Trailer Tips Blog

When you are looking to tow a trailer, attach a cargo carrier or essentially connect one vehicle to another, you’ll find that you need to look for the right trailer hitch. After a brief consultation, though, you’ll realize that trailer hitches come in a wide variety of classes and that each class is meant for a different function. When you are trying to find the right hitch for your situation, you’ll find that there are several different things that you need to keep in mind when it comes to what class is best for your purposes. Remember that for the definitions below, GTW refers to gross trailer weight, which is the weight of the trailer when fully loaded, not when it is sitting empty.

Class I

Class I trailer hitches are meant for the lightest towing duties. They tend to be rated up to 2000 pounds GTW, and they tend to be fitted with a draw bar or a ball mount where the accessories will be attached to the hitch itself. You’ll find that they will work with any class I accessory and that they will usually use a 1/2″ pin to secure the ball mount in place. A Class I trailer hitch is ideal for hitch adapters, cargo carriers or bike racks.

Class II

Class II hitch adaptors tend to be made for light towing duty, and as such, they will be rated at 3500 pounds GTW. As the name implies, they can be used for Class I or Class II accessories, and thy will use a removable drawbar. Keep in mind that it will work with a Class I and II hitch balls, but that a 2 and 5/16″ hitch ball will not work in this setup.

Class III

Class III trailer hitches are also known as round receiver hitches and they will be rated up to 6000 pounds GTW. There is usually a 2″ by 2″ receiver opening, and you’ll find that these hitches tend to have the most options when you are looking at things like bike racks and cargo carriers. You’ll also find that you’ll be able to make sure that you can simply carry more gear. When you are looking at Class III trailer hitches, you’ll find that the ballmounts can be sold separate, and you’ll find that there are many available which can ensure that your trailer rides level with the tow vehicle in question.

Class IV

Class IV will more or less duplicate what has been said for Class III except that it will be rated for an impressive 12,000 pounds GTW and that it is mean to carry accessories that are Class III and below. Make sure that you get your trailer weighed appropriately, as overworking the trailer hitch can have disastrous consequences.

Class V

Class V trailer hitches have a system in place that is meant to handle up to 17,000 GW without a problem, and you’ll find that a Class V trailer hitch is meant to take care of class III accessory as long as an adapter is in place. Ball mounts are frequently sold separately, and that this class of trailer hitch is designed for heavy duty trucks and vans.

I have great welding skills, but I have no clue what materials to use, or what the stadnards of strength/weight are. Any help you can offer would be great.

I’m converting a simple trailer with steel frame and wood decking to an enclosed trailer with aluminum walls and a roof ventilation cover.

I have a horse trailer that needs auxiliary power run to it from my truck - and/or an auxiliary battery on the trailer. I am unsure of the wiring that needs to be done. I plan on running a wire from my truck battery back to the 7-pin connector which should provide auxiliary power while connected to my truck. I understand I need to install a battery on the horse trailer to supply power when disconnected from the truck.
Can you provide me some insight on how this all comes together?
Thanks in advance… !

Is it better to buy or get a mortage? Want to sell my house and move into a very nice and clean trailer park in NJ. But I have no idea how much they actually cost, etc? Any help would be appreciated.

When you are towing any amount of weight with a trailer, the control you have over your vehicle and trailer is vital for ensuring a safe trip. A trailer with unevenly distributed weight or one that is too heavy for your vehicle can be very difficult to handle and may cause an accident. This is why it is so important to choose the right type of trailer for both your load and your vehicle. It is also very important to make sure that you attach your trailer to your vehicle using the correct towing hitch.

One sure way to know that something is wrong with your tow vehicle and trailer combination is that the rear end of the tow vehicle is visibly weighed down while the front end is raised up. This uneven distribution of weight will severely affect your steering and braking capabilities.

There are several different types of trailer hitches; one type is called a weight distributing trailer hitch. This hitch is most often used for heavy loads and trailers. A weight distributing hitch makes carrying a heavy load safer by distributing the weight of the load evenly between the wheels of the tow vehicle and the wheels of the trailer resulting in improved steering and brake control.

A weight distributing trailer hitch has a special bar that slides into the vehicle attachment. This attachment transfers the tongue weight of your trailer to the front axle of the towing vehicle and the axles of the trailer. It also has two spring bars, one for each side of the trailer tongue, that help provide leverage to the towing vehicle.

You should always use a weight distributing hitch if you are towing a large amount of weight. These types of hitches are considered class 3 hitches and are capable of pulling up to 10,000 pounds trailer weight and 1,000 pounds of tongue weight. The cost for these hitches generally range anywhere from $200 to $300. While a weight distributing hitch is a little bit more expensive than a standard hitch, the price is well worth the stability it provides when towing a heavy trailer.

