When you're pulling a heavy fifth-wheel-equipped trailer, a loaded horse trailer, or a large travel trailer, the ball mount connecting your hitch to your load is not the place to cut corners. The B&W Hitches BMHD30013 is a forged steel, 16,000 lb rated ball mount with a 4-inch drop -- purpose-built for trucks and tow vehicles where the hitch receiver sits higher than the trailer coupler. Get the level, safe tow angle your rig demands without improvising with mismatched hardware.
A level trailer is a safe trailer. When your truck or SUV receiver sits significantly higher than your trailer coupler, a ball mount with the correct drop corrects that geometry. The BMHD30013's 4-inch drop is the most common measurement needed by full-size pickup trucks towing mid-to-large travel trailers, enclosed cargo trailers, and utility trailers. Getting this dimension right prevents trailer sway, uneven brake distribution, and excessive tongue-weight stress on your receiver tube.
B&W Hitches is an American manufacturer based in Humboldt, Kansas, known for producing some of the most precisely machined and rigorously tested towing hardware in the aftermarket. Their ball mounts are forged -- not cast -- which means the steel grain structure is aligned for strength rather than poured into a mold and left with internal voids. At 16.67 lbs, the BMHD30013 is a substantial piece of hardware, and it feels like it when you pick it up.
Handles serious loads -- heavy trailers, equipment haulers, and loaded travel trailers well within its rated capacity for confidence on any road.
Corrects the height difference between high-sitting truck receivers and standard trailer couplers for a level, stable tow angle.
Forging aligns the grain structure of the steel for maximum tensile and shear strength -- more durable than cast alternatives under dynamic towing loads.
Fits all standard Class III and many Class IV hitch receivers. The most common receiver size on full-size trucks and tow vehicles.
The BMHD30013 is sized for owners of full-size pickup trucks, heavy SUVs, and work vehicles who tow trailers where the receiver sits noticeably higher than the coupler. If your receiver measures roughly 20 to 24 inches off the ground and your trailer coupler sits around 16 to 18 inches, a 4-inch drop is the correct call. Common applications include:
B&W Hitches machines their ball mounts to tight tolerances at their Kansas facility. The shank fits snugly in the receiver tube with minimal slop, which reduces the hitch clunk and rattle that plagues looser-fitting imports. The ball platform is drilled and tapped for standard 1-inch and 1-1/4-inch ball shanks (ball not included).
The BMHD30013 ships as the ball mount only. You will need to supply:
B&W offers matching tow balls and hitch locks separately. Using a quality locking hitch pin is always recommended when leaving the rig parked to prevent theft of the ball mount.
To confirm 4 inches is the right drop for your setup: measure from the ground to the top inside wall of your receiver tube (receiver height), then measure from the ground to the top of your trailer coupler ball socket (coupler height). Subtract coupler height from receiver height. The result is the drop you need. For a level tow, these should match within about 1 inch. Always confirm your trailer is on level ground when measuring.
The BMHD30013 carries a protective finish designed to resist road salt, moisture, and UV exposure. B&W ball mounts are typically finished with a durable black powder coat or e-coat process over the forged steel body. For RV owners and full-timers who store rigs in humid or coastal environments, periodically wiping down the shank and ball platform with a light oil or anti-corrosion spray before storage will extend the life of the finish considerably.