The 5 classes of hitches and their maximum load capacities
With the right tow hitch, you can turn your vehicle into a road trip-ready towing hauling machine! But to choose the right tow hitch, you must first know what kind of hitch fits your tow vehicle. In fact, it’s also important to consider a few additional factors that go into the kind of hitch you’ll need for towing. To get started, be sure to check the owner’s manual for your tow vehicle, as well as the same manual for your trailer. Your tow vehicle manual will provide maximum tongue weight (TW) and gross trailer weight (GTW).
T.W. = Total amount of weight resting directly on the hitch.
GTW= Total mass of your trailer, including hardware and cargo.
Once you have this information, it will be easier for you to select the right trailer hitch for your towing needs. You can also contact a local towing and recovery company for professional towing service if you don’t feel comfortable installing your own dolly. For now, read on for the average towing capacities for the 5 hitch classes.
hitch classes
There are a variety of trailer hitches available on the market, all of which retain different features and capacities for different towing applications and trailer types. But all hitches can be categorized into 5 classes, appropriately labeled Class 1 through Class 5. Look below for a guide to their maximum towing capacities. Roman numerals are typically used for classes of hitch (ie Class I, Class II, Class III, Class IV, and Class V), but we have used numbers for ease of understanding.
Class 1:
GTW = 2000 lbs.
TW = 200 lbs.
Class 2:
GTW = 3500 lbs.
TW = 300 lbs.
Class 3:
GTW = 5,000 lbs.
TW = 350 – 600 lbs.
Class 4:
GTW = 10,000 lbs.
TW = 600 – 1800 lbs.
Class 5:
GTW = 10,000+ lbs.
TW = 600 – 1800 lbs.
Additional hitch considerations
Now that you know each class of hitch and its towing capacity, you can easily figure out which class you’ll need for your trailer. Note that you must also match all other components in the trailer setup to their correct hitch class, including the ball mount. When it comes to choosing a trailer hitch manufacturer, be sure to read customer testimonials and product reviews before making a final purchase. With so many manufacturers and brands to choose from, making a purchasing decision can be overwhelming. Just trust the recent reviews and read the return policies and you should be fine!
