You should also be sure the hitch size matches the coupler size and that all hitch components are tight before coupling the trailer to the tow vehicle. A hitch ball coupler will connect to a ball located on or underneath the rear bumper of your tow vehicle.
Before you get started, inspect your hitch before coupling. Any worn, corroded, or cracked components should be replaced before coupling your trailer to your tow vehicle. Hitch Ball Couplers. Ring and Pintle Couplers. Be sure the coupler is securely locked to the hitch before you begin hauling your trailer.
Carefully hitching your trailer to your tow vehicle will help to ensure a safe tow every time. Our monthly newsletter contains general information and marketing updates from Carry-On Trailer.
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Hitch Ball Couplers Before coupling the trailer to the tow vehicle: Wipe the hitch ball clean and inspect it carefully for flat spots, cracks or pits. Rock the ball to make sure it is tight to the hitch. Make sure the hitch ball nut is solid against the lock washer and hitch frame.
Wipe the inside and outside of the coupler clean and inspect it for cracks or deformities. Be sure to feel the inside for worn spots and pits. Check to ensure the coupler is tight to the tongue of the trailer. In these instances, the possibility of the trailer to sway is high, and it might get out of control. Because of these two bad options, you can see why it is essential to find the right balance between the gross trailer weight and tongue weight.
Although the weight distribution system cannot add the total amount of weight a tow vehicle can carry beyond its maximum capacity, how the weight is distributed off the tongue and into the axles are improved — thus safely bringing you closer to that maximum mark. Weight distribution hitches can help avoid those dangerous conditions, and the towing vehicle will not have a hard time making a brake, steer, and turn, mainly if you are towing a large cargo, which is hard to maneuver in a safe and controlled way.
If you are hauling a smaller load, you can do it with a weight carrying hitch. Also, once you achieve certain gross trailer weights, the weight distribution system is obliged by law. For your safety hauling and transporting of your trailer as you travel it is important that you choose the right weight distribution hitch. Understanding how it works and why you need one makes it easier for you to decide which is the best hitch for your need. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Via etrailer. How Does The Hitch Work? The four major components work together to provide complete towing system compatibility. The weight distribution hitch is composed of the following elements:. Ball Mount. Hitch receiver. Sway control. Via Youtube. How to Tow a Trailer? Popular posts. A drop hitch receiver allows you to connect a trailer without fear of it unbalancing the vehicle and possibly causing you to lose control.
You may have seen vehicles laden with a trailer and the vehicle's rear sagging like an overloaded mule with the weight. This is a potentially hazardous situation, since that "sag" shifts weight away from the front wheels and weakens your steering efforts. Having the right hitch accessories can reduce or eliminate this problem by leveling the trailer and evenly distributing its weight.
Drop hitch receivers fit into a standard receiver hitch opening and can add 2 inches to more than 10 inches of vertical space with which to evenly connect a trailer. If your vehicle has four wheels, chances are that some manufacturer has made towing equipment that fits it. In the next section, we'll examine how to choose a drop hitch receiver. Your first consideration when considering any towing equipment is, "What will it do to my vehicle? Towing more weight than your vehicle was designed to handle can overwork your engine and brakes , and substantially increase the odds of an accident.
When it comes to towing, always play it safe! Makers of new cars and trucks often offer a "towing package" that features beefier brakes and a larger-capacity cooling system for the engine, as well as the necessary towing hardware itself.
In the United States, tow hitch receivers come in categories ranked by the weight of their towing capacity:. Assuming you've already had the appropriate class of trailer hitch installed on your vehicle, you'll want to figure out how much height separates it from the connecting part of the trailer.
The entire trailer hitch assembly consists of a few simple components. The trailer hitch receiver forms the base: It's a tubular steel frame welded in a configuration that snugly bolts to the underside of the vehicle.
The drop hitch consists of additional pieces of rectangular welded steel and it extends the "reach" of the ordinary trailer hitch. It fits into the original trailer hitch on the vehicle and secures with a locking pin. The ball mount mates a short length of square steel tubing to a steel flange. This thick flange provides a platform with a hole drilled through it. The hitch ball fits through that hole. The entire ball mount connects with the trailer hitch receiver quite simply, with a locking pin.
The hitch ball then secures to the ball mount by means of a threaded shaft and a nut that locks it into place. Make sure that the size of your ball hitch ball diameter matches that of the trailer's coupler. If you have trouble determining the proper specifications for your hitch accessories, you can always bring your vehicle to a reputable dealer or tow kit customizing shop.
Sophisticated electronics have taken over several crucial systems on cars, trucks and SUVs. But towing accessories remain an area where the driveway mechanic can still tinker without being a computer whiz.
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