HITCHES |
| SERRO SCOTTY CAMPER ENTHUSIASTS |
So you have decided you need a trailer hitch. Trailer hitches come in a
variety of styles and sizes and are used for many different things.
Knowing what you are going to be towing and what type of vehicle will
be doing the towing, is the first thing you should consider.
For instance, if you plan on hauling a horse trailer behind your pick-up,
you don’t want to use a ball hitch. Instead you should be looking at
getting a fifth wheel hitch. The horse trailer weighs too much, is
abnormally shaped and shouldn’t be towed by a ball hitch.
Trailer hitches are not just for towing a trailer. There are also many
hitch accessories to choose from. When choosing a trailer hitch think
of all the options that are available to you. Ask yourself what I am I
going to be towing or carrying?
Recreational Vehicles (motorcycles, ski jets, snowmobiles)
Recreational Trailers (trailers, 5th wheels)
Boat
Horse Trailer
Bikes
Mount spare tire
Cargo
These are just to name a few. Your type of vehicle will also determine
the size of load you can carry. Make sure you check the towing capacity
of the vehicle you intend to use for your hauling. Never exceed the limit.
For instance, you wouldn’t try to tow an RV behind your motorcycle,
right? Well the same principle applies to other types of vehicles as well.
Trying to tow your horse trailer behind your car wouldn’t be a wise
choice either. Take the time to consider these things.
Safety First
Make sure that the size of your trailer hitch ball is correct
Check that your cargo load does not exceed the recommended weight
for your vehicle and your hitch Make sure that safety chains and locks
are secure. Make sure that your trailer wiring harness is working
correctly
Make sure that all parts are in working order
Practice: Make sure you are comfortable towing
Check that your load is balanced
Check tire pressure on tow vehicle and trailer
Make sure brakes are in good working order
Make sure you have a spare for your trailer
Adjust your mirrors, and watch your blind spots
Slow down and avoid sudden steering maneuvers
You want to enjoy your towing experience. Accidents can happen but if
you take the time to make sure things are working properly there is
less chance of this happening.
You should also try not to buy the cheapest model of hitch. The quality
is important, and you will want to use your hitch for many years to
come.
Once you’ve chosen the type of hitch you want to use, you should
make sure that the brand you buy is compatible with your vehicle. Ask
a dealer or get it installed for you, that way you will know that the hitch
fits and is compatible.
Here is a brief list of hitches and what they can be used for:
Ball Hitches: For light to medium loads.
Gooseneck Hitches: Heavy loads.
Fifth Wheel Hitch: Very heavy loads.
Weight Distribution Hitches: Heavy to very heavy loads.
Receiver Hitches: Very light loads (spare tire etc).
variety of styles and sizes and are used for many different things.
Knowing what you are going to be towing and what type of vehicle will
be doing the towing, is the first thing you should consider.
For instance, if you plan on hauling a horse trailer behind your pick-up,
you don’t want to use a ball hitch. Instead you should be looking at
getting a fifth wheel hitch. The horse trailer weighs too much, is
abnormally shaped and shouldn’t be towed by a ball hitch.
Trailer hitches are not just for towing a trailer. There are also many
hitch accessories to choose from. When choosing a trailer hitch think
of all the options that are available to you. Ask yourself what I am I
going to be towing or carrying?
Recreational Vehicles (motorcycles, ski jets, snowmobiles)
Recreational Trailers (trailers, 5th wheels)
Boat
Horse Trailer
Bikes
Mount spare tire
Cargo
These are just to name a few. Your type of vehicle will also determine
the size of load you can carry. Make sure you check the towing capacity
of the vehicle you intend to use for your hauling. Never exceed the limit.
For instance, you wouldn’t try to tow an RV behind your motorcycle,
right? Well the same principle applies to other types of vehicles as well.
Trying to tow your horse trailer behind your car wouldn’t be a wise
choice either. Take the time to consider these things.
Safety First
Make sure that the size of your trailer hitch ball is correct
Check that your cargo load does not exceed the recommended weight
for your vehicle and your hitch Make sure that safety chains and locks
are secure. Make sure that your trailer wiring harness is working
correctly
Make sure that all parts are in working order
Practice: Make sure you are comfortable towing
Check that your load is balanced
Check tire pressure on tow vehicle and trailer
Make sure brakes are in good working order
Make sure you have a spare for your trailer
Adjust your mirrors, and watch your blind spots
Slow down and avoid sudden steering maneuvers
You want to enjoy your towing experience. Accidents can happen but if
you take the time to make sure things are working properly there is
less chance of this happening.
