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Towing - Hitches and Ball Mounts

Towing trailers, farm implements, spreader carts, or nurse tanks poses significant risk to both the driver and the motoring public.  

Prior to towing, the driver should verify that the truck’s towing capacity is adequate.  

Receiver hitches and ball mounts should also be properly rated for the load.

Receiver hitches are categorized by gross towing weight and tongue weight.  

A receiver hitch is placed into one of five classes:

  • Class I hitches are rated up to 2,000 lbs. gross towing weight and a maximum trailer tongue weight of 200 lbs.
  • Class II hitches are rated up to 3,500 lbs. gross towing weight and a maximum trailer tongue weight of 300 lbs.
  • Class III hitches are weight carrying or weight distributing depending on the vehicle and hitch specification. Class III weight carrying hitches are rated up to 6,000 lbs. gross towing weight and a maximum trailer tongue weight of 600 lbs. Class III hitches used for weight distributing are rated up to 10,000 lbs. gross towing weight with a maximum trailer tongue weight of 600 lbs.
  • Class IV hitches are weight carrying and weight distributing. Not all class IV hitches are rated to be both. Class IV hitches used for weight carrying are rated up to 10,000 lbs. gross towing weight with a maximum trailer tongue weight of 1,000 lbs. Class IV hitches used for weight distributing are rated up to 14,000 lbs. gross towing weight with a maximum trailer tongue weight of 1,000 lbs.
  • Class V hitches are weight carrying and weight distributing depending on the vehicle and hitch specifications. Class V hitches used as weight carrying are rated up to 12,000 lbs. gross towing weight with a maximum trailer tongue weight rating of 1,200 lbs. Class V hitches used for weight distributing are rated up to 17,000 lbs. gross towing weight with a maximum trailer tongue weight of 1,700 lbs. 

Like hitches, ball mounts are categorized by gross towing weight and tongue weight. The gross towing weight is the heaviest loaded trailer that the ball mount can tow. The tongue weight is the maximum weight that a trailer can exert downward on the ball mount. 

The ball mount must meet or exceed the loaded weight of the heaviest trailer towed. The tongue weight capacity of the ball mount must also meet or exceed the tongue weight of the trailer. 

Ball mounts are placed into five classes:

  • Class I has a gross towing weight of 2,000 lbs. and a tongue weight of 200 lbs.
  • Class II has a gross towing weight of 3,500 lbs. and a tongue weight of 525 lbs.
  • Class III has a gross towing weight of 8,000 lbs. and a tongue weight of 800 lbs.
  • Class IV has a gross towing weight of 12,000 lbs. and tongue weight of 1,200 lbs.
  • Class V ha a gross towing weight of 20,000 lbs. and a tongue weight of 2,000 lbs.

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Source: Joe Mlynek is president of Progressive Safety Services LLC, Gates Mills, OH: joe.mlynek@progressivesafety.us, and content creation expert for Safety Made Simple Inc., Olathe, KS; joe@safetymadesimple.com


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Safety Tip of the Week is edited by Managing Editor Tucker Scharfenberg and published each Monday by Grain Journal, Decatur, IL

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