It is pretty easy to overlook the trailer hitch when you are buying a new trailer. Maybe you are buying a new trailer, whether it be a boat trailer or a horse trailer. Maybe you know exactly what hitch you will need for your current trailer, but what if you decide to upgrade in the future? What if you just have no idea what hitch you will need for the trailer set up that you just bought? Well, this article can help you out!

Generally, people will look through 5 different hitches when looking for a hitch for their towing purposes. They are class 1-5 hitches and are usually good for almost any towing situation. Of course, in the rare case that these hitches can't handle a low, there are always higher options, like gooseneck trailers. If you know your trailer isn't in one of those categories, go ahead and read on and see what you will need.

Class one trailer hitches are meant for small loads up to one ton. On the tongue of the trailer, it can support 200 lbs. These kinds of trailer hitches are generally used on small trailers, such as recreational vehicle trailers. Generally, a trailer fitting in this class can be towed by a car, truck, or van. Class 2 can tow 3500 lbs on the trailer itself and can support up to 350 lbs on the tongue. These are generally used for standard fishing boats and small campers. Class 3 can tow 2.5 ton and can handle 500 lbs on the tongue. These hitches are generally used with medium sized campers and horse trailers. Class 4 hitches can handle 5 ton and up to a half ton on the tongue. These hitches are custom made for your vehicle and usually are used for towing large boats and campers. A class 5 hitch can support over 5 ton and over 1200 lbs on the tongue. These are used to haul extra large loads, like huge boats or automobiles.

If a towing job is too much for even a class five hitch, different styles of trailers are used, like gooseneck trailers. However, most of the time, these 5 classes of hitches can handle the majority of what is normally towed. Of course, each of the hitches have more flexibility than the few examples that were mentioned for each. Also, just a general tip, you should invest in a hitch cover to prevent any damages that could be done to an open hitch receiver, such as rust. There are many designs out there that can make your truck look even more cool. Or, you can be boring and get a standard cover!

Before you invest in a trailer and a hitch, you have to make sure that your vehicle is compatible. Don't be that person that goes and buys a huge boat and only has a small truck that they expect to tow it with. Your vehicle must meet the necessary requirements to tow certain things. If you have a beefy truck then you are probably good to go with any trailer that you may need to tow. Just make sure to check that you beforehand so you are not stuck with a trailer that you can't even tow! Research your trailer and find the hitch that you will need. If you plan on upgrading in the future, go ahead and get the next level of hitch to prepare ahead of time. Have fun with the right hitch for your new trailer!