How to Choose the Best Travel Trailer Hitch

Are you shopping to purchase a travel trailer (AKA bumper pull)?

If you are like most shoppers, you are most likely focused on price, size, and layout of your RV. All of these things are important, but what most future RVers do not know about, is the type of travel trailer hitch that is needed to safely tow that RV home.

Let’s discuss what you need to know in order to safely tow your travel trailer.


First things first – Definitions.

We won’t get very far without knowing the right towing lingo. I’ll go into more detail about all of these later in the post.  

Receiver Hitches attach directly to the towing vehicle and has a rear facing opening where a removable ball hitch is connected. They come in five classes.

Travel Trailer Hitch

Photo By: Christopher Ziemnowicz 

Removable Ball Hitch (AKA ball mount) is a platform that fits into the rear facing opening of a receiver hitch. It secures with a hitch pin clip. They come in five classes. 

Hitch Pin and Pin Clip secures the removable ball hitch to the receiver hitch.


Hitch Ball attaches to the removable ball hitch or ball mount. It provides the attachment point for your trailer’s coupler and allows the trailer to pivot while towing. Sway Bars (AKA anti-sway bar, Sway control) are devices that help control sway from cross winds. Weight Distribution Hitch uses multiple points of the RV to distribute the weight. It puts equal weight onto the axles. It also takes pressure from the ball hitch and allows you to tow the maximum capacity allowed by your hitch.

Tongue Weight is the downward force that the tongue of the trailer exerts on the hitch that is connected to the tow vehicle.


 

Travel Trailer Hitch

Now that you know the language, let’s get into it!

You might be thinking, Jessica, can’t you just tell me what I need to tow my travel trailer?

I could tell you everything you need to know, but that would take an entire book. So I’m going to share with you the absolute basic setup you need and then recommend the best and safest travel trailer hitch set up.


Up First – The Bare Minimum Travel Trailer Hitch Setup:

At a minimum, you will need a receiver hitch, removable ball hitch, hitch ball, and hitch pin, and pin clip. This will allow you to get your RV from point A to point B.

The class of receiver hitch and ball mount will depend on the size of your trailer; typically a Class III or Class IV unless you’re towing light or really heavy loads.

Travel Trailer Hitch

By Thomas R Machnitzki – Own work, CC BY 3.0

Travel Trailer Hitch

By Korey99 – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

Travel Trailer Hitch

CC BY 2.5

Travel Trailer Hitch

Travel Trailer Hitch

By Flickr: j2davis2005 CC BY 2.0

 

This bare minimum set up will be a very unsatisfactory, if not dangerous experience because there is no way to prevent your trailer from swaying side to side from winds and other dangers with only a basic trailer hitch.

So if I were you, I would keep reading!

Are you ready for the ideal travel trailer hitch set up?

Here goes!!


Travel Trailer Hitch

In addition to the basic travel trailer hitch components, you will also need weight distribution and sway control.

 

So why is Weight Distribution so Important? 

Reduce tow vehicle sag:

Improve steering and stopping

 

A Weight Distributing Hitch System is composed of four major elements:

 

Travel Trailer Hitch

1) The Hitch Receiver

2) The Weight Distribution Kit

3) The Hitch Ball

4) The Sway Control (Not always included. I talk more about it below)


How do you actually determine tongue weight to get the correct weight distribution hitch?

1) Calculate the tongue weight of your trailer. Don’t worry the math portion isn’t too bad here. 

Travel Trailer Hitch

 

2) Approximate the vehicle cargo load (Weight of Truck + Passengers + Baggage + Items in truck bed)

3) Add up these weights and match them up to a hitch with the proper capacity.


Sway Control

A sway control system reduces or completely eliminates sway or fishtailing, forces that can lead to tipping over or separation of the trailer from the tow vehicle.

Sway Control Systems that Reduce Sway

Independent friction-style (or bar-style) sway control attaches to both the weight distribution system and trailer frame. It supplies tension to keep the trailer in line. The friction comes from friction pads inside the unit.

Dependent, 2-Point Sway Control is built into the weight distribution system. It creates enough resistance to force the trailer to remain in line by relying on the downward force of the spring bars to apply frictional resistance to the brackets on both sides.

Sway Control Systems that Prevent Sway

Dual-Cam Sway Control uses unique sliding devices (called cams) to suspend spring bars.

4-Point Sway Control systems are built into a weight distribution system. This type of system relies on a secure connection within the head where the spring bars are held tightly in place. They also provide friction and resistance to force the trailer in line.

 


 

Shopping for a travel trailer? Most shoppers focus on cost, size & layout. These are important, but don't forget the hitch!

 

OK, did I lose you?

I know that was a lot of information, but keeping you safe while towing is not as simple as putting the ball-thingy into the round-thingy.

Being well informed and doing your research will ensure a safe and stress-free (well, mostly stress-free) towing experience.

 

Do you have any questions or anything you would add? Let us know in the comments.