You should also try not to buy the cheapest model of hitch. The quality
is important, and you will want to use your hitch for many years to
come.
Once you’ve chosen the type of hitch you want to use, you should
make sure that the brand you buy is compatible with your vehicle. Ask
a dealer or get it installed for you, that way you will know that the hitch
fits and is compatible.
Here is a brief list of hitches and what they can be used for:
Ball Hitches: For light to medium loads.
Gooseneck Hitches: Heavy loads.
Fifth Wheel Hitch: Very heavy loads.
Weight Distribution Hitches: Heavy to very heavy loads.
Receiver Hitches: Very light loads (spare tire etc).
Types of Hitches
Towing a trailer behind your vehicle requires a
particular set of driving skills and -- just as
important -- the proper towing equipment.
When installing a hitch, you'll need to determine
what type is suited to your vehicle and which is
adequate for the type of load you'll be pulling.
Trisha Hessinger, host of DIY Car Care and
Repair, discusses the five classes of hitches
available for consumer vehicles and the towing
capacities for each.
Important Terms: When specifying the towing
capacity for a particular class of hitch, guidelines
will typically refer to two separate
measurements:
The gross trailer-weight is the weight of the
trailer fully loaded -- i.e., the combined weight
of the trailer and the contents it will be carrying.
The tongue weight refers to the downward
pressure applied directly to the hitch by the
weight of the trailer. In general, the maximum
tongue-weight for a hitch is 10 percent of the
maximum gross trailer-weight.
Class 1 hitches (figure A) are light/regular-duty
trailer-hitches suitable for most sizes of vehicles
including smaller and compact cars. Towing
capacity for this class of hitch is up to 2,000
pounds. Maximum tongue weight is 200
pounds. This class of hitch should be restricted
to use with smaller trailers such as a cargo
carrier of less than six feet in length, or a boat
trailer of no more than 14 feet. These hitches
are available either with a permanently affixed
draw-bar (or tongue) or in the "sport frame"
style, which has a removable draw-bar that
inserts into a permanently mounted receiver.
Some models attach to the bumper; others
attach to both the bumper and the frame.
Class 2 hitches (figure B) are medium- to
heavy-duty hitches suitable for midsize and
larger vehicles, including minivans; this class is
not recommended for use with compact cars.
These hitches can safely pull a cargo trailer up
to 12 feet in length or a boat trailer up to 20
feet. They attach to the vehicle frame and
usually incorporate a receiver and a removable
draw-bar. Towing capacity for this class is up to
3,500 pounds. Maximum tongue weight is 300
to 500 pounds.
Class 3 are heavy-duty hitches suitable for
trucks, vans, SUVs and minivans. They
incorporate heavier mounting hardware (figure
C) and utilize an under-car receiver attached to
the vehicle's frame. Hitches in this class can
safely pull an automobile-transport or a boat
trailer up to 24 feet in length (figure D). Towing
capacity ranges from 3,500 to 5,000 pounds,
depending on the style of hitch and the
application. Tongue weight ranges between 300
and 500 pounds. The towing capacity as well as
the tongue weight can be increased even
beyond these limits if the hitch incorporates a
weight-distribution system -- a mounting
arrangement that distributes weight directly to
the frame and transfers the weight to all of the
wheels. A weight-distribution system is safer
and better for heavy-duty towing because it
improves handling in the tow vehicle and allows
the vehicle to handle heavier loads without
sagging in the rear.
Class 4 hitches (figure E) can tow up to 7,500
pounds, and a Class 5 up to 14,000 pounds.
Both utilize weight-distributing mounting
brackets (figure F) to transfer the weight to all
of the vehicle's wheels. Class 5 utilizes the
heaviest hardware -- generally a welded single
body. These hitches are designed for use with
full-size trucks and vans and are often used
with three-quarter-ton and one-ton trucks for
commercial towing. They are designed to handle
very large loads such as large horse-trailers,
enclosed car-trailers, boat-trailers of more than
24 feet in length, large campers, etc.
If you plan to do any serious towing and
handling of extremely heavy loads, you may
want to consider using a gooseneck trailer or
fifth-wheel. Many experienced towers find that
these setups offer better control.
Tip: Recreational-vehicle dealers are a reliable
source for information on heavy-duty towing as
well as various towing options and accessories.
