What is a Tow Hitch? A Complete Guide

Whether you are hauling a camper RV, livestock trailer, or another vehicle, you need a hitching mechanism suitable for the task at hand. There are many mechanisms to use when towing vehicle trailers, RVs, or other trailers using a pickup truck or SUV as the tow vehicle.

To understand the functionality and benefits of tow hitches, you should understand the different kinds and how they impact towing efficiency. So let's delve in and discuss the different types of trailer hitches and their impact when towing heavy or bulky trailers.

Trailer Hitch Types

One of the most common questions you might ask yourself is, what is a trailer hitch supposed to do? The answer is simple. A trailer hitch gets used on a tow vehicle for either vehicle recovery or hauling cargo, including camper RVs.

If you want to know what a tow hitch is, it is a mechanism mounted, usually on the rear end of a vehicle, to catalyze the use of a trailer or towing straps/bars.

To get a general idea of a hitch on a car, you need to understand the different types of mechanisms generally used on a tow vehicle nowadays that come standard on most cars and aftermarket kinds used for improving towing efficiency.

What are some of the best tow hitches you can use on a towing vehicle?

Rear Receiver Hitch

Most trailer hitch mechanisms consist of a rear receiver hitch with a square tube opening compatible with various hooking accessories. One of the most common accessories this setup uses is a hitch ball mount used to tow vehicle trailers and camper RVs.

However, you can use other compatible trailer hitch parts that work best for your application. For example, you can use the rear receiver hitch for sturdier setups designed for heavy-duty towing with the appropriate trailer coupler.

This hitch mechanism usually gets mounted on the towing vehicle body's frame, providing a strong enough anchor point for towing small to mid-sized trailers. The standard sizes for the rear receiver tube vary, ranging between 1 1/4, 2, and 2 1/2 inches.

Just ensure that your receiver hitch accessory matches the size of this square tube inlet, and make sure its specifications meet the application you intend to use it for when hauling trailers or cars.

Gooseneck Hitch

Instead of using the ball mount hitch on the rear receiver, you can opt to use this hitch pin on a pickup truck's bed. This setup is formerly known as the gooseneck mechanism hitch and generally provides much more stability when towing large trailers or cargo carriers.

Not to mention that it is one of the most innovative ways of using ball mounts to maximize towing efficiency. Unlike ball mounts on rear receiving hitches, the gooseneck trailer hitch leverages positioning to allow the trailer and tow vehicle to get used to the maximum weight ratings.

Since the hitch receiver gets positioned above the rear axle, the trailer and vehicle get balanced out when you're traveling. As a result, you don't have to worry about the adverse effects of a heavy trailer applying more weight on the rear end of your pickup truck. You get to max out your gross trailer weight capacity and the towing capacity of your tow vehicle.

5th Wheel Hitch

Like the gooseneck mechanism, the 5th wheel trailer hitch receiver leverages positioning to maximize towing equipment efficiency. However, unlike most trailer hitch parts, the 5th wheel setup does not comprise a hitch ball. Instead, it uses specialized equipment that gets mounted on a pickup truck's bed.

As you might tell from the setup of this hitch receiver, it limits the tow vehicles that are compatible with it. The tow vehicle must exclusively be a pickup truck that can sacrifice the truck bed to make space for the 5th wheel trailer hitch.

Also, to substitute for not having a hitch ball mount, the 5th wheel trailer hitch has an opening that locks in with a kingpin on the trailer. Just as with the gooseneck setup, the trailer hitch placed on top of the rear axle maximizes towing efficiency to a great extent.

Weight Distribution Hitch

If you can't sacrifice your truck bed's cargo space or if you drive an SUV and can't use trailer hitch mechanisms like the gooseneck or 5th wheel, what is the best option for maximized towing efficiency?

Opting for a weight distribution hitch could do wonders for you. This trailer hitch uses an entirely different mechanism to even tow out of the weight range expected of your vehicle.

Instead of being placed right above the rear axle, these weight distribution trailer hitches have setups that use spring bars to offset the weight and distribute it evenly between the car and the trailer or cargo carrier itself. In addition, safety chains get used to secure the trailer in place to avoid a disaster like it getting away when on the road should something happen.

The main benefit of this trailer hitch is that it does not limit you in terms of the tow vehicle you can use. At the same time, you can max out the gross trailer weight and towing capacity of the tow vehicle you want to use. Pickup trucks can then have more space for bike racks and other types of cargo you might need to haul from place to place.

Pintle Hitch

Pintle hitches are very safe when they have a solid mounting point on the tow vehicle, such as the car's frame. Some have retrofitted the pintle hook and trailer coupler to get used with a rear hitch receiver tube firmly secured to the vehicle's frame. Instead of mounting a tow ball hitch, a pintle hook can get used as a replacement for this component.

The only drawback that this type of trailer hitch has is that it might not amount to a smooth towing experience since the metal could make a sound. However, if you want to tow safely, there is no going wrong with a securely fixed pintle mechanism hitch.

The best part is that this trailer hitch is made of solid steel with safety chains to make your towing setup even more secure. All of these features make pintle hooks suitable for some real heavy-duty towing.

Different Classes of Trailer Hitches

Although there are different types of trailer hitch mechanisms, various classifications also affect trailer hitch strength and the applications it can get used for when towing—the total amount of classes within trailer hitches amounts to 5 and 2 subclassifications.

