How To Choose The Best Trailer Hitch
The best trailer hitch is the one that very best fits the situation and load capacity of the unit being towed.
Safety is always a concern, and trailer hitches are manufactured with certain load rating, and different sizes of coupling parts.
Here are some details which may assist you decide which type you'll require.
There are essentially 3 types of hitch that are available, the ball hitch, the 5th wheel hitch and the pintle hook.
Each of these is utilized in different applications and mainly rely on the terrain and load requirements.
Let's take a look at them for their uses.
The most common hitch is the kind used to pull boat, RV, and utility trailers, which need a ball of a particular diameter to securely make the connection.
These balls come in different sizes measured in inches which range from 1 1/4" to 2 5/16", with shank sizes of 3/4" to 1 1/4".
The correct size is normally stamped into the metal tongue of the trailer to be towed.
The 5th wheel hitch is made more popular by RVs that are fashioned after horse and livestock trailers.
The front of these trailers hangs over into the back of a pickup truck bed, where the king pin plate is set up.
Eighteen wheelers use the kingpin connection, but most RV trailers use the same type of ball as the utility trailers.
The purpose for a 5th wheel is the 'goose necked' placement of the load over the drive train offers greater stability when traveling.
Pintle hook hitches could be found in use on trailers that are little enough for a pickup truck to pull, but the most used application of this hitch is in agriculture and heavy road construction.
Because of the uneven terrain, any other type of hitch will cause binding that could result in turning the towed trailer over.
A pintle hook has a single spring clamp that secures inside a hook that is mounted to the trailer tongue and provides quick connect and release.
Choosing the correct hitch for your towing needs depends on the type of trailer, the type of towing vehicle and the load rating of each.
There may even be state, local and federal requirements which apply to each type and what the intent of destination may be.
Commercial haulers will need a license and possibly a special permit to use some types of trailer hitch.
Safety is always a concern, and trailer hitches are manufactured with certain load rating, and different sizes of coupling parts.
Here are some details which may assist you decide which type you'll require.
There are essentially 3 types of hitch that are available, the ball hitch, the 5th wheel hitch and the pintle hook.
Each of these is utilized in different applications and mainly rely on the terrain and load requirements.
Let's take a look at them for their uses.
The most common hitch is the kind used to pull boat, RV, and utility trailers, which need a ball of a particular diameter to securely make the connection.
These balls come in different sizes measured in inches which range from 1 1/4" to 2 5/16", with shank sizes of 3/4" to 1 1/4".
The correct size is normally stamped into the metal tongue of the trailer to be towed.
The 5th wheel hitch is made more popular by RVs that are fashioned after horse and livestock trailers.
The front of these trailers hangs over into the back of a pickup truck bed, where the king pin plate is set up.
Eighteen wheelers use the kingpin connection, but most RV trailers use the same type of ball as the utility trailers.
The purpose for a 5th wheel is the 'goose necked' placement of the load over the drive train offers greater stability when traveling.
Pintle hook hitches could be found in use on trailers that are little enough for a pickup truck to pull, but the most used application of this hitch is in agriculture and heavy road construction.
Because of the uneven terrain, any other type of hitch will cause binding that could result in turning the towed trailer over.
A pintle hook has a single spring clamp that secures inside a hook that is mounted to the trailer tongue and provides quick connect and release.
Choosing the correct hitch for your towing needs depends on the type of trailer, the type of towing vehicle and the load rating of each.
There may even be state, local and federal requirements which apply to each type and what the intent of destination may be.
Commercial haulers will need a license and possibly a special permit to use some types of trailer hitch.
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