When purchasing the equipment to tow, buying a hitch is one of the more confusing components. Each piece has different options and details associated with it. Below are some of the more common hitches with information regarding the amount they can tow. SHOP OUR NEW ECOMMERCE SITE NOW!
Class 1 & 2 receivers are light-duty and are designed for passenger cars and smaller Crossovers SUV's. They can however be found for many other makes and models. Typically they use a 1 ¼" inch receiver tube for the ball mount. A class 1 hitch can handle a trailer up to 2,000 pounds with 200 pounds of tongue weight. A class 2 hitch can handle 3,500 pounds with 350 punds of tongue weight.
A class 3 hitch is the most common found in full-size pickup trucks and SUVs. They have a 2-inch square receiver tube and can handle 8,000 pound trailers with 800 pounds of tongue weight with a ball mount or up to 12,000 pounds and 1,200 pounds of tongue weight with a weight distributing hitch. That usually exceeds the limits of most non-commercial vehicles so this hitch will almost never be the limiting factor when towing.
Class 4 & 5 hitches are the heaviest duty hitches available. A class 4 hitch can carry 10,000 pounds and 1,000 pounds of tongue weight with a weight carrying hitch and up to 12,000 pounds and 1,200 pounds with a weight distributing hitch. A class 5 hitch can handle up to 14,000 pounds and 1,400 pounds of tongue weight. Both class 4 and class 5 hitches use the same 2-inch receiver tube as a class 3. Some class 5 hitches can use a 2 ½” receiver tube.
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Front Mount
A front mount hitch is used in situations such as moving a trailer on a boat ramp to allow for better control of the trailer. These can be of any class, but are most easily installed on full-size pickups, vans, and SUV's.
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A ball mount is a square steel tube holding a hitch balll. Ball mounts connect your trailer to the hitch. The mount is usually held in place with a special pin. Shop On-Line
