Are you searching for a suitable trailer hitch for your vehicle? Trailer hitches are used for connecting two objects or vehicles. There are a number of trailer hitches available on market for vehicles as class 1 hitches are used for cars and crossovers and class 2 trailer hitches are used for crossovers, cars, and minivans.
However, you must know the class and type of trailer hitch if you want to install a hitch in your vehicle. Because these hitches are made for different load capacities for example for heavy vehicles you are required to attach a class 5 trailer hitch. When it comes to installing a hitch, people often make mistakes because of a wide range of choices. But here I have collected different types of trailer hitches and hitch classes to ease your mind.
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Types of Trailer Hitches and Hitch Classes Guide
A trailer hitch which is also known as a tow hitch is a useful device that connects a vehicle with another vehicle. You can also use the tow hitch for lifting bike racks or kayak racks.
Anyhow, before you choose a trailer hitch you must know the basic specifications. Here are some vital details about the trailer hitch.
Trailer Hitches Must-Have Features
- Confirm that the chosen hitch trailer is highly compatible with various vehicles. Plus, the hitch offers easy to install feature.
- A trailer hitch should have rigidity for bearing speed variation and prevent unintended movement of the car.
- Heavyweight lifting without collision of both vehicles and preventing mechanical failures.
Several Parts Of Trailer Hitch
- The coupling head
- Electrical connector
- Drawbar
- Hitch ball
- Towing hook
The first three points are the must-have features a normal trailer hitch should have. A trailer hitch is all about lifting and towing heavyweight but if it fails to perform this task, the result could be catastrophic and even kill someone. Then comes the body parts of a trailer hitch you must check before you purchase. Now let’s start discussing types of hitches.
Types Of Hitches
- Rear receiver hitches
- Bumper hitches
- 5th wheel hitches
- Pintle hitches
- Front mount hitches
- Gooseneck hitches
- Weight distribution hitches
1. Rear Receiver Hitch
The rear receiver hitch is the most common type of hitch on the market. This type of hitch is simple to use and famous because it is easy to install and highly compatible. You can attach this hitch to any vehicle from a car to a heavy-duty truck or van. The load capacity is up to 20000 lbs, yes, you can tow a truck but make sure that you are using the suitable class hitch. The rear receiver hitch comes in three primary sizes for all types of vehicles.
2. Bumper Hitches
If you want a towing hitch for lifting the kayak rack or cycle rack then choose bumper hitches. This type of hitch is made to tow lightweight nearly 6000 lbs. The major difference between other hitches and bumper hitches is that these hitches are attached to the bumper of your vehicle instead of the frame. Bumper hitches are made for all kinds of vehicles such as SUVs, vans, cars, or jeeps. But keep in mind that bumper hitches are made for lightweight objects and can affect the quality of the vehicle’s bumper.
3. 5th Wheel Hitches
Your quest for a high-load capacity hitch is about to end because I have a surprising item for you. 5th wheel hitches are made to tow RVs or large trailers. You can also attach a heavyweight truck with the hitch. But these hitches are made for only pickup trucks and jeeps. You can also attach a 5th wheel to this hitch because this hitch can bear up to 30,000 lbs. When it comes to heavy-duty vehicles people often complain about the rough performance of hitches on beaten tracks. But 5th wheel hitches have pivoting capability to absorb bumps and thumps.
4. Pintle Hitches
This type of hitch is used for military or construction purposes because of its high load capacity. Pintle hitches can tow up to 60,000 lbs. You can also use pintle hitches for towing extra large RVs or other heavy-duty vehicles. These hitches are also used for agriculture equipment and farming vehicles. The shape of the pintle hitch is different from all other hitches. A pintle hitch has a strong hook and a lunette ring this is why it can tow heavy loads.
Another reason I endorse people to use pintle hitch is that it provides a stronger connection between two vehicles as compared to the other hitches. As well as, a large gap between vehicles helps you to maneuver in tight spaces. A pintle hitch is versatile in all aspects, you can use it with your car or install it in your truck.
5. Front Mount Hitches
One of the most common hitches is a front mount type hitch. Most of the hitches are attached to the back side of your vehicle and block the rearview. In such situations, the rear camera is also useless and without a rear side view, you cannot drive properly. To solve this problem you can use a front mount hitch, these hitches are attached to the front of your vehicle and allow you to drive independently.
The front mount hitches are easy to install and used for multi purposes such as lifting kayaks, bikes, or cargo boxes. When you attach a heavyweight object at the rear side of your vehicle, it increases fuel consumption and has a negative impact on the frame of your vehicle. But front mount hitches allow you to drive safely without view blockage and negative impact on the frame of a vehicle.
There are several types of front mount hitches in which rear receiver hitches and tow hitches are prominent. With all these fascinating features and 10,000 lbs weight capacity this trailer hitch also has disadvantages. The major obstacle people report is that it cannot tow heavyweight. But the front mount hitch is made for other purposes such as inserting a cargo carrier or lifting a spare tire. You can also use other versions of front mount hitches for towing a vehicle.
6. Gooseneck Hitches
The gooseneck hitch is a type of 5th-wheel hitch. This hitch is made for towing heavyweight RVs, trucks, flatbeds, and car haulers. This hitch is also used for construction and agricultural purposes. It can bear nearly 40,000 lbs easily. This hitch provides stability and troubleshoots braking problems of the connected object so you can drive independently and prevent mishaps.
