What kind of hitch do i have

Learn the capabilities and limitations of each part. Trailer hitches come in a variety of shapes and sizes for various applications. Generally speaking, trailer hitches are either weight-carrying utilizing a ball mount or weight-distributing. The type best for you depends entirely upon the tow vehicle, trailer size and weight.

Weight-carrying WC type of hitch is used in applications with trailer weights to 20, lbs. It is a receiver which mounts beneath the rear of the vehicle.

Use this handy guide to select the proper type of hitch for you depending on what your vehicle can handle and what you want to tow. Click to enlarge the Select-A-Hitch Guide image , print it if needed, it has a lot of quality information to help with your trailer hitch purchase. Light-duty receiver hitches are designed typically for towing bike racks and cargo carriers. This style of hitch can also be used to tow smaller utility or enclosed trailers, and motorcycles as well. The maximum gross trailer weight should be less than 2, lbs.

The towing vehicle commonly associated with this specific type of hitch receiver is usually a compact car or midsize car, these vehicles can usually tow with a light-duty transmission cooler. A regular-duty receiver hitch can tow up to 3, lbs and has a tongue weight of lbs. Similarly, gooseneck connections are a hitch ball located in the bed of larger pickup trucks. A hitch adapter fits into the receiver tube of your hitch to convert it from a smaller opening to a larger one or vice versa.

Also known as a trailer ball or coupler ball, the trailer ball attaches to the ball mount and comes in many sizes. The trailer couple will mount and lock into place over the ball. The coupler is the locking mechanism that connects the trailer tongue to the hitch ball and it must match the hitch ball size exactly. Safety chains connect the trailer tongue to the tow vehicle. They are the backup connectors in case the coupler or ball fails. Two are required, and they have to be attached to their own retainers.

The hitch pin locks the ball mount into the hitch tube. It is usually manufactured in steel for strength. Trailer wiring is used to mimic your tow vehicles turn signals and brake lights.

By law, trailer lights must be connected to your tow vehicle, and this requires a trailer wiring harness. Typically, the wiring uses four to seven wires to control the basic lighting and brake light functions. A weight distribution hitch is used to haul extremely heavy loads using a conventional hitch receiver.

If you are interested in using your hitch mount to transport something other than a trailer, check out our hitch-mounted accessories for hitch-mounted cargo options like bike racks, cargo carrier, wheelchair and scooter carriers and motorcycle carriers.