What are the Different Trailer Hitch Types?

Hauling a loaded trailer can quickly become a perpetual game of Russian roulette. You might not be sure of the weight you are pulling, or the trailer hitch might not be up to the task.

Therefore, finding the best trailer hitches for heavy-duty applications is significant, just as being aware of your vehicle's towing capacity is too.

Here are the most common options to choose from to help you discover the best types of trailer hitches for heavy gross trailer weight capacity solutions. These hitch types for trailers have different weights carrying the capacity potential for hauling vehicles, flatbeds, and other travel trailers,

Rear Receiver Hitch

Mounting a rear receiver hitch offers you the flexibility to an unimaginable degree. The rear hitch receiver with a square receiver tube allows you to mount different types of trailer hitch mechanisms as long as they are compatible with your setup.

You can use the square receiver tube to hook up a ball mount hitch, commonly used with smaller trailers and camper RVs. On the other hand, you can use more advanced mechanisms built with sturdier materials and safety mechanisms for larger trailers.

The rear receiver hitch offers more customizability but does not compromise safety. This hitch is generally mounted on the vehicle's body, making it more secure for hauling more oversized cargo.

Pintle Hitch

If you are looking for a robust hitching system, the pintle hitch is a force to be reckoned with when you want to tow. The entire setup utilizes highly durable materials both on the receiver and pintle. You can't go wrong with this hitch since it can handle pretty heavy weighing trailers.

Others have used the pintle hitching system for commercial applications that get used daily. On the other hand, this setup has also been used for personal applications when hauling large cargo carriers, vehicle trailers, livestock trailers, etc.

Pintle hitches are also very secure since they have a latch and pin as the main safety features to prevent any potential accidents involving the trailer. However, to reinforce the strength of your hitch, ensure that you use a reliable hitch receiver that gets mounted on the vehicle's body frame.

Weight Distribution Hitch

A weight distribution hitch is a significant innovation in towing trailers and camper RVs. Campers and motorists hauling trailers have suffered with an unevenly balanced trailer for a long time. In addition, the weight of the trailer negatively impacted the drive by applying too much pressure on the back.

Weight distribution hitches got developed using innovative thinking to solve that problem. For example, this trailer uses spring rods that support the anchor point between the trailer and the vehicle to balance the weight and distribute it evenly.

From then, the laws of physics balance out the trailer and vehicle making it more efficient to haul a large trailer without any problems.

This trailer hitch does not increase the towing capacity but makes the drive more efficient, helping you achieve the maximum weight ratings instead of playing it safe. You can use this hitch in various scenarios, including camper RVs, vehicle flatbed trailers, and other types of trailers you may want to haul.

Gooseneck Hitches

Ball mount hitch mechanisms are fantastic until your pickup truck's rear end starts sagging due to the added weight. Although a weight distribution hitch works well for such scenarios, it might not be your best solution. So what can you do in this case? Opting for a different type of trailer with another hitching mechanism could be all you need.

Instead of sticking with a rear hitch receiver, consider something that would be directly on top of the rear axle. A gooseneck hitching setup is a perfect candidate for hauling larger trailers, minus the complexities of trying to distribute the weight evenly.

As long as you have the weight ratings factored in accordingly, you can reach maximum weight capacity on the trailer you are using. The best part is that your truck does not have to bear the brunt of it all.

5th Wheel Hitches

Similarly to the gooseneck hitches, the 5th wheel hitches get mounted on the truck's bed. Their mechanism is quite different, though, since it does not have a ball mount that hitches to the trailer. Instead, it has a slot that allows trailers outfitted with a kingpin to fit in and lock in position.

Since the trailer hitch gets positioned on the truck's bed, the cargo carrier or trailer remains steady and does not have uneven weight distribution in transit. That improves the drive and allows the driver to max out his truck's and trailer's weight capacity.

You might need to customize your truck a bit to mount the hitch, but there are more accessible solutions that allow easy mounting and removal of the part. The main drawback of 5th wheel hitches is that they use up your truck bed's space. You can't use the truck bed to its total capacity with this hitch.

Compared with the gooseneck hitches, 5th wheel hitches come short when it comes to convenience, but they make it up to you in performance and reliability.

Bumper Hitch

One of the most common trailer hitches is a bumper hitch receiver mechanism. Using a bumper hitch is recommended chiefly for lightweight towing and not heavy-duty use. You have to play it safe with the gross trailer weight to ensure that your hitch and vehicle do not get compromised when driving as you tow.

With bumper hitches, you can tow lightweight vehicle trailers and even campers that do not have a high tongue weight. Unfortunately, this rear hitch gets mounted on the vehicle's bumper and, sometimes, is not even firmly secured on the vehicle body's frame when towing. Therefore, it only makes sense why you should not try to push this hitch to the max.

