When choosing a trailer hitch, a person must understand the various class of trailer hitch because each class exists for a specific purpose. By understanding the various class of trailer hitch, a person will not create a dangerous situation where the trailer hitch may not be able to handles the weight of the trailer being towed. By reading the chart provided, a person can determine what kind of trailer hitch will work for the trailer that a person is towing.
The first two classes of trailer hitch are typically used for trailers that weighs little. Compact car and minivans typically install Class I and Class II trailer hitch because these types of vehicles are not built to tow heavy trailers. These trailer hitch models have small receivers on the hitch and the hardware on the hitch is made of light material.
How to Choose the Right Trailer Hitch and Stay Safe
These types of hitch models are helpful for minimizing the amount of weight that is placed onto the trailer hitch. However, these trailer hitch designs are not suitable for trailers that weigh more than small utility trailers or trailer toy rack (bike racks). Even if a person upgrades the ball mount that is used on a hitch, the vehicle will still not be able to handle the weight of the trailer.
Individuals who are towing trailers that have serious towing demand use the Class III trailer hitch. Class III trailer hitch have a larger receiver on the trailer hitch and the hitch is designed to handle more weight. These trailer hitch models are installed on full-size SUVs and many midsize truck.
In many cases, weight-distribution hitch system are used with a Class III trailer hitch. When trailers with a Class III trailer hitch are towed, these trailers tend to push the rear end of the tow vehicle down. Often, individuals will skip the use of a weight-distribution hitch system when using trailers with Class III trailer hitch design.
As a result, these individuals will discover that the trailer is unstable at highway speed. Class IV and Class V trailer hitch models are used for commercial trailer application. These trailer hitch models are installed on heavy-duty truck because these vehicles are built with reinforced frames and they have upgraded cooling system for towing trailers.
Class IV and Class V trailer hitch models have larger sizes for the receiver of the trailer hitch because the ball mount must be thicker for these trailer hitch models to be able to resist bending under the load of heavy trailers. The trailer hitch is not typically the weak link in a heavy-duty trailer towing situation. In this instance, the driver must make sure that the cooling system, the brakes, and the tires of the tow truck are built to handle the trailer being towed.
For instance, a half-ton truck will require a tow package from the truck and trailer manufacturer to tow with a Class IV trailer hitch. Tongue weight is a critical factor to consider when purchasing trailers. Tongue weight will affect the trailer and the tow vehicle.
The tongue weight should provide enough force to keep the trailer from swaying in the wind, but the total weight of that hitch should not be so heavy as to cause the truck’s rear end to squat when towing the trailer. If the tongue weight is too low, the trailer will begin to sway. This trailer movement will amplify the movement that the driver makes at the steering wheel.
If the tongue weight is too high, the tongue weight will overload the trailer hitch’s rear suspension system. The heavy tongue weight will make the trailer difficult to steer. The chart provided the tongue weight recommendation between 10 and 15 percent.
This recommended tongue weight will keep trailer from swaying and will keep the tongue weight within the limits of the trailer hitch. Safety equipment is required for trailers and must follow the same specifications as the trailer hitch. A person should purchase safety chains for every trailer because they will ensure that if one component of the trailer hitch should fail, the trailer will not become detached from the tow vehicle.
Brake controller are required for trailers that are of a certain weight because the tow vehicle will not be able to adequately brake the trailer in addition to itself. A breakaway system is also required for trailers because it will allow the trailer hitch to have a backup system in case of any failures of the other trailer hitch systems. Each of these safety component must be purchased, installed, and tested prior to towing the trailer.
In order to prevent failures in the trailer hitch, the trailer hitch must be installed and maintained properly. The hitch must be torqued to the manufacturer’s specification to ensure that the trailer hitch will not become loose during towing. A loose hitch pin can cause the trailer hitch ball mount to become dislodged when towing the trailer.
The trailer hitch should be inspected for rust on the trailer hitch receiver and trailer hitch mounting point. Rust on either of these components will weaken the trailer hitch over time. The ball mount should be greased prior to each towing trip to prevent wear on the ball mount and to avoid the squeaking noises that can form between the metal components of the trailer hitch.
These maintenance steps should not be skipped because they will lead to roadside hitch failure. The chart provided will allow a person to properly match the trailer hitch to the trailer and the towing vehicle without guesswork.
