Ride Height Adjustment Effects

You probably don't think much about your bumpers, at least not until you hit something. There's another reason, though, to keep them in mind, especially if you drive a light truck. Pickup owners often put extra demands on their vehicles, such as towing, hauling, off-road exploration, and so forth. That's why we upgrade them with aftermarket parts. However, when doing so, it's important to keep the domino effect in mind.

Ups and Downs
For instance, adding a lift kit and larger than stock wheels and tires can affect the vehicle's tow hitch. You may now need a new rear bumper because of the change in ride height. As a rule, full-sized light trucks (half-ton to one-ton pickups and sport-utility vehicles) come from the factory with bumper and hitch assemblies that are appropriate for towing. The manufacturers take into consideration both the tow rating of the vehicle and the height of conventional trailer tongues to match the height of the hitch. So, you probably can imagine what happens when the ride height of the vehicle is modified with even a moderate lift and larger tires than stock.


In some extreme cases, the trailer tongue can't even reach the hitch. With long trailers, such as a four-horse stock trailer or a boat trailer, you may be able to mate trailer and hitch, but the trailer angle from front to back could be enough to cause the trailer to scrape the rear end on the road.

Mismatch Solution
The solution to this mismatch is a drop-center bumper. It lowers the hitch platform from the vehicle's bumper height, so it aligns with the trailer tongue. Depending on the lift and tire size, the recommended drop for a two-wheel-drive mini pickup may be as much as six inches; two-wheel-drive half-ton, eight inches; a 4x4 light truck with oversized or flotation tires, a 10-inch drop; and a 4x4 with a moderate lift and flotation tires, a 12-inch drop.

Certifiably Tough
If you need a new rear bumper with an integrated hitch ball, there are a few other considerations. Most important, the bumper should be certified for the industry "V-5" towing standard, the highest degree of structural and material integrity. Steel strengths are determined by the manufacturing process, not by the thickness. For instance, cold-rolled steel is much stronger than the same gauge, or thickness, of hot-rolled steel. Cold-rolled steel also provides a smoother, tougher surface, whether it's chromed, powder-coated or painted.