Hitches add tremendous versatility to your vehicle, providing additional cargo space when required. With the right tow package, you can use your vehicle to haul anything from camping gear to bikes, snowmobiles and boats. The key to a safe and effective towing experience is to get the right hitch according to your vehicle's towing capacity. With the variety of hitches available today for a range of domestic as well as imported vehicles, you can be sure to find one that fits your towing requirements.

Hitches help you tow anything from 2500 pounds to over 10000 pounds effortlessly. The different types of hitches available are Fifth Wheel Hitches, Gooseneck Hitches, Step Bumper Hitches, Receiver Hitches and RV Bumper Hitches.

The Gross Towing Weight of the hitch should be considered before going for a hitch. The Gross Towing Weight of the hitch is the total amount of weight it can tow, including the weight of the trailer and the items being towed. A simple classification chart will help you choose the Hitch according to your customized requirements.

Having the right combination of vehicle, trailer and hitch equipment is the key to making your towing experience safe and enjoyable. Here are a few key factors that you need to keep in mind before buying a hitch:

The basic classification of hitches is done according to the amount of weight they can tow and they are grouped under classes I, II, III and IV.

Before choosing a hitch, you need to determine your vehicle's towing capacity as well the Gross Towing Weight (GTW) of items being towed, including the trailer. The golden rule to follow is that the gross towing weight must not exceed the towing capacity of your vehicle.

Here is a detailed description of the different classes of hitches available. We have also listed down certain items that can be towed with different classes of hitches to give you an accurate idea of the amount of weight they can handle:

Class I Hitches are ideal for regular towing. These hitches are good for use on smaller cars, such as small sedans, sports cars and compact cars. Class I Hitches can be used to pull a trailer that is six feet long or a boat that is 14 feet long. The Gross Towing Weight for Class I Hitches is up to 2500 pounds.

Class II Hitches work well on larger cars, such as midsize sedans and minivans, but are not suitable for compact cars. Class II Hitches can be used to pull a trailer that is 12 feet long or a boat that is 20 feet long. The Gross Towing Weight for this class is up to 3500 pounds.

Class III Hitches are suitable for heavy duty towing. For example, it can be used to pull a 24-foot boat trailer. The Gross Towing Weight is 3000 pounds to 6000 pounds, but can be extended up to 10,000 pounds with a weight-distributing hitch.

Class III and IV Hitches are great for extra-heavy duty towing. The gross towing weight for this class is between 3000 pounds and 6000 pounds. They are ideal for use with full-sized trucks and they can pull up to 10000 pounds with a weight-distributing hitch.

Based on the type of towing you are planning to do, you get to choose from different types of hitches available. Here is a look at the distinctive features of these hitches:

Fifth Wheel Hitch

Fifth Wheel Hitches are the strongest hitches in their class as they are made for heavy-duty towing. The fifth wheel hitch uses a fixed cylindrical pin on the trailers' hitch box assembly and the latching hitch mechanism is in a raised unit that is mounted in the truck bed. With a gross towing weight capacity of over 16,000 pounds, the fifth wheel hitch can also be attached with a slider that will help you get better clearance on sharp turns.

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Front Mount Receiver Hitch and Accessories

Front Mount Receiver Hitches allow you to carry hitch accessories in front of the vehicle while towing a trailer. Front Mount Receiver Hitches can be used to mount hitch accessories such as bike racks, winch plates and cargo carriers. Front Mount Receiver Hitches are ideal for SUVs and pickups. They have a black powder coat finish which makes them corrosion-resistant.

You can also get a wide range of hitch accessories such as Winch Adapters, Winch Mounts, Spare Tire Adapters, Skid Plates and Service Steps.

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Gooseneck Hitch

A gooseneck hitch is a fifth-wheel style hitch. The biggest advantage of the gooseneck hitch is that it allows you to save cargo space as it mounts directly under the bed of your pickup. It uses a fixed ball at bed level in the truck; with the hitch coupler-mechanism affixed to the end of the trailer-hitch assembly. The gooseneck hitch is primarily used for agricultural or commercial trailers.

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Pintle Hook & Ball Hitch

The Pintle Hook & Ball Hitch is a versatile hitch that will allow you to tow a variety of trailers with the same hitch. It has a gross towing capacity of 16,000 pounds. Assembling is easy - this hitch comes bundled with a ball hitch, pintle mount and mounting hardware and it mounts easily onto an existing receiver hitch.

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Receiver Extenders and Receiver Adapters

Receiver Extenders help you add great clearance between the towing vehicle and the trailer. They allow for tight turning without damage to the trailer of the towing vehicle. They are ideal for vehicles with rear-mounted tire kits and pickups with overhanging camper shells. The Receiver Extender has a gross towing weight of 3,500 lb. Receiver Adapters offer great value as they allow you to use a 2" receiver with 1-1/4" accessories or your 1-1/4" receiver with 2" accessories such as cargo carriers or bike carriers. These durable Adapters have a black powder coat finish that makes them rust resistant.

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RV Bumper Hitches

RV Bumper Hitches allow you to carry accessories such as bike carriers, cargo carriers or tow small carriers with a 2" receiver tube. It has a Gross Towing Weight of 3500 pounds and it can be used on square channel bumpers. This hitch has a black powder coated finish that makes them corrosion-resistant.

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Step Bumper Hitch

Step Bumper Hitches are great for vehicles that do not have a receiver. It is ideal if you tow occasionally. The box hitch easily attaches to the step bumper of your truck or van. You can add a 2" Receiver with safety chains to your vehicle with a Step Bumper Hitch. The Gross Towing Weight capacity of this hitch is 5000 pounds.

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Weight Distributing Hitches

Weight distributing hitches are heavy-duty hitches that reduce dangerous sag and equalize the towed vehicle's weight giving you a more stable, safe towing experience. Weight distributing hitches give you a gross towing weight capacity of over 10000 pounds.

Sway Control, a very popular option that often comes as part of the weight distributing system, is useful for longer trailers. They reduce sway caused by other vehicles or by gusty winds, and contribute to tow vehicle and trailer stability.

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