When you need to tow, you have several different types of hitches that will enable you to do so. In this blog, we will break them down so you can select the right one for your towing needs. Whether you’re bringing horses to a show or a boat to the lake, there is one of the types of hitches made to do just that!
Table of Contents
- The Different Types of Hitches
- 5th Wheel Hitches
- Gooseneck Hitches
- Rear Receiver Hitches
- Pintle Hitches
- Weight Distribution Hitches
- Order Your Hitch From Air Safe Hitches
The 5 Different Types of Hitches
There are many different types of hitches used for towing a trailer. Each one of the types of hitches has a unique purpose and coupling style. Each one also has its own set of capacities and sizes as well. This makes learning more about them essential for selecting the right hitch for your towing needs.
5th Wheel Hitches
A 5th wheel hitch is a heavy-duty truck bed hitch that mounts into the bed of a truck bed right over or just forward of the rear axle. The 5th wheel hitch receives the king pin from the trailer and then secures it with a jaw mechanism, making them incredibly strong. They are used to haul large campers, travel trailers, and car haulers.
Gooseneck Hitches
A gooseneck hitch is a heavy-duty truck bed hitch that provides a ball to couple to a gooseneck trailer. They’re very similar to a 5th wheel hitch but take up less space in the bed of your truck. They are designed so that you can have full use of your bed while you are not towing something.
Rear Receiver Hitches
This type of trailer hitch can be used for towing a trailer. It features a square receiver tube that you insert a wide variety of things into. Many vehicles come standard with this type of hitch.
Pintle Hitches
A pintle hitch is a simple but extremely strong coupling mechanism. It consists of a hook and a ring. The hooking part of this system is called the curt and is attached to the truck. The lunette (the ring that the curt hooks to) is attached to the trailer. Pintle hitches are most commonly used in agriculture and industrial settings, like on fire trucks.
Weight Distribution Hitches
A weight distribution hitch is designed to distribute the tongue weight of a trailer across the vehicle and trailer for increased control. They use long rods called “spring rods” which leverage the connection point. These rods take some of the tongue weight off and redistribute it to other areas of the vehicle, serving to take weight off the rear of the tow vehicle and making it possible for the driver to steer the vehicle better. For this reason, they are most common with camping RVs
Order Your Hitch From Air Safe Hitches
Whether you decide you need a gooseneck hitch or air hitch, you can order the best hitches online through our website. Air Safe Hitches takes this very seriously, so we don’t just sell you air hitches. We also take pride in educating you on what you need, how to install it, and more. Contact us with any additional questions regarding which hitch is right to meet your towing needs.
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