Important: Know the towing capability of your
vehicle. Check your owner's manual before
installing a hitch to make sure that the hitch is
compatible with your vehicle and that your
vehicle is able to safely pull the amount of
weight you intend to tow. When you purchase
a hitch, it should also come with a manual that
will contain important safety information and
specific instructions on installation.
Towing a trailer behind your vehicle requires a
particular set of driving skills and -- just as
important -- the proper towing equipment.
When installing a hitch, you'll need to determine
what type is suited to your vehicle and which is
adequate for the type of load you'll be pulling.
Trisha Hessinger, host of DIY Car Care and
Repair, discusses the five classes of hitches
available for consumer vehicles and the towing
capacities for each.
Important Terms: When specifying the towing
capacity for a particular class of hitch, guidelines
will typically refer to two separate
measurements:
The gross trailer-weight is the weight of the
trailer fully loaded -- i.e., the combined weight
of the trailer and the contents it will be carrying.
The tongue weight refers to the downward
pressure applied directly to the hitch by the
weight of the trailer. In general, the maximum
tongue-weight for a hitch is 10 percent of the
maximum gross trailer-weight.
Class 1 hitches (figure A) are light/regular-duty
trailer-hitches suitable for most sizes of vehicles
including smaller and compact cars. Towing
capacity for this class of hitch is up to 2,000
pounds. Maximum tongue weight is 200
pounds. This class of hitch should be restricted
to use with smaller trailers such as a cargo
carrier of less than six feet in length, or a boat
trailer of no more than 14 feet. These hitches
are available either with a permanently affixed
draw-bar (or tongue) or in the "sport frame"
style, which has a removable draw-bar that
inserts into a permanently mounted receiver.
Some models attach to the bumper; others
attach to both the bumper and the frame.
Class 2 hitches (figure B) are medium- to
heavy-duty hitches suitable for midsize and
larger vehicles, including minivans; this class is
not recommended for use with compact cars.
These hitches can safely pull a cargo trailer up
to 12 feet in length or a boat trailer up to 20
feet. They attach to the vehicle frame and
usually incorporate a receiver and a removable
draw-bar. Towing capacity for this class is up to
3,500 pounds. Maximum tongue weight is 300
to 500 pounds.
Class 3 are heavy-duty hitches suitable for
trucks, vans, SUVs and minivans. They
incorporate heavier mounting hardware (figure
C) and utilize an under-car receiver attached to
the vehicle's frame. Hitches in this class can
safely pull an automobile-transport or a boat
trailer up to 24 feet in length (figure D). Towing
capacity ranges from 3,500 to 5,000 pounds,
depending on the style of hitch and the
application. Tongue weight ranges between 300
and 500 pounds. The towing capacity as well as
the tongue weight can be increased even
beyond these limits if the hitch incorporates a
weight-distribution system -- a mounting
arrangement that distributes weight directly to
the frame and transfers the weight to all of the
wheels. A weight-distribution system is safer
and better for heavy-duty towing because it
improves handling in the tow vehicle and allows
the vehicle to handle heavier loads without
sagging in the rear.
Class 4 hitches (figure E) can tow up to 7,500
pounds, and a Class 5 up to 14,000 pounds.
Both utilize weight-distributing mounting
brackets (figure F) to transfer the weight to all
of the vehicle's wheels. Class 5 utilizes the
heaviest hardware -- generally a welded single
body. These hitches are designed for use with
full-size trucks and vans and are often used
with three-quarter-ton and one-ton trucks for
commercial towing. They are designed to handle
very large loads such as large horse-trailers,
enclosed car-trailers, boat-trailers of more than
24 feet in length, large campers, etc.
If you plan to do any serious towing and
handling of extremely heavy loads, you may
want to consider using a gooseneck trailer or
fifth-wheel. Many experienced towers find that
these setups offer better control.
Tip: Recreational-vehicle dealers are a reliable
source for information on heavy-duty towing as
well as various towing options and accessories.
Important: Know the towing capability of your
vehicle. Check your owner's manual before
installing a hitch to make sure that the hitch is
compatible with your vehicle and that your
vehicle is able to safely pull the amount of
weight you intend to tow. When you purchase
a hitch, it should also come with a manual that
will contain important safety information and
specific instructions on installation.
| FIGURE A |
FIGURE B
FIGURE C
FIGURE D
FIGURE E
FIGURE F
 | |  |
| FOR BIKE RACKS FOR VIDEO ABOUT THE BIKE RACKS CLICK ON PICTURE |
| FOR DIFFERENT HITCHES CLICK ON LOGOS |
| DRAW-TITE HITCH INSTALATION VIDEO |
