Are you new to towing? Whether
you’re toting a shiny new boat, embarking on a new lawn service business, or
purchasing your first trailer to help with your move, it’s crucial to dress
your vehicle in the right towing gear for the job. This task involves more than
simply purchasing that shiny chrome ball you’ve seen on countless pickups and
utility vehicles. You have to make sure you’re getting the right equipment for
the job by familiarizing yourself with key lingo, including vehicle weight,
trailer weight, and towing weight terminology.
Trailer Hitch 101: Let the Acronyms Begin!
Before purchasing a shiny new
trailer hitch, familiarize yourself with this vocabulary to ensure you outfit
your vehicle wisely.
Vehicle Weight Lingo
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
Your GVWR is the maximum load your specific vehicle can safely haul, including you, your passengers, and cargo. Don’t worry, there’s no heavy math here. Your manufacturer sets it. It will be on the panel inside your driver’s side door or in your owner’s manual.
Your GVWR is the maximum load your specific vehicle can safely haul, including you, your passengers, and cargo. Don’t worry, there’s no heavy math here. Your manufacturer sets it. It will be on the panel inside your driver’s side door or in your owner’s manual.
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
This will always be lower than your GVWR. It includes your vehicle, driver, passengers, cargo, and fuel.
This will always be lower than your GVWR. It includes your vehicle, driver, passengers, cargo, and fuel.
Towing Capacity
The maximum weight your specific vehicle can haul using a tow-on-the-ball setup. You can find this in your owner’s manual or contact your local dealer with your VIN#. Your tow load should never exceed the total maximum towing capacity of your vehicle, which is set by the manufacturer.
The maximum weight your specific vehicle can haul using a tow-on-the-ball setup. You can find this in your owner’s manual or contact your local dealer with your VIN#. Your tow load should never exceed the total maximum towing capacity of your vehicle, which is set by the manufacturer.
NOTE: 2WD vehicles typically have a higher towing capacity
than similar 4WD/AWD vehicles, as the latter house an extra drive shaft, axle,
and transfer case, adding several hundred pounds.
Curb Weight
The weight of your vehicle with all the fluids topped, but without you, your passengers, or cargo inside. You might find it on the panel inside your driver’s door, engine plate, or owner’s manual.
The weight of your vehicle with all the fluids topped, but without you, your passengers, or cargo inside. You might find it on the panel inside your driver’s door, engine plate, or owner’s manual.
Trailer Weight Lingo
Gross Trailer Weight Rating (GTWR)
This is the maximum amount of weight your trailer can safely carry, including cargo. You'll find it on a placard in the trailer. It determines the class of your trailer.
This is the maximum amount of weight your trailer can safely carry, including cargo. You'll find it on a placard in the trailer. It determines the class of your trailer.
Gross Trailer Weight (GTW)
The actual weight of your trailer and all cargo. You can determine this at a weigh station.
The actual weight of your trailer and all cargo. You can determine this at a weigh station.
Trailer Weight
The weight of your trailer when it’s empty, also found on the trailer’s placard.
The weight of your trailer when it’s empty, also found on the trailer’s placard.
Payload
The maximum amount of weight your trailer can carry, as set by the manufacturer. Subtract your trailer weight from the GVWR to determine.
The maximum amount of weight your trailer can carry, as set by the manufacturer. Subtract your trailer weight from the GVWR to determine.
Towing Weight Lingo
Fifth Wheel
These are found in the beds of larger pickups and semis used for hauling large RVs, horse trailers, tractor-trailers.
These are found in the beds of larger pickups and semis used for hauling large RVs, horse trailers, tractor-trailers.
Gooseneck
In larger pickup trucks, a gooseneck hitch ball is located in the bed.
In larger pickup trucks, a gooseneck hitch ball is located in the bed.
Hitch Adapter
This adapter converts the opening in the receiver tube from a small opening to a large one, and vice-versa, however, it reduces towing capacity.
This adapter converts the opening in the receiver tube from a small opening to a large one, and vice-versa, however, it reduces towing capacity.
Hitch Extender
Used when additional clearance is needed for the tow vehicle’s bumper, however, it may reduce towing capacity.
Used when additional clearance is needed for the tow vehicle’s bumper, however, it may reduce towing capacity.
Hitch Ball
Alas! The component you know. The hitch ball or trailer ball attaches to the ball mount. The coupler mounts and locks into place over the ball, connecting your trailer to your tow vehicle.
Alas! The component you know. The hitch ball or trailer ball attaches to the ball mount. The coupler mounts and locks into place over the ball, connecting your trailer to your tow vehicle.
Coupler
This locking mechanism connects the trailer tongue to the hitch ball and must match precisely for a secure fit.
This locking mechanism connects the trailer tongue to the hitch ball and must match precisely for a secure fit.
Safety Chains
These connect the trailer tongue to the tow vehicle, serving as a backup in the event of coupler/ball failure. You must have at least two, attached to their own retainers.
These connect the trailer tongue to the tow vehicle, serving as a backup in the event of coupler/ball failure. You must have at least two, attached to their own retainers.
Hitch Pin
This steel pin locks the ball mount into the hitch tube.
This steel pin locks the ball mount into the hitch tube.
Trailer Wiring
This wiring mimics the turn signals and brake lights on your tow vehicle, ensuring safety.
This wiring mimics the turn signals and brake lights on your tow vehicle, ensuring safety.
Weight Distribution Hitch
This hitch can help better distribute the weight of extremely heavy loads. Using spring bards attached to the frame, it disperses weight more evenly between the front and rear wheels of your tow vehicle.
This hitch can help better distribute the weight of extremely heavy loads. Using spring bards attached to the frame, it disperses weight more evenly between the front and rear wheels of your tow vehicle.
Sway Control
This mechanism reduces side-to-side sway caused by toting a trailer.
This mechanism reduces side-to-side sway caused by toting a trailer.
Simplify trailer hitch selection and installation. Find the
perfect hitch for your tow vehicle and hauling job with the help of Ainsworth
Trailer Repair today.
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