What Trailer Hitch Do I need to Tow a Sport Trailer?

If you are in the market for a sports trailer, but aren't sure what exactly you need to tow it, we'll help break it down for you. First off, you need to get a trailer hitch for your vehicle. Hitches generally come in 3 classes for most vehicles. Class I is 1.25" size hitch and has the lightest towing capability usually at 2000lbs. Class II is a slightly stronger 1.25" hitch that can having towing capability up to 3500lbs. Class III hitches are a 2" receiver size and can tow up to 8,000lbs. There are also Class IV and V hitches, but these are usually on larger construction vehicles. What class hitch you can use depends completely on the year, make, and model of your vehicle.

Sport trailers range in weight from about 150lbs to 250lbs. Even with a heavy load (800lbs max on heavier duty trailers), you are usually well below 2,000lbs, so even lighter duty class I hitches should be able to tow a trailer. Whats more important for towing is using the proper tongue extension and ball mount size. There are a few factors to consider before purchasing a trailer.

- First is the size of the ball. Ideally you want to always go with a 2" diameter ball mount. 1-7/8" can work, but there is sometimes a little more play in the coupling.

-Second is the distance from the ground to the top of the ball. Make sure to know this distance. It varies slightly between trailers from 14" up to 18". Knowing this distance will benefit you in order to buy the correct tongue and ball.

Having all this knowledge prior to getting a sports trailer will prove beneficial and make sure you are ready to hit the road with all your gear behind you.