Car, Truck, SUV, & CUV Hitches in Rochester, NY
The next time you need to haul something off, don’t be so quick to contact a tow truck company or rent a vehicle. Were you aware that small cars can tow as much as 2,000 pounds while trucks, SUVs, and CUVs can tow about 10,000 pounds? Essentially, you can tow your own boat, four-wheelers, pop-up campers, mobility chairs, and more by yourself. All you need is the right hitch.
For those who are unaware, a hitch is a bolt-in car accessory that can be installed and used to tow items like trailers, bikes, snowboards, campers, toy haulers, cars, equipment haulers, and more. Choosing the right hitch is imperative to you and your vehicle’s safety. Once you know your vehicle’s towing capacity, buying the right hitch should be simple.
Choosing the Right Hitch for Your Vehicle
When purchasing a hitch for your car, truck, SUV, or CUV, choose one that is durable, but also that does not exceed the towing capacity of your vehicle. Each hitch is categorized by class based on the opening size of the receiver and the max weight capacity.
Class I
This is the lowest capacity hitch. It has a 1 ¼” x 1 ¼” opening and a maximum capacity of 2,000 pounds.
- Best for: compact cars, minivans, SUVs, midsize cars, and full-size cars
- Uses: towing kayaks, bikes, canoes, mobility scooters, small trailers
Class II
This hitch class also has a 1 ¼” x 1 ¼” opening. However, they have a maximum weight capacity of 3,500 pounds.
- Best for: Midsize cars, full-size cars, minivans, SUVs, and CUVs
- Uses: small boats, small to medium trailers, kayaks, canoes, and pop-up campers
Class III
The Class III auto hitches have a receiver opening of 2” x 2” and a maximum weight capacity of 8,000 pounds.
- Best for: Sedan, SUV, CUV, trucks, and heavy-duty trucks
- Uses: midsized campers, lawn equipment, snowmobiles, utility trailers, and motorcycles
Class IV
This hitