Hitch Mounts

Hitch mounts help connect your truck or SUV to a trailer, whether you’re hauling feed to the farm, taking equipment to a jobsite or pulling a utility trailer into town. Choosing a trailer hitch ball mount starts with checking your vehicle’s receiver opening, the mount’s shank size and the towing requirements for your loaded trailer. These measurements need to match the equipment manufacturer’s specifications for a proper fit. The hitch ball diameter must also match the trailer coupler, while the ball’s shank diameter and length must fit the ball mount’s mounting hole and platform. Check both gross trailer weight and tongue weight ratings before making your choice, and keep the entire towing setup within the lowest-rated component’s capacity and your vehicle’s limits. Looking at receiver hitch compatibility, ball mount dimensions and weight ratings together helps you narrow down hitch mounts that fit the hauling work ahead. Getting the right rise or drop is another important part of choosing a hitch mount, especially if your truck’s receiver and trailer coupler sit at different heights. A drop hitch ball mount lowers the hitch ball, while a rise configuration raises it, helping the trailer ride level as directed by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer’s measuring instructions on level ground, accounting for the hitch ball height and the vehicle’s loaded stance. If you tow different trailers, an adjustable hitch mount may offer more flexibility, but each position and configuration must stay within its stated ratings. Before heading down the road, make sure the mount is secured with the specified hitch pin and retaining clip or compatible locking pin, the coupler is latched and the safety chains are attached correctly. Check trailer lights, brake connections where applicable and clearance through turns, too. A few careful checks help keep your trailer hitch setup ready for the road between the barn, the back forty and wherever the next load needs to go.