A great truck hitch isn’t always cheap, which is why doing your research and taking all the appropriate considerations is important for safely and effectively driving your haul across the state.
After all, you don’t want it to break in the middle of an incline.
There are more factors than you might imagine when it comes to choosing the appropriate hitch – as well as a high-quality one. Start with these questions.
Consider What You Need to Tow
What do you plan on towing with your vehicle? Different hitches have different tongue and tow weight capacity. Towing a small boat is going to require a different hitch than towing a full-sized camper.
For your convenience, the industry has divided truck hitches into different classes. Class I is the lightest-weight class and class V is the heaviest-duty class.
- Class I – These are for towing light cargo, small boats, and motorcycles. They pull up to 2,000 pounds with a 200-pound tongue weight.
- Class II – You can tow mid-sized boats with these babies. They pull 3,500 pounds with a 300-pound tongue weight.
- Class III – These are considered the most versatile hitch. They can pull up to 6,000 pounds with a 600-pound tongue weight.
- Class IV – These are for the most heavy-duty cargo. They are made for large trucks and SUVs. It can pull up to 10,000 pounds with a 1000-pound tongue weight.
- Class V – These are the heftiest hitches, for commercial trucks and your biggest boats. They can haul 12,000 pounds with a 1200-pound tongue weight.
Check Car Model Compatibility
First, you need to think about the towing capacity of your vehicle. Your compact car is not going to successfully haul a full-sized camper no matter what kind of hitch you put on it.
Second, you need to look at whether the hitch you’re considering will fit the actual vehicle. Many hitches are custom-made, so you have to buy one that will exactly fit your car. Many hitches will not be designed for certain vehicles and you’re just out of luck.
If you’re thinking about getting a car for the purpose of towing, look into what kind of vehicle will be best for the load you wish to haul.
Consider Installation Requirements
How handy are you when pulling out your toolbox? This is something to consider when thinking about how you plan on installing the hitch.
Many hitches are easy to install, with no tools required. Some are complicated and require the long and hard-to-read instruction manual.
If you’re not the handiest person, then choosing an easy-to-install hitch is important. A poorly installed hitch won’t work right, no matter how high-class it is.
Research the Manufacturer of the Truck Hitch
Our world is filled with so many manufacturers of varying quality these days that it’s important to make sure the brand of your hitch has a good reputation.
You don’t want to be ripped off by whoever is charging you a hundred dollars or more for a shabby hitch that will fail on the highway.
Tow Away
Installation requirements, towing capacity, vehicle compatibility, and quality are all the main considerations when choosing a truck hitch.
If you have more questions on how to get the best towing set-up for your haul, contact us.
