A Practical Guide to Selecting and Buying the Right Hitch for your Vehicle

A long journey by car is very pleasant. A truck and trailer are perfect companions to travel long distances across Canada. Knowing about the right Calgary trailer hitches helps you to drive your vehicle safely. If the trailer does not fit properly with the hitch it might lead to fatal consequences. Therefore, here is a practical guide that will help you to ascertain the correct hitch for your trailer and vehicle.

The Basic Principle

The basic principle you should remember when you look for a hitch is that weight is the key element. The key terms associated with this are:

1. Gross Trailer Weight: The weight of the fully loaded trailer.
2. Tongue Weight: The downward weight that the trailer tongue creates on the hitch ball.
3. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: The maximum weight of the vehicle when loaded fully.
4. Gross Combination Weight Rating: The combined weight of the loaded trailer and the vehicle.

Keep these terms in mind when setting out to buy the perfect hitch for your vehicle.

Classes of Hitch

Hitches come in different classes according to the weight they can bear.

Class I: This is the lowest class of hitches. These can tow up to 2,000 pounds, and 200 to 250 pounds of tongue weight. Vehicles that these are compatible with are subcompact cars, sedans, vans, SUVs, light duty trucks, and heavy duty trucks. You can hitch a Jet Ski, motorcycle, bike rack, and cargo box with this class of hitches.

Class II: Towing capacity of the second class of hitches is up to 3,500 pounds, with a tongue weight range of 250 to 350 pounds. Vehicles compatible with these hatches are Sedans, SUVs, Vans, Light Duty Trucks, and Heavy Duty trucks. You can easily carry things like a Jet Ski, Motorcycle, Bike Rack, Cargo Box, Small Trailer, Small Boat, and Utility Vehicles with this class of hitch.

Class III: This class of hitches can tow a weight of up to 6,000 pounds and a tongue weight from 350–600 pounds. Vehicles fit for them are Vans, SUVs, Light Duty trucks and Heavy Duty trucks. Attach a Jet Ski, motorcycle, cargo box, small or medium trailer, small boat, fishing boat, and utility vehicles.

Class IV: These can tow up to 10,000 pounds and tongue weight of 600–1000 pounds. Only light duty and heavy duty trucks are fit to carry the load attached to this class of hitch. Adding a weight distribution system to it can increase its capacity by up to 50%. Carry everything that the lower classes of hitches can bear. You can carry a Large RV with it as well.

Class V: There are two types of hitches in this class, fifth wheel, and gooseneck. They can carry up to 25,000 pounds at a time. These are perfect for carrying heavy machinery and construction equipment. Light and heavy duty trucks can carry the load attached to the highest class of hitches.

You can get a 5th wheel hitch shop to install it and prepare your trailer and truck for travel. You can also buy lower classes of hitches at that shop. This guide will prove helpful to you when you plan for an outing with your family and friends.