| Whether you have a compact car or lifted | | | | trailer hitch, also known as a trailer hitch receiver, a |
| diesel-powered 4X4, a trailer hitch is a vital part for | | | | trailer ball mount, and a trailer hitch ball. Hitch balls |
| towing any load. It is crucial to have the right | | | | come in three sizes: 1-7/8”, 2”, and 2-5 |
| tow-setup for your vehicle, so today I’m going | | | | 16”. A 2” ball with a 1” diameter shank is |
| to cover the basics of towing and the different | | | | the most common size used for towing small and |
| types of trailer hitch setups to simplify your search | | | | medium sized trailers. However, double check the size |
| for the perfect hitch. | | | | of the ball you need for towing and make sure the |
| If you own a car, your towing capacity will obviously | | | | balls shank fits snuggly in the ball mount you are |
| be lower than if you owned a truck. The first thing | | | | using. You will also want the trailer-hitch connection to |
| you need to know is the towing capacity of your | | | | be near level, but with a slight downward angle |
| vehicle. This information can be found in the | | | | toward the car. This will help evenly distribute the |
| owner’s manual. Most cars can tow around 3,000 | | | | weight and reduce trailer sway. Trailer ball mounts |
| pounds safely, while some trucks are built to tow | | | | come in different sizes, make sure to choose one |
| loads of up to 30,000 pounds! The second thing you | | | | that will work well for your situation. |
| need to know is how much weight you need to tow. | | | | For trucks, there are far more towing accessories to |
| If you don’t know the exact weight, you can | | | | choose from. In this article, I will only be covering the |
| try to estimate it to see if the total weight you’ll | | | | most common types used today. Some trucks have |
| be towing is within the specifications set forth by | | | | trailer hitches built into their rear bumper, others have |
| your vehicles manufacturer. If you can’t | | | | a normal trailer hitch installed on them from the |
| reasonably estimate it, get some help and have the | | | | factory, and others will lack a trailer hitch all together. |
| load towed to a scale so you can get the exact | | | | You’ll need to evaluate what your truck has and |
| weight. | | | | go from there. Hitch ball sizes are the same: another |
| It is important to remember that safe towing | | | | tow option usually found on trailers which are |
| involves a number of different elements: not only | | | | intended for heavy loads use what’s called a |
| does your vehicle need to get the load up to a safe | | | | pindle hitch. A pindle hitch is basically a donut or ring |
| speed, but it also needs to be able to control that | | | | which is made of thick steel that can handle the |
| weight. When towing a load, brakes are just as if not | | | | extreme torsional stress. Larger trucks also have 5th |
| more important than engine horsepower and torque | | | | wheel mounting points in the bed of the truck, to |
| because if you can’t safely stop the vehicle, | | | | which a 5th wheel hitch can be mounted. 5th wheels |
| then you shouldn’t be towing a load that heavy. | | | | are used for hauling very heavy loads because it |
| So you need to evaluate the current condition of the | | | | uses a much stronger hitch connection and because it |
| brake system on your car or truck. Have the brakes | | | | centers the weight on the vehicle between the axles. |
| been maintained properly? When was the last time | | | | This keeps the truck from tipping over backwards |
| you had the brake fluid changed? The last thing you | | | | once it’s loaded. Similar to a 5th wheel is the |
| want when towing is a brake system failure. You also | | | | gooseneck hitch. A gooseneck hitch also attaches to |
| need to think about where you are going to be | | | | the bed of the truck and thus centers the trailers |
| driving. Are you going to be towing up or down hills? | | | | weight, but a gooseneck hitch uses a traditional |
| How windy do you expect it to be? Will the | | | | ball-style hitch rather than the 5th wheel-style of |
| pavement be dry or wet? How much traffic do you | | | | hitch connection. If you are towing a really heavy |
| have to navigate through to safely reach your | | | | load, you might want to purchase a weight |
| destination? For the safety of you, what you’re | | | | distribution system or stabilizer bars to help reduce or |
| towing, and everybody else on the road, all these | | | | eliminate trailer sway. |
| questions should be thought about and answered | | | | I hope this article helps clarify the different types of |
| before you ever hitch something up to your vehicle. | | | | trailer hitches and makes you think about some |
| For cars, towing setups are fairly simple because you | | | | important aspects of towing loads. Remember, |
| can’t tow that much weight. You’ll need a | | | | safety is the name of the game. |