I do a lot of searching around the internet looking for keywords and ideas about trailer hitches. A lot of what I see is people wondering where to find a hitch for their particular vehicle. Some of these people may have looked for a hitch locally and couldn’t find the right fit, or some my just be looking for information (window shopping as it may be) on a hitch for their vehicle. Either way, the great thing about the internet is that there is a simple way to find the hitch you want, including price, weight, styles and availability. One of the best trailer hitch sources on the web can be accessed through our site. Go here , click on the trailer hitches.com link, and simply enter your make and model into the form under “Shop Trailer Hitches Today!” From there, you will generally find several options for your vehicle. And, don’t forget, if you have a trailer hitch, or if you’re into camping trailers , you probably better have a trailer hitch cover; find yours here today!
When towing, it’s very important that your trailer tongue be level with the ground. If you are always towing the same trailer, you can set your hitch up just right for that trailer and be set for life, or at least the life of that towing relationship. But, if you find yourself with two or more trailers with differing coupler heights, it makes sense to have an adjustable ball mount.
To find the ball mount drop (if your trailer coupler is below the height of your hitch) or rise (if the coupler is above your hitch) that you need, simply park your vehicle and trailer on level ground. Measure from the ground up to top of the inside of your receiver tube (where the top of the ball mount shank will be) and measure from the ground up to the bottom of the trailer coupler. The difference between these two heights is the length of the rise or drop you need in your ball mount.
You can find adjustable ball mounts all over, with prices ranging from $25 to over $200.
Check out some of the best trailer hitches and ball mounts at our new affiliate store TrailerHitches.com.
I can’t say that I’ve ever been in a situation where I even thought, “Gee, a winch would sure come in handy right now.” But, I’ve always liked the idea of a hitch mounted winch on my truck. Of course, I’d want a front mounted hitch, and those are good for other things too. A hitch mounted bike rack goes great on the front when you are towing a trailer. Same goes for a hitch mounted cargo carrier. You can mount a spare tire on the front hitch if you need to. I really like the idea of being able to push my camping trailer into a tight spot with a front mounted hitch; it would be so much easier on your neck!
I did some shopping online for front mounted hitches for my Toyota Tacoma, and found the price ranged from just over $100 to over $200. Some prices included shipping, some did not. So, when you are looking for a front mounted hitch, shop around to find the best deal on the hitch that best fits your needs.
I was walking through a parking lot today, and had to squeeze through between the back of a pickup and the car behind it. I wasn’t really paying attention, and I managed to hit the trailer hitch ballmount with my shin! When I regained consciousness (not really, but WOW! did it hurt) I got a closer look at what I had kicked–it was class 3 trailer hitch with an extra-long ballmount! Now, I agree that it can seem like a hassle to take the ballmount out of your hitch when you aren’t towing, but exposed ballmounts can be a real hazard.
If you are concerned about dirt and grime getting in your hitch receiver, look into a trailer hitch cover. They come in every style imaginable. But please, I implore you, take your ballmount out when you are not towing…the shin you save may be your own!
If you are buying a hitch cover for yourself or someone else, it is important to know what size hitch you have. Most of our covers come with pieces to fit both class II (1.25″ X 1.25″) and class III hitches (2″ x 2″). If you don’t know what size you have, you can measure the sides of your receiver hitch and find out.
As a general rule, you will find class II hitches on mid-size cars and larger vehicles, and class III hitches on full size cars, mid-size trucks, SUVs, and larger vehicles.
A good friend of mine just moved to town today, and I had the privilege of helping him unload his trailer. He had pulled one of the larger U-Haul trailers behind his F-150, and he had that thing stuffed to the gills. I asked him how the ride was, and he said that the truck didn’t have any problems towing up the hills, but that the trailer was very squirley and jerked his truck around the whole way. Then, when the trailer was empty, we took it back to the shop, and i was amazed at how jerky the ride was–even empty.
That jerky trip with an empty trailer really got me thinking about trailer hitch products that are out there that could have made his ride a lot more smoother. Mark’s post the other day about air ride trailer hitch systems and their air-bag designs came immediately to mind, as did anti-sway bars and friction devices. His truck would have probably handled better when the trailer was fully loaded if he had a weight distributing trailer hitch, but that wouldn’t have helped our ride much with the empty trailer. My friend doesn’t tow a lot, so he can probably get by with just his standard Class III trailer hitch on his truck, but for those of us that have a trailer attached to our hitch more often than not, these trailer hitch accessories can really be life savers.
I was searching around the web for some cool new trailer hitch technology when I came across Air Ride Hitch Systems. After reading a little on their “about” page, I realized these guys have the solution to most of the discomfort towers feel when pulling heavy or light trailers with standard trailer hitches. You know what I mean–the back and forth or side to side jerk you feel when your trailer hits a bump, if you turn a little too sharply, or even if you apply the brakes a little too hard at a stoplight. The guys at Air Ride have come up with the solution.
They integrate “heavy duty” air bags into the trailer hitch assembly to drastically soften the shock you usually experience. You still have a firm connection to your trailer, but not one that tires you out or makes you nervous to corner or use the brakes. Their website claims an 80% smoother ride and 75% safer tow than with a standard trailer hitch. With that kind of potential, this is a trailer hitch worth checking out. They offer standard hitch receivers, fifth wheel trailer hitches, and even gooseneck hitches. You can learn more at www.airridehitch.com.
When most people think of towing, they don’t think of motorcycles.
The fact is there’s a wide variety of trailers and trailer hitches
built specifically for your two-wheeled toys. Manufacturers across
the US fabricate motorcycle trailer hitches for everything from Harley
Davidson to Honda. We know there are a lot of weekend warriors out
there who would like to take their bikes on longer trips but feel
limited because they can’t get all their gear on their motorcycle. All
they need is the right trailer hitch and motorcycle trailer and
they’re off. Many motorcycle trailer hitches don’t even require
welding to attach them to your bike. They simply bolt on and go. For more
information and examples of great motorcycle trailer products, we
recommend www.hitchdoc.com.
On December 28, 2006 a freak accident occurred on Interstate 5 in San Diego. Apparently the ball mount from a trailer hitch flew through the window of an SUV hitting the driver, 32 year old Sean O’Shea in the head, killing him. California Highway Patrol doesn’t know where the hitch came from, if it fell out of a trailer hitch or was being carried as cargo. Either way, the lesson is clear: make sure your ball mount or any other aftermarket accessory is securely fastened to your trailer hitch or vehicle. The same goes for any cargo you are carrying.
Click here for more info.
Our sympathies go out to the friends and family of Sean O’Shea.
When you think of trailer hitches, trucks, SUV’s, and even vans come to mind. Bicycles would be way down the list, if they made it at all. Well, I found something on the internet today that could change your thinking: a bicycle trailer hitch. The TrailerOn bicycle trailer hitch attaches to the seat post of your bicycle, and can be used to tow wagons, golf carts, or any other wheeled cart that you have. It looks pretty handy, and is recommended for loads up to 35 pounds. So, the next time you need to run a quick errand, hook up your bike trailer hitch and head out for a ride!
Trailer Hitches | Emily, 22 May 07 | 
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