The Correct Hitch For The Correct Job
I’m not positive but I’m pretty sure most people don’t think about trailer hitches too much. That trailer could be for a boat, horses, tractors, or even recreational vehicles like ATVs. So you have the right hitch for now but what if you get another trailer that has a different requirement? What if you just have no idea what hitch you will need for the trailer set up that you just bought? Luckily, this article is here for you!
Generally, people will look through 5 different hitches when looking for a hitch for their towing purposes. They are class 1-5 hitches and are usually good for almost any towing situation. However, for larger trailers than these hitches can hold, gooseneck trailers and 5th wheel trailers are the next step up. If you know your trailer isn’t in one of those categories, go ahead and read on and see what you will need.
Class 1 is the smallest of the bunch and can tow up to 2000 lbs. on the trailer itself. The tongue can support up to 200 of those lbs on the trailer. These types of hitches are used when towing small trailers, like pop ups, or even a dirt bike and snowmobile trailer. Almost any automobile is able to tow a class one trailer, if it has the right hook ups of course. The next class, class two, can handle 3500 lbs and the tongue can handle a tenth of that weight (350 lbs). Most of the time, these hitches can be used for boat trailers and small campers. Class 3 can handle 5000 lbs and a tenth of that weight on the tongue itself. These hitches are generally used with medium sized campers and horse trailers. Class 4 hitches can handle 5 ton and up to a half ton on the tongue. Class 4 hitches are generally custom made for certain vehicles and are used in towing large boats and campers. Obviously, a class five trailer hitch can handle over 10000 lbs and up to 1200 lbs on the tongue. These are used to haul extra large loads, like huge boats or automobiles.
If the class 5 hitch can handle the load that is where gooseneck and 5th wheel trailers come into the picture. However, most of the time, these 5 classes of hitches can handle the majority of what is normally towed. Of course, each of the hitches have more flexibility than the few examples that were mentioned for each. Also, just a general tip, you should invest in a hitch cover to prevent any damages that could be done to an open hitch receiver, such as rust. You can display your favorite sports team logo or just find something unique to make your vehicle stand out. Or, you can be boring and get a standard cover!
You have to make sure your vehicle can handle your towing needs before you go out and buy a trailer. Don’t be that person that goes and buys a huge boat and only has a small truck that they expect to tow it with. Your vehicle must meet the necessary requirements to tow certain things. If you have a beefy truck then you are probably good to go with any trailer that you may need to tow. It is better to be safe than sorry. You don’t want to be the guy that has a trailer in his garage forever because you can’t even move it! Research is definitely essential when it comes to big time purchases like trailers. If you plan on upgrading in the future, go ahead and get the next level of hitch to prepare ahead of time. Have fun with the right hitch for your new trailer!
If you are interested in different styles of trailers, check out Trailers For Cheap. They have the top Gooseneck Trailers available at low prices. Alternatively, you can check out this supplementary Trailer Post.
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