Car & Truck Trailer hitches

Car and Truck Towing and Hauling

Use your car or truck to easily haul another car, truck, or trailer rather than relying on a company. Start moving your belongings the same day to another city, state, or country with the equipment specific to your needs. Knowing the weight of your haul will help narrow down your hitch type, which will further narrow down your additional needs, like straps or locks.

Also known as a tow bar, the hitch is a mount whereby two vehicles can be attached to each other via the chassis or frame. A ball is affixed to one end where the car being towed has a tongue or coupling to be joined to the tube of the one towing. Hitches and balls are classified by the weight of the load they are capable of hauling.

The following are the most common options when choosing a hitch whether you want to mount bicycles, a winch, or haul something heavy.

• Rear receiver: Found in most heavy-duty trucks, these are the most common, mounted to the rear frame, and have a square receiving tube.
• Front mount: These are mounted to the front of the car or truck’s frame.
• Pintle: These consist of a ring and a hook and are common in the construction industry where the ring can be mounted to a hitch receiver or the frame itself.
• Bumper: Designed for lightweight uses, these attach to the bumper instead of the frame.
• 5th wheel: With a fixed coupling and designed for trucks, these mount directly into the bed or over the rear axle. A jaw mechanism can take up space within bed.
• Gooseneck: These are designed for trucks and mount directly into the bed or over the rear axle, but they have no jaw mechanism that takes up bed space.
• Weight distribution: Considered an attachment to a rear receiver, these distribute the weight of the tongue over both vehicles.

• Hitch cover or plug: These are designed to be inserted into the hole of the hitch or receiver tube when not in use and often with creative designs or logos.
• Hitch step: This option is designed to be inserted into the hitch or receiver tube as a means of quick and easy access to your truck bed or roof top.
• Hook and straps: Often used as a pintle hitch solution, a hook will be needed to connect into the ring. Straps are used in recovery situations, like those stuck in mud.
• Safety chains: Also known as safety cables, these should be crossed under the tongue to act as a safety net in the event it becomes dislodged.
• Coupler lock: Used for added security of a stable setup and as a theft deterrent, different models have keys or combinations to access the coupling mechanism.