Hitch House
What Class Hitch Do You Need?
Don’t know what class hitch you need? Don’t worry, most of our customers didn’t have that information when they first met us either. We employ a team of trailer hitch professionals. They can help you determine the exact trailer hitch that is specifically for your vehicle. We also offer a guide that our online shoppers can use to study the various hitches and hitch types they might need. We have one of the largest inventories of trailer hitches in the city of Atlanta and are available for immediate purchase and installation.
1. Refer to the owner’s manuals. It contains the information you need to determine what weight your vehicle can safely tow.
Learn the capabilities and limitations of each part. GROSS TRAILER WEIGHT and TONGUE WEIGHT are two of the most important items to consider. THESE WEIGHTS MUST NEVER EXCEED THE LOWEST RATING OF ANY PART OF YOUR TOWING SYSTEM.
GROSS TRAILER WEIGHT is the weight of the trailer plus all cargo.
2. Determine What Class Hitch You Need.
Hitch Types
Trailer hitches come in a variety of shapes and sizes for various applications. Generally speaking, trailer hitches are either weight-carrying utilizing a ball mount or weight-distributing. The type best for you depends entirely upon the tow vehicle, trailer size and weight.
Weight-carrying (WC) type of hitch is used in applications with trailer weights 2000 to 20,000 lbs. depending on the capability of the tow vehicle. The tongue weight (TW) is defined by the vertical weight directly on the rear of the tow vehicle and on the hitch and is typically 10% of the weight-carrying (WC) capacity. It is a receiver which mounts beneath the rear of the vehicle.
Weight-distributing (WD) An attachment of components which slides into a Class 3, 4 or 5 weight carrying (WC) receiver hitch. It redistributes hitch tongue weight (TW). Weight distributing hitches are normally for heavier trailers up to 15,000 lbs.
The system typically uses 2 spring bars, one on each side of the trailer to lift up and apply leverage to the tow vehicle, thereby redistributing tongue weight from the rear axle to the front. This provides more vehicle stability while towing.
Weight distributing hitches currently come in two configurations: One with square bars that hook to the center of the ball mount, called trunnion bars, and one with cylindrical bars that slide into the bottom of the ball mount, called round bars.