Before attaching any trailer to your vehicle, you should find out what the maximum towing and tongue weight capacity is for your particular type of vehicle. You can do this by consulting your owner’s manual or a dealership that sells the type of vehicle you have. You may also be able to find this information online. In addition to all of these considerations, be sure to use the right type of trailer to tow your load. This will result in a smooth and safer trip for all.

So, you have a receiver hitch. Have you ever used it? Do you know how handy your trailer hitch can be, even if you don’t have a trailer to haul? What do you need to get the most out of your trailer hitch?

First. let’s talk about the receiver. It’s a square hole located below your bumper. it’s called a receiver because it “receives” the stuff you stick into it. Makes sense, right?

Your receiver is either 1.25 or 2 inches square. The smaller receivers are either class I or class II hitches depending on how much weight they can handle. The 2 inch receivers are class III, or IV; as the class number increases so do the weight limits. For example, a class I hitch can tow up to 2000 lbs. and handle up to 200 lbs. downward pressure on the actual hitch (that’s called tongue weight), while a class IV hitch can tow up to 10,000 lbs. and handle 1,000 to 1,200 lbs. tongue weight.

Equally important to the trailer hitch’s weight specifications are the towing specs for your vehicle. You can find these in your owner’s manual and they should always be respected. Overloading your trailer hitch will not only risk damage to your vehicle, but it will also make steering and braking more difficult, making you a danger on the road.

So, what can you do with your receiver hitch? Obviously, you can tow a trailer. If it falls under the weight specs for your hitch and vehicle, you’ll just need a ball mount and a hitch ball. The ball mount is the square metal shaft that slides into the receiver. The hitch ball mounts onto the ball mount and sticks out behind your vehicle when properly installed. You can tow cargo trailers, camping trailers, utility trailers, just about anything that you want.

Beyond towing, you can use your receiver hitch for cargo carriers, bike racks, boat carriers, ATV ramps, ski racks, hitch mounted grills, hitch steps, and to display your personality with a custom hitch cover.

The bike racks, cargo carriers, and ski racks are all generally mounted to a shaft that slides into your receiver. These racks offer great convenience as they allow you to safely carry bulky and/or dirty items outside your car. Many of them fold for easier access to the rear of your vehicle and to require less storage space. Sports racks and cargo carriers are a great use for your receiver hitch.

You can also get bed extenders and hitch mounted boat racks that allow you to put one end of a ladder or canoe on top of your pickup cab and support the other end with a rack that mounts to your hitch. Similarly, hitch mounted ramp supports are available to allow you to attach ramps to the back of your pickup so you can drive what ever you need to right into the bed without fear of damaging the tailgate.

A hitch mounted step is a great way to access the rear of your vehicle; they are simple to install and fold to be out of the way when you’re not using them. They often double as hitch covers which keep your receiver clean.

If you’re a tailgater, you will love a hitch mounted grill. Forget hauling the mess of a charcoal grill or dealing with the small rack on a portable grill; with a hitch mounted grill you can bring the comforts of your back patio with you–it’s easy and awesome. Even if you don’t go with a hitch grill, you’ll want a tailgater hitch cover. It displays the logo of your favorite team and has a built in bottle opener for your convenience.

Whatever trailer accessories you choose, make sure you get a hitch lock to keep your stuff safe. This handy little lock replaces the tow pin you use to keep the ball mount in your receiver hitch and will give you peace of mind as you make the most of your trailer hitch.

I am trying to sell a patented trailer hitch alignment system and I need to know some of the top places that sell trailer hitches and accessories. The product fits any kind of trailer including boat, rv, camper, utility, horse, ect.

I have a piece of land and would like to put a small home on it,if you have a trailer or know something about let me know how you find it to be.the land is upstate ny.

Ace asked:

Someone I know has a trucking business and they need to transport railroad cars to the railyard several miles away and it must be done with the use of a rig. Here is my dilema I need a trailer that will carry these railroad cars to their destination without the use of a crane. It needs to be backed up to the track so that they can lunoad the cars off the trailer and onto the track. My question is what kind of trailer would it take to achieve this task? And if possible do you know where any pics are at for this kind of trailer.

Any kind of help would be appreciated!!!!1:)

-Ace

Ride’N'Slide! asked:

I was just curious if you even could. I mean it would make sense to me, since you can do it with houses and other vehicles, but I’ve never seen a repossessed trailer for sale.
Might be a way to get a good deal on a nice trailer!