Hitch Selection Guide

To Tow, you need three things:

    

STEP 1: ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

To select the right hitch you need information about the your tow vehicle and trailer.

Tow Vehicle

Find out the following about your tow vehicle:

• Make and model
• Model year
• Passenger or station wagon, truck or van
• Two or four doors
• Manual or automatic transmission
• Vehicle's maximum towing capacity Trailer

Then, customize your questions to determine the following about the your towing situation and trailer:

• Trailer type
• Gross trailer weight
• Tongue weight
• Coupler socket size
• Whether the customer's trailer already has safety chains, or if the customer    needs new ones
• Where the customer plans to tow — under what geographic conditions

STEP 2: DETERMINE GTW & TW CAPACITIES

The two most important factors in selecting towing equipment are gross trailer weight (GTW) and tongue weight (TW).

To select the right hitch for a customer you need information about the customer's tow vehicle and trailer.

For The Trailer:

Gross trailer weight (GTW) is the weight of the trailer fully loaded in its actual towing condition.

GTW is measured by placing the fully loaded trailer on a vehicle scale. The entire weight of the trailer should be supported on the scale as shown in this Figure.

Tongue weight (TW) is the downward force exerted on the hitch ball by the trailer coupler. In most cases, it is about 10 to 15 percent of GTW. TW of up to 300 lbs. can be measured on a household scale by resting the trailer coupler on the scale and placing the scale on a box so that the coupler is at its normal towing height. The trailer must be fully loaded and level. For heavier tongue weights, place a household scale and a brick that's as thick as the scale three feet apart as shown in this Figure.

Set a length of pipe on each and rest a beam across the pipes. Re-zero the scale to correct for the weight of the beam and pipe. Securely block the trailer wheels. Rest the trailer jack on the beam as shown, one (1) foot from the brick and two (2) feet from the scale.

To obtain the TW, multiply the scale reading by three (3). For greater tongue weights, place the scale and brick four (4) feet apart, rest the jack on the beam three (3) feet from the scale and multiply the scale reading by four (4).


For The Tow Vehicle:

Like the trailer, the tow vehicle has a maximum weight capacity it was designed to tow. Its maximum towing capacity can be found in the owner's manual.

(click chart to view in larger format)

STEP 3: MATCH THE TOW VEHICLE AND THE TRAILER

For safety, make sure the tow vehicle is capable of towing the intended trailer. Neither the vehicle nor the trailer alone can determine the right hitch for the situation. They work together, and in no case should the trailer's GTW and TW exceed the vehicle's maximum towing capacity.

See below to determine passenger car/truck styles and truck bumper styles.

STEP 4: DETERMINE HITCH TYPE

Weight Carrying Hitches

Weight-carrying hitches are generally used for lightweight trailers up to 3,500 lbs. GTW and 300 lbs. TW. Certain vehicles such as pickups, vans and utility vehicles with built-in extra cargo capacity can use weight-carrying hitches for higher loads. Weight-carrying hitches support the trailer tongue weight (TW), just as though it were luggage located at the hitch ball.

There are two basic styles of weight-carrying hitches:

• Fixed Drawbar — The ball platform is a permanent member welded to the hitch.
• Removable Drawbar — The ball platform is removable. In Classes I and II, it's    called a drawbar, and in Class III and IV, it's a utility ball mount.

Weight Distribution Hitches

Rather than merely supporting the trailer tongue weight (TW), weight-distributing hitches apply leverage between the towing vehicle and trailer causing the TW to be carried by all axles of the tow vehicle and trailer. When TW is distributed in this way trailers with greater TWs can be towed, resulting in a more level ride which reduces stress on the rear of the tow vehicle and provides greater steering and brake control

Weight-distributing hitches are selected on the basis of GTW and TW, and to some extent on the weight to be carried in the trunk of the towing vehicle. For example, a weight-distributing hitch rated for 7,500 lbs. GTW and 750 lbs. TW should be used for a 5,500 lbs. GTW trailer with 600 lbs. TW, where the towing vehicle will also be carrying 150 lbs. in the trunk. The excess tongue weight capacity of the hitch will help to carry the extra weight in the trunk.

A weight-distributing system includes a receiver attached to the tow vehicle, a removable hitch head and spring bar assembly that fits into the receiver opening and hook-up brackets that connect the spring bars to the trailer frame.

NOTE: AIR SPRINGS, AIR SHOCKS AND OVERLOAD SPRINGS - These devices help the tow vehicle's rear suspension support trailer tongue weight as well as the weight of passengers and luggage. They are particularly useful on "soft-sprung" vehicles or those whose springs have settled. They are not substitutes for weight-distributing hitches, since they do not re-distribute load to other axles.

Quick Selection Chart

Find the tow vehicle and size at the left and the trailer size and GTW along the top. Where the boxes meet, you will find the types of hitches that will work for the combination.

(click chart to view in larger format)

Note: This chart is a general guide, and the specific weights and capacities of the actual trailer, tow vehicle and available hitch must be know in each case.

CAUTION: Class I Hitches are not to be used for tandem axle trailers, horse trailers or house-type travel trailers regardless of weight.

WARNING

DO NOT MODIFY. INSTALL ONLY ON SPECIFIED VEHICLE IN GOOD CONDITION. USE ONLY FOR TRAILER TOWING AND/OR ATTACHMENT OF DRAW-TITE ACCESSORIES. DO NOT EXTEND THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE. DO NOT TOW ONE TRAILER BEHIND ANOTHER, WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. FAILURE TO HEED WARNINGS AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH, VEHICLE CRASH, AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

DON'T OVERLOAD ANY PART OF YOUR TOWING SYSTEM.