When choosing the proper ball mount drop or rise should the trailer be nose up, nose down or level? Also what about the different lengths, I see 8-1/4", 9-1/4, and 11 ".
Will the longer ones effect my tongue weight any or just increase the leverage on the receiver itself?

Not quite sure what you mean bout lengths... But if you are wanting to pick the right ball mount by using a tape measure, crank your trailer up so it is sitting slightly tongue high to compensate for the suspension drop once it's sitting on your truck. You want to tow the trailer as level as possible. If it can't be level, a little low at the tongue is better than a little high. Towing nose high tends to make the trailer sway. I just purchased a Rapid Hitch adjustable height ball mount, very cool. It's rated at 10,000 lbs with 1,500lbs tongue weight, which is just about as high as you can find. Not too mention it's aluminum so it's very light to pack around.

You want your trailer level when you are towing. The lengths are for different bumbers on some vehicles...for examnle on an E250 van with a step bumper you need an extended ballmount(11") to get back far enough for proper trailer clearance. 9 1/4 is pretty standard and a 2" drop. Most ballmounts are 5000-6000 lb rated. The solid ball mounts are rated for 1200 tongue weight and 12,000 lb pull rating. This is probably over kill for you unless you have upgraded your hitch. Most factory hitches are only rated to 5000 lb or 7500lb rating without weight distribution.

This is the style of trailer I'm pulling. You dont see many people with WD hitches on these. it is a 20 ft deckover with a 4 ft dovetail. the manufacture ticket says it weights 3900lbs. Looks like i need a 4 in rise ball mount rated to 12,000 lbs, any place online sell ball mounts reasonable? http://www.appalachiantrailers.com/Deckover-BIG.jpg

There are several web sites that sell ball mounts at a decent price but like I said you might want to upgrade the factory hitch.

southwestwheel.com is where I got mine from.
Class IV ball and ball mount.

You can also do a search for "ball mount" and find a ton of places that sell them.

I'd only use a 2 1/2" extra heavy duty receiver on your truck with a solid 2 1/2" drawbar to match it's ratings! The farther the ball is from the receiver installed on your truck the more stress you put on the receiver! So longer draw bars exert greater stress on your receiver because of the lever effect! Also balls with rises in them are not as strong standard height balls! You need to hold the trailer up to level with the truck's springs, not riser balls! Saftey should be your first concern!

I made my own own drawbar out of D-2 tool steel.

The ball sets on top of the bar, and it's short as can be.

The shorter the less sway and truck squat.

Isn't the coupler adjustable on that trailer or is the one u have fixed?

here's a pic http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=5016&d=1117711993

I currently have a valley 76490 it is a 3/4" rise I need something that is about 3-3/4" rise but less than 9" in the length if possible. I have an 8" in length ball mount to these specs , but it is only rated to 6,000lb. Is it safe or possible to redrill the pin location in a forged ball mount similar to Valley super duty ball mount 76980

I have a 16" drop on my truck..only rated up to 5000lbs :mad: but then again the trailer I tow is a 8x12 and I never tow more than 4000lbs...When I pick up my toy hauler I will need something custom with heim joints and the whole works!