How to Choose the Best Trailer Hitch That Will Haul What You Need
Did you know that there are six major types of hitches when it comes to carrying weight around with a tow vehicle? If you have to haul heavy equipment but do not know what the best trailer hitch is for you, then we are here to help!
Keep reading to learn more about hitch types to help make your decision easier.
Check Your Rise and Drop
First, you want to have your trailer as level as possible. The more level your haul is the better it will handle, and it will also minimize strain on both the tow vehicle and the trailer.
Keep in mind that with so many tow vehicles and trailers, it is very rare to have them both line up perfectly for towing. This is why there are so many ball mounts to choose from and these ball mounts come with what is known as the rise and drop. The rise and drop will help compensate for the height difference between your vehicle and the trailer to allow for safe towing.
The rise is the distance from the top of the shank to the top of the ball platform when the ball is placed for a greater coupler height. The drop is the distance from the top of the shank to the top of the ball platform when the mount is oriented for a lower coupler height.
Measuring for Rise and Drop
If you are trying to figure out how it works, then you want to take two measurements. Measure the hitch height and the coupler height. The difference between both measurements will be your rise or your drop.
To measure your hitch height, park the tow vehicle on level ground and measure from the top of the hitch to the ground. To measure your coupler height, measure from the ground to the bottom of the coupler while the trailer you are hauling is level.
Next, take the greater number and subtract it from the lower number. If the hitch height is greater then you will want to use a ball mount with a drop. If the coupler height is greater then use a ball mount with a rise.
Towing Multiple Trailers
If you will be towing different types of trailers then you might want to look into buying an adjustable ball mount. Unlike a fixed ball mount that has a set rise and drop, you can alter the adjustable ball mount for different coupler heights.
Trust us, an adjustable ball mount will save you the trouble of using a separate ball mount for every trailer. All you will have to is slide the ball mount platform up or down and lock it in place with the pin in the rise or drop that you need.
To choose the best adjustable mount first you will have to figure out the tongue weight of the heaviest trailer you will be towing. You need to make sure that the ball mount has the weight capacity to support the trailer when it is empty and loaded.
Something else you want to keep in mind is that you choose the correct shank size to fit the receiver of the hitch. The last thing you have to take into consideration is the tallest rise and the deepest drop that you will need.
An adjustable mount might come with two or three different ball sizes to allow you the option to tow different trailer sizes.
Determine Your Weight
Another important factor when selecting the best trailer hitch is your gross trailer weight (GTW) and your tongue weight (TW) which you can gather with some tools from your garage. First, take the time to figure out both weights when the trailer is fully loaded. Next, determine if your vehicle is rated to handle and haul the weight of your fully-loaded trailer.
The GTW is the loaded weight of your trailer in the state that you would tow it. If you are not sure what the weight of your trailer is, take it to a vehicle weigh station.
The tongue weight is the force that is exerted by the trailer coupler onto the hitch ball. This weight is carried by the suspension of your tow vehicle and you want to make sure that your vehicle is able to handle it.
You can weigh up to 300 pounds of tongue weight on a standard bathroom scale if you rest the coupler directly on the scale. Make sure that the scale is propped up safely.
If the tongue weight is over 300 pounds then you can place a brick that is as thick as the scale three feet across from the scale. Place a pipe on the scale and the brick and then rest a beam across the pipes. Set the scale to zero before resting the trailer jack on the beam.
When you set the jack, place it one foot from the brick and two feet from the scale. Take the number shown on the scale and multiply it by three to have your total tongue weight.
Ready to Choose the Best Trailer Hitch?
Now that you know how to choose the best trailer hitch to haul everything that you need, you can start shopping around for the perfect hitch for you. We hope that this blog post has made it easier for you to make an informed decision and that it has helped you make your shopping experience less stressful.
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