Before deciding on the hitch to use, ensure that the class meets the intended use specification for a safe and smooth towing experience. Also, do not compromise on class specifications for price or convenience. But what do these classes stand for? Here is a detailed breakdown of each tow hitch class and how it affects your towing experience.

Class 1

Smaller vehicles do not have a high towing capacity, so they generally get outfitted with a class 1 trailer hitch with a ball mount accessory. With such setups, you can get a gross trailer weight of about 2,000lbs using a square receiver hitch accessory comprised of a ball mount and potentially additional accessories such as bike racks.

Class 1 hitches are suitable for sedans and small crossover SUVs. The square receiver tube tends to be 1-1/4" x 1-1/4" in size. At times, these hitches have a tongue to directly mount a hitch ball instead of having a square tube receiver that offers some flexibility on the ball mount used on the tow vehicle.

However, it is worth remembering that the type of ball mount used won't impact the towing capacity. Instead, the tow vehicle will always have a fixed towing capacity depending on the manufacturer's specifications, such as torque and power output.

Class 2

Class 1 and 2 hitches are similar in design. The main difference is that the latter has a higher weight capacity when compared side-by-side. That is because they got designed in the same way. Class 2 hitching mechanisms are generally compatible with ball mount hitches or a bike rack that fits into a 1-1/4" x 1-1/4" square tube.

In most cases, class 2 trailer hitch mechanisms get rated to tow approximately 3,500lbs, but this depends on the tow vehicle. Most vehicles that use class 2 hitch ball compatible receivers are passenger cars, minivans, compact SUVs, and some pickup trucks not used for heavy-duty towing. In addition, you can pull small trailers and camper RVs with class 2 hitches with ease.

Class 3

If you are looking for something out of the smaller rackets but not too excessive, class 3 hitches have you covered! Class 3 mechanisms go a little further than class 2 hitches, with a significantly higher gross trailer weight rating reaching 8,000lbs. That gets achieved through a 2" x 2" square tube receiver instead of the standard 1/4" x 1-1/4" used on class 1 and 2 hitches.

The square tube receiver is also compatible with weight distribution setups which could help you tow about 12,000lbs if your vehicle and trailer are up for the task. You can find a class 3 trailer hitch on pickup trucks and SUVs with a decent amount of towing capacity. Some pickup trucks with a towing prep package have a class 3 hitch by default from the factory.

Class 4

Class 4 hitches are comparable to class 3 mechanisms because they use a similar setup of a 2" x 2" square tube receiver. However, class 4 is a step ahead of its predecessor and offers more weight capacity depending on the vehicle's towing capacity.

For example, you can haul a trailer that has a maximum of 10,000lbs using a class 4 hitch, provided that it is compatible with your setup.

Similarly to class 3 hitches, you can use a weight-distribution hitch on class 4 receivers to maximize towing efficiency. With a weight distribution hitch mechanism, you can max out the towing capacity to 12,000lbs for pickup truck tow vehicles rated for this much activity. This hitch class mostly gets found in SUVs and pickup trucks.

Class 5 - XD

The crème de la crème of trailer hitches is class 5 mechanisms. These mechanisms provide more power than you can imagine, which could tow up to 20,000lbs depending on the tow vehicle's capacity. At the same time, these hitches get subcategorized as either Xtra Duty (XD) or Commercial Duty (CD), with the latter having optimum towing capacity.

Instead of using a 2" x 2" square tube receiver, Class 5 hitches have a 2-1/2" receiver. With this kind of receiver, you can hook up a pintle mechanism or other trailer hitch parts suitable for your specific application. In addition, you have the flexibility of using high-quality accessories to meet your towing needs.

Class 5 - CD

Just as the name suggests, Commercial Duty trailers often get used for some real heavy-duty towing. This trailer hitch can get used with a wide variety of solid steel accessories that can haul large payloads such as livestock trailers or high-end luxury camper RVs. With Class 5 CD hitches, there is no job too tough as long as your tow vehicle can handle the pressure.

You can also equip your trailer with a weight distribution hitch to control the trailer better and max out the rated weight capacity. That is the ultimate best class amongst all trailer hitch classes, compatible with ball mounts and other accessories. In addition, you get specialized hitches from the standard class 5 receiver, such as the gooseneck and 5th wheel trailer hitch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now that you know what a hitch is and the best ones for different applications here is some extra information about trailer hitch mechanisms in this brief, frequently asked questions list.

What are tow hitches used for?

Towing hitches get used for towing different kinds of trailers that carry out a diverse set of tasks. For example, one of the most common uses for trailer hitch mechanisms includes hauling camper RVs. On the other hand, you can tow flatbed or livestock trailers depending on the towing capacity of your vehicle and gross trailer weight.

What is a standard tow hitch?

The most standard trailer hitch is the ball mount hitch, which gets used for various applications. In most cases, the hitch ball mount is compatible with most square tube receivers and even comes standard on some vehicles as a bumper hitch. However, other trailer hitches are generally purpose-built and do not conform to the standard design.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the best trailer hitch should make a significant difference in terms of reaching the maximum towing capacity of your tow vehicle and gross trailer weight. However, it would help if you paired off an excellent hitching mechanism with a true workhorse to get extra power to tow larger trailers or cargo carriers.

Towing Ratings has an extensive database with pertinent information regarding the towing capacity ratings for all vehicles from 1991 until 2020. If you are considering buying a car to tow your camper or to use for more heavy-duty towing, check out which vehicles have the most remarkable capacity and then get a trailer hitch that matches its performance.

References

https://www.curtmfg.com/types-trailer-hitches.Class5

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