Choosing a Receiver Hitch
What is a receiver hitch?
A receiver hitch, also called a trailer hitch, is the primary device attached to the back undercarriage of the vehicle. It has a square receiver tube into which you can insert any number of ball mounts used for towing. The receiver tube is also where you can attach a bike rack or cargo carrier. Receiver hitches are customized for each year, make and model of vehicle. Use our
RECEIVER HITCH FINDER to find the right one for your vehicle.
What will I use it for?
When buying a receiver hitch, it's a good idea to know what you plan on towing or attaching to it. Receiver hitches are used for towing campers, trailers, boats, jet skis and other rolling cargo. And they are also used to attach bike racks and cargo carriers. The following information will help you choose the right receiver hitch for your towing needs.
There are 5 Classes of receiver hitches, each specifying maximum Gross Towing Weight (GTW) and Tongue Weight (TW) capacities. Class 1 and 2 hitches are for cars, smaller SUV’s and small trucks. Class 3, 4 and 5 hitches are used on larger minivans, pickups, SUVs and almost all RV’s. Use the following chart below to see what size hitch receiver will work on your vehicle.
Receiver hitches come in two sizes: 1.25
inch and 2 inch square receivers. Class 1 and 2 hitches, designed for smaller vehicles, often have a 1.25 inch square receiver tube. Many bike racks and cargo carriers
require 2 inch receiver hitches, so if you have a smaller vehicle, make
sure your bike rack or cargo carrier will fit.
Vehicle Capacities. Vehicle manufacturers specify the towing and tongue weight capacities for each model in their product line. Smaller vehicles are almost always restricted to a Class 1 or 2 receiver hitch. Consult your vehicle owner's manual to find its towing weight capacities.
How to Choose. To select the best hitch option for your vehicle you might consider these factors:
- What is the gross towing weight of anything that you will be towing?
- What are the tongue weights of anything that you will be towing or carrying in your hitch, such as a bike rack or cargo carrier?
- Do you have a bike or cargo rack that only fits a 1.25 inch or 2 inch receiver hitch?
- Do you have a styling preference for round tube over the traditional square tube hitch? (The receiver tube is always square).
- Do you have a hitch color preference other than traditional black?
To learn more about towing terminology, visit our
Towing 101 guide.
Ordering a Hitch Receiver
At FastTrackRacks.com, we offer a full line of CURT Hitches because we think they offer the best overall quality, strength, durability and styling of any hitch out there. And we offer
FREE shipping and the
BEST price as a qualified CURT retailer. To learn more about what makes CURT Hitches better, please go to our
Receiver Hitch Finder page.