7. Weight Distribution Hitches
If you are using your truck for other purposes and facing instability or braking problems then a weight distribution hitch can solve your problems. It distributes the load of the object and eliminates all chances of poor handling, swaying, and braking problems. Distributing weight not only provides you with a safe journey but also keeps the frame of the vehicle aligned. However, weight distribution hitches are not compatible with all vehicles. It is only made for pickups and heavy trucks.
Hitches are extremely helpful and allow you to transport vehicles, cargo carriers, kayaks, and bikes. But heavyweight enhances fuel consumption and charges you more bucks. To prevent this problem, install a weight distribution hitch because these hitches distribute the weight of the object so the engine of the vehicle does not need to work hard for towing the object.
Which Is The Best Trailer Hitch?
Basically, there is no best trailer hitch because all of them are used for different purposes. But there are a few highly compatible, heavyweight towing, and easy-to-install trailer hitches. If you want a trailer hitch compatible with every vehicle then a rear receiver hitch is made for you. It is available in 5 classes and you can attach it to cars, crossovers, SUVs, vans, and trucks.
But some people use their vehicles for farming and construction purposes. In such conditions, lightweight hitches are useless to provide desired results. You can use 5th-wheel hitches and pintle hitches for heavy-duty objects such as RVs, trucks, or construction machines. For a moderate amount of weight, you can use gooseneck hitches. Attaching a hitch is easy but driving a vehicle with an unsuitable hitch can result in an accident. Because hitches create obstacles like instability, swaying, and braking problems.
Moreover, hitches enhance the fuel consumption of the vehicle because it forces the engine to work harder so the engine consumes more fuel. For such problems, you can use a weight distribution hitch. As well as, for transporting lightweight objects like a kayak or bike, or cargo box you can use bumper hitches or front mount hitches. Both of these hitches are made for towing lightweight.
Classes Of Trailer Hitches
There are 1 to 5 classes of trailer hitches. In simple words, there are from top to bottom 5 different levels of a hitch with load capacities, GTW, TW, WD, WDTW capacities, and receiver sizes. The class 1 hitch is used for smaller cars and is made of a less powerful material as compared to class 2 trailer hitches. Let’s discuss each of the class hitches in detail.
Class 1 Hitch
Class 1 hitches are made for cars and crossovers. These hitches are made to bear 2000 lbs maximum and are used for towing cars or bikes, and kayak racks. The receiver size of the class 1 hitch is 1-1/4-inch and the TW capacity is about 200 lbs. These hitches are inexpensive but provide top performance on beaten roads and rough terrains.
Class 2 Hitch
Class 2 hitches are made for crossovers, minivans, and cars. The load capacity of the class 2 hitch is better as compared to the class 1 hitch. It is made to tow little heavyweight cars and trucks of 3500 lbs. The receiver size of class 2 hitches are 1-1/4-inch and 350 lbs TW capacity. Class 2 hitches are most commonly used because of their versatile load capacity.
Class 3 Hitch
Then comes class 3 hitches made for heavier plus lighter objects. This class of hitch can bear nearly 8000 lbs and is compatible with trucks, SUVs, crossovers, or vans. You can tow a JK Jeep or a pickup with help of class 3 hitches. The receiver opening for the class 3 hitch is about 2 inches and the TW capacity is 800 lbs. Moreover, it has 1200 lbs of WD and WDTW capacity.
Class 4 Hitch
This is the second last class of hitches made for Trucks and SUVs. These hitches are not commonly used because of their heavyweight capacity. It can bear nearly 10,000 to 12,000 lbs so you can tow an RV or large cargo box with this class of hitches. Additionally, 2-inch requires for receiver opening for class 4 hitch and it provides 100 lbs TW capacity. The WD and WDTW capacity of class 4 hitches is about 12,000 lbs.
Class 5 Hitch
The last class for trailer hitch is class 5 hitches. These hitches are used for heavyweight duty and support RV, big trucks, and 5th wheel. The GTW capacity of these hitches is 16,000 to 17,000 lbs plus 2,400 to 2,500 lbs TW capacity. The 2-inch receiver size for class 5 hitch with 17,000 lbs of WD and 2550 WDTW capacity. The class 5 hitches are compatible with only trucks and SUVs.
FAQs about Trailer Hitches
What is the difference between Class 1 Class 2 and Class 3 hitch?
The class 1 hitches are made for towing lightweight as compared to others. It can bear nearly 2000 lbs but class 2 can tow 3500 lbs. Class 3 is stronger than both of the previous hitches and can tow nearly 8000 lbs.
What can I tow with a Class 2 hitch?
You can tow 3500 lbs objects like a car, JK jeep, bike or kayak racks, and cargo carriers.
Which hitch is the strongest?
Class 5 hitches are the strongest among all class hitches. These hitches can tow approximately 17,000 lbs to 20,000 lbs. The class 5 hitches are used for construction and agricultural purposes.
Concluding Trailer Hitches Guides
A trailer hitch is made for connecting two objects such as vehicle to bike racks or vehicle to vehicle. There are seven trailer hitches mentioned above with all the features and specifications. But keep in mind that all of the seven hitches are made for various purposes. There are heavy-duty plus lightweight trailer hitches, so choose the right hitch for your vehicle according to your requirements.
