TRAILER HITCHES – How to choose a trailer hitch
Finding the trailer hitch that best meets your needs is quick and easy with us!
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO CHOOSE YOUR TRAILER HITCH IN 4 SIMPLE AND EFFICIENT STEPS
Ideally, before you start looking for a trailer hitch, you need to know the following information. If you need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us.
1 – Information about your vehicle
The information below is usually available in the vehicle owner’s manual.
- Year (e.g., 2020)
- Make (e.g., Honda)
- Model (e.g., Accord)
- Option (e.g., sedan)
- Maximum towing capacity (e.g., 350 lb)
2 – Information about the trailer and/or the number of bicycles to be carried
The table below will help you determine the type of hitch you need.
| TRAILER HITCH CLASS |
MAXIMUM TOWING LOAD (weight of the trailer & its content) |
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF BIKES | COUPLING HEAD MAXIMUM LOAD | OPENING OF RECEIVER-TYPE HITCH |
| 1 | 2,000 lb | 2-3 | 200 lb | 1,25’’ |
| 2 | 3,500 lb | 4 | 350 lb | 1,25’’ |
| 3 | 5,000 lb | 5 | 500 lb | 2’’ |
| 4 | 12,000 lb | 5 | 1,200 lb | 2’’ or 2,5’’ |
| 5 | 13,000 lb | 5 | 1,300 lb | 2’’ or 2,5’’ |
Learn more about the features of the various trailer hitch classes available in North America.
3 – Size of the hitch ball—only if you want to tow a trailer
You must make sure that the size of the hitch ball you are buying fits the coupling head of the trailer you will use. The hitch ball can be of one of any of these three sizes, depending on the load to be towed:
- 1 7/8″ for a maximum load of 2,000 lb
- 2″ for a maximum load between 3,500 and 7,500 lb
- 2 5/16″ for a maximum load between 6,000 and 20,000 lb
4 – Type of electrical wiring—only if you want to tow a trailer
It is essential to know which type of wiring fits your trailer. The type of electrical wiring is determined by the size and type of trailer you will be towing:
- Standard size trailer (4′ x 8′)
- Camper
- Boat trailer
- Large capacity trailer
Note: Keep in mind that it could be a good idea to consider your future towing capacity needs. Even though you currently need to tow a small trailer, you may soon want to pull a boat or a camper! It might be more useful and cost-effective to select a hitch from a higher class from the start!