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Pick a trailer hitch by matching your vehicle’s tow rating, the trailer’s loaded weight, and the receiver size your accessories need.
For the full breakdown, see our best Universal Trailer Hitch guide.
Here’s how to choose the right trailer hitch for your vehicle without guessing: start with the tow rating in your owner’s manual, then match the hitch to the trailer’s loaded weight and tongue weight. A hitch that bolts up but is rated too low for the load is just as dangerous as no hitch at all.
The three numbers that decide everything are the vehicle’s maximum tow rating, the trailer’s gross weight when loaded, and the tongue weight it puts on the hitch. Once those are known, picking a class and receiver size is straightforward.
Start With Your Vehicle’s Tow Rating
Your vehicle’s tow rating is the ceiling, so it comes before any hitch shopping. The hitch also has its own ceiling, and both must clear the trailer’s loaded weight.
Look up your vehicle by year, make, model, and sub-model or trim in the owner’s manual or a manufacturer fit guide. The same model can have different tow ratings based on engine, cab, drivetrain, and towing package, so the trim matters more than most buyers think. If the manual does not