Some vehicles have standard bumper hitches that get outfitted at the manufacturer's factory. However, if you need to tow heavy-duty trailers, opt for retrofitting your hitch instead of going for low-end bumper hitch mechanisms that will limit your towing capacity and endanger your car.

Which Trailer Hitch Is Best for Large Trailers?

The types of trailer hitch you use for large trailers depend on your vehicle. Preferably, if you have a pickup truck, using either a gooseneck or a 5th wheel hitch is one of the best options. Alternatively, if you need unhindered access to the truck's bed, hooking up a weight distribution hitch could make things a little more convenient in your next tow.

For SUVs and vans, you can go for a rear receiver hitch that gets categorized as Class III or more. If you can also find a pintle hitch receiver compatible with your vehicle, the towing capacity can get maxed out. As mentioned above, pintle hitches use forged steel with unbeatable strength.

These hitches get used in a wide variety of commercial situations. The simplicity of the pintle hitch mechanism makes it the perfect candidate for towing trailers that need to be hooked and unhooked often.

For example, if you will be connecting and unhooking your camping RV once you've reached the camping site, the pintle hitch won't cause any headaches for you during your trip.

Using a Weight Distribution Hitch

Is your trailer and tow vehicle sagging in between each other? You might think your car cannot hold the trailer's weight, but all you need is a little bit of weight distribution. The weight distribution hitch optimizes the efficiency of towing a heavy trailer or cargo carrier.

The weight gets evenly distributed between the trailer and the vehicle using the spring rods. As a result, the trailer gets evened out, leading to a smoother drive without putting too much strain on the rear axle and suspension system.

With the weight distribution hitch, you can achieve the maximum tongue weight capacity instead of limiting the trailer's potential. This hitch is most common amongst camping RVs, livestock trailers, and other larger trailers. You can also use it for hauling trailers with an uneven weight distribution because this hitch helps balance the load.

Setting it up is not as complex as it is for many other hitches. Although the process is a bit elaborate, you can get it up and running in no time. Its simple to assemble design makes it the perfect hitch for travel trailer hauling.

Does the Trailer Hitch I Use Impact Maximum Pull Weight?

Towing travel trailers or other large trailers requires some natural brawn. Therefore, your tow vehicle needs to be up to standard for an effective setup. Does the hitch have a direct impact on increasing the total pull weight you can tow?

For example, perhaps you have seen pickup trucks towing massive amounts of cargo on different types of trailers. The gooseneck hitch and fifth wheel hitches seem to be the prime candidates for such heavy-duty towing needs. But, do these hitches increase the maximum weight you can tow?

Not really. The rated capacity on your pickup truck is the maximum weight you can pull. The type of hitch won't increase this capacity, but it can improve towing efficiency. With a more efficient setup, you can reach the maximum weight your truck got rated for towing.

For example, the 5th wheel and gooseneck hitch improve towing efficiency since they get placed above the rear axle on the truck bed. In addition, unlike other hitches that could cause some damage when towing a maxed-out trailer, these hitches make it easier for the vehicle to distribute the weight evenly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you still have some questions about tow hitches suitable for most pickup trucks and SUVs? Here are some frequently asked questions that could answer some of your queries about hauling travel trailers, car haulers, and other cargo carrier trailers.

What are the 5 different types of hitch?

Some of the most common trailer hitches include the gooseneck hitch, bumper hitch, 5th wheel hitch, rear mount hitch, and weight distribution hitches. However, there are other hitches apart from these common types, and some can get used for heavier loads that can get handled by heavy-duty trucks or SUVs.

How many types of trailer hitches are there?

There are several types of trailer hitches, and some experts argue that there is a total of 6 categories. However, the fact is there may be more than six trailer hitch types, including custom builds.

What is the difference between Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 hitch?

Trailer hitches have varying classifications, including one of the more common three classes. Mainly, these classes differentiate the size of the trailer hitch receiver and rated weight capacity.

Class 1 tends to have a standard receiver hitch, whereas to reach a more heavy-duty towing capacity, you can use Class 3 trailer hitches. The latter has sturdier hitch receivers for car haulers, livestock trailers, and other complex towing needs.

Final Thoughts

The trailer hitch you use is critical if you want to improve the efficiency of towing large trailers. But, as vital as they are, you should also understand your vehicle's towing capacity. Towing Ratings has a comprehensive database of SUVs, pickup trucks, and other vehicle tow capacities.

You can use this platform to ascertain your vehicle's accurate tow capacity and whether or not it can get used when towing a trailer of the desired weight. Remember to never go above the rated tow capacity to ensure safety and efficiency.

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