What Trailer Hitch Do I Need?

What Trailer Hitch Do I Need?

A trailer hitch is a connecting device that attaches a car or truck to the vehicle or cargo it’s towing. There are many different types of trailer hitches that are intended for various weight capacities and types of towing vehicles, and it can sometimes be overwhelming to consider all the choices! So, if you find yourself asking, “What do I need for a trailer hitch?”, you’re in luck. Truck Ranch has assembled a handy guide below that should get you started. Check it out, then head over to our online inventory to browse our available used trucks!

Types of Trailer Hitches

There are five main types of trailer hitches for you to choose from for your pickup truck. The types themselves have individual classifications, but we’re going to be keeping things as straightforward as possible here. Here are the main types of trailer hitches, along with their weight capacity and the type of cargo they’re designed for:

• Pintle Hitch: This type of hitch is rated for a staggering 60,000 pounds, making it popular mostly in the construction industry. It uses a hook and a ring to attach the towable vehicle to the truck.
• Gooseneck Hitch: Rated for 38,000 pounds and commonly used with farming vehicles, a gooseneck hitch is another heavy-duty type of hitch. It’s mounted in the bed of a pickup truck and is designed with a tight turn radius in mind, using a ball and coupler connection to attach the towable vehicle.
• Fifth Wheel Hitch: This is similar to a gooseneck hitch, but uses a kingpin connector instead of a ball and coupler. It’s rated for 30,000 pounds and used with a fifth-wheel trailer.
• Weight Distributing Hitch: This type of hitch is sometimes classified as a hitch attachment rather than a hitch itself. It has a weight capacity of up to 15,000 pounds and, as the name suggests, it helps distribute weight evenly across your truck and what it’s towing.
• Receiver Hitch: This hitch is rated for 20,000 pounds, and is the most common type of hitch you’ll find. We’ve got more information about its weight-based classification below. You can use this type of hitch on anything from compact cars to heavy-duty flatbeds.

Receiver Hitch Classifications

Because receiver hitches are such a large class of trailer hitch, they’re often divided into five classes based on weight for your convenience. When choosing a trailer hitch, it’s important to see what classifications it’s listed under. For your purposes, you really only need to consider Class 3 onward, since Class 1 and 2 are designed for cars, SUVs, and crossovers rather than trucks. Still, we’ve included a list of all five classes and their GTW (gross trailering weight) for reference:

• Class 1 – up to 2,000 pounds – designed for smaller cars and crossovers
• Class 2 – up to 3,500 pounds – designed for larger cars, crossovers, and minivans
• Class 3 – 3,500 pounds to 12,000 pounds – designed for crossovers, vans, SUVs, and trucks
• Class 4 – 8,000 pounds to 14,000 pounds – designed for trucks and SUVs
• Class 5 – 16,000 pounds to 20,000 pounds – designed for heavy-duty trucks and flatbeds

Discover Quality Used Trucks with Truck Ranch

If you have any questions about trailer hitches or want more information about what we’ve discussed above, feel free to contact our office anytime. You can also check out our financing options if you’re ready to bring a quality used truck home for yourself!