Trailer Hitch Guide: Towing Basics

Safely towing a trailer shouldn’t be difficult. One way to help ensure safety is to have the right trailer hitch hooked up to your tow vehicle. There are five common trailer types that our customers use most often, though there are plenty more to choose from. Additionally, there are five classes of trailer hitches based on weight, size and tow capacity. To safely tow a trailer, you should know the basic terms and recommendations. We’re here to help!

Types of Trailer Hitches

Receiver Hitch

This common trailer hitch, often referred to as a bumper pull hitch, provides a tube for accessories to be attached to and is an option for most vehicles. They have a capacity of up to 20,000 lbs. They come in four standard sizes from 1-1/4” to 3”. This “size” refers to the inside dimensions of the hitch receiver.

The bumper pull trailer hitch is popular for most vehicles because it allows you to attach many different towing accessories and can be used to tow the smallest trailers. It doesn’t require an adapter or any modifications in most cases. You can find receiver hitches in Class 1 through Class 5 with a wide variety of weight capacities in between.

Fifth Wheel Hitch

The fifth wheel trailer hitch couples to a fifth wheel kingpin and, therefore, can only be used with pickup or flatbed trucks. They can have a capacity of up to 30,000 lbs. Metal jaws or a locking bar connect the pieces, and a pivoting head allows the movement required for the trailer to tow smoothly. These hitches are most commonly used to tow large RVs.

Gooseneck Hitch

Similar to the fifth wheel hitch, the gooseneck trailer hitch has a few important distinctions. Similar to fifth wheel hitches, gooseneck hitches are connected by the bed of a truck. Unlike the jaws and kingpin connection of a fifth wheel, the gooseneck is connected with a ball and coupler.

The main body of a gooseneck hitch typically mounts underneath the truck bed and bolts to the truck frame. They’re normally rated for pulling up to 30,000 lbs. or more. They’re often used for towing livestock trailers, horse trailers and flatbed equipment haulers.

Weight Distribution Hitch

This trailer hitch is used for better leveling of a vehicle and trailer. It requires a hitch receiver and has a capacity of up to 15,000 lbs. it’s essentially a receiver hitch attachment designed to distribute tongue weight of a trailer across the vehicle and trailer.

Pintle Hitch

The pintle hitch couples to a lunette ring and is used for heavy-duty vehicles. They have a capacity of up to 60,000 lbs. It’s a simple coupling mechanism with a hook and ring, but it’s known for being one of the strongest trailer hitch types. They’re normally used in agriculture and industrial settings.

Trailer Hitch Classes

Class 1

Class 1 hitches are the most basic and lightweight. They’re normally used for cars and crossovers. Their gross trailer weight capacity is up to 2,000 lbs. and their tongue weight capacity is up to 200 lbs.

Class 2

A step up from Class 1, Class 2 hitches are commonly used for cars, crossovers and minivans. Their GTW capacity is up to 3,500 lbs. and their TW capacity is up to 350 lbs. Class 1 and 2 have a receiver size of 1 – ¼ inch.

Class 3

The mid-size hitch is a Class 3. These are usually used for crossovers, vans, SUVs and trucks. Their GTW capacity is up to 8,000 lbs. and TW capacity is up to 800 lbs. Their weight distribution capacity is up to 12,000 lbs. and their weight distribution tongue weight capacity is up to 1,200 lbs.

Class 4

The next step up is Class 4; these work best for trucks and SUVs. The receiver for Classes 3 and 4 is a 2-inch. Their GTW capacity is up to 10,000 lbs. and their tongue weight capacity is up to 1,000 lbs.

Class 5

There are different types of Class 5 hitches. For the sake of this blog, we’ll leave out commercial duty Class 5 hitches. We’ll focus only on Class 5 hitches that work for trucks and SUVs. They have a 2-inch receiver and a GTW capacity of 16,000 to 17,000 lbs. Class 5 hitches also have a 2,400 to 2,550 lbs. Additionally, their WD capacity is 17,000 lbs. and their WDTW capacity is 2,400 to 2,550 lbs.

If you’re not sure which class hitch you need, eTrailer has a great chart that breaks down the classes. Once you know which class you need, call M&G Trailers. We have trailer hitches in stock! Still have questions? We can help with that too! Stop in and visit us at our Ramsey, Minnesota, trailer dealership. Our staff will help answer all your trailer and trailer hitch questions.

Make an appointment at M&G! Our expert service team will help with everything from trailer wiring to hitch installation. Request your appointment online today with our contact form!