Hitch With Ball Mount

A hitch with ball mount helps connect your truck or SUV to a trailer so you can haul feed, fencing supplies or equipment where it needs to go. Getting the right trailer hitch setup starts with checking your vehicle’s tow rating, receiver size and the trailer’s loaded weight and tongue weight. The ball mount shank must fit the hitch receiver, and the hitch ball diameter must match the size stamped on the trailer coupler. Common trailer ball sizes include 1-7/8 inches, 2 inches and 2-5/16 inches, but size alone doesn’t tell you how much a ball can tow. Check the weight ratings for the receiver hitch, ball mount and hitch ball, along with your vehicle’s towing limits. Your towing setup is limited by its lowest-rated component, so a higher-capacity ball mount won’t increase what your truck can safely pull. Also, check what’s included before choosing a hitch with ball mount, since the hitch ball, hitch pin and retaining clip may be separate items. Choosing the right ball mount rise or drop helps keep your trailer level for the trip from the barn to the back forty or down the highway. With your vehicle and trailer on level ground and loaded for travel, measure from the ground to the top of the receiver opening, then compare that with the height from the ground to the bottom of the coupler while the trailer is level. The difference gives you a starting point for the rise or drop your trailer ball mount needs; confirm the final setup using the vehicle, trailer and hitch manufacturers’ instructions. A fixed ball mount provides a set height, while an adjustable ball mount offers different height settings for compatible trailers. Before heading out, secure the ball mount with the specified hitch pin or locking hitch pin, tighten the hitch ball to its specified torque and make sure the coupler is fully seated and latched. Cross the safety chains beneath the coupler, connect and test the trailer lights, and check trailer brakes and the breakaway system where equipped. A careful fit check helps keep your towing chores on track.