Which Hitch is Which

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Manufacturers may also rate a hitch below its full class-determined weight, often because the car it's designed for is not rated to tow the class maximum weight. What's more, you may find that some hitches within a class—particularly those in Class I—have lower tongue-weight ratings. Most often this is because of inherent limitations (such as weak bumpers) in a particular car. It's worth checking several manufacturers, though. You may find that some have been able to deal with such difficulties and offer higher-rated hitches for your vehicle.

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Class I and II hitches typically bolt to the car's frame and bumper. Pulling weight is handled mainly by the frame-attached bolts, while the tongue weight is transmitted to the bumper. Class I hitches are universally made from heavy strap steel bent to conform to your car's configuration. They're widely known as custom hitches, because they're bent at the factory to suit various models. Class II hitches may be of either strap steel with extended frame mounting points (with tongue weight still on the bumper) or of box tubing with frame-attachment brackets (with tongue weight transmitted to the frame). The latter type generally has a receiver that accepts a removable utility bar, to which the ball is attached. Beyond their great capacity, the beauty of receiver hitches is that the utility bar and ball can be removed when the hitch isn't needed. This prevents the practically inevitable barked shins you get with a protruding fixed bar and ball. Not surprisingly, receiver hitches are more expensive than the steel strap variety. Expect to pay somewhere around $150.

A Class III hitch carrying its rated tongue weight would drastically lighten the load on a tow vehicle's front wheels, thereby producing dangerous handling. Overload springs or air shocks wouldn't really solve the problem, since they don't redistribute the load. These items only stiffen the spring action to increase rear ride height. (Air shocks may, however, be useful with Class I or II hitches, where the tongue weight is low enough so that it isn't severely affecting tow-vehicle handling.) High tongue weight calls for a weight-distributing hitch, which consists of a pair of spring bars that pivot near the ball and are suspended by chains from the trailer frame. Acting as levers, the bars transfer the tongue load into the chassis of the trailer and the tow vehicle. By shortening or lengthening the chains, the ride height of the ball can be adjusted, which in turn alters the loading of the tow vehicle's front and rear wheels. Weight-distributing hitches come in different capacities and are used exclusively with receiver hitches.

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