?

[robaer]

I have a curt class III 2 Inch receiver (been installed for about 2 weeks) and I have yet to have it scrape. I have gone in and out of driveways of varying degrees while loaded (at least the van... no trailer or ball) and never had it scrape yet. I have an XLE so I have heard it likely rides a bit higher.

I do expect (based on comments I have seen here) that when the van is loaded AND the bar/ball inserted I might then see something scrape at a certain angle.... so I might go do some trials like that next weekend when I have some time (not just for this thread but I also want to know when I should be concerned so I am not taking wide arcing turns up inclines needlessly all the time). Once I find the incline and point of contact, will take some picks so you can determine if your situation is a concern or not.

I also park next to a similarly equiped sienna with a Valley hitch (iirc) and it does stick out farther although rouvhly the same height off ground... at least it appears to be so from my eye) and therefore would extended distance out from van pivot point on rear wheels would also increase chances of ground contact. I will take some picks with a ruler for comparison including a vertical down on receiver from bumper to show how recessed/protruded the hitches are from the vehicle.

dont know if it would help... but have seen enough posts asking about which receiver/hitch to buy, that having photos of each in 1 thread would be a good idea anyway.

[speedkar9]

Sorry to resurrect an old post,

Our 06 Sienna has a Class III hitch with 2" receiver from U-haul. It scrapes periodically even when the van is unloaded when going up moderately sloped driveways etc.

We haven't dared to load it with the boat yet, and are worrying about the hitch clearance when loaded, as the rear suspension seems rather soft and easy to bottom out when loaded (not to mention its too low for my liking unloaded!). It already drops quite low when loaded with 4-5 people and 2 bikes on a bike rack....

What are the solutions out there? We are thinking of getting some slightly longer/taller/stiffer rear springs to lift the rear end up; do those exist and can be easily fitted? Do AWD models use higher or stiffer springs to get better clearance?

How good is the air-lift system, does it raise the van's rear higher even when unloaded?

Lastly, would it be worth investing in a new set of 17" wheels to upgrade the 16" (CE model) to get better ground clearance?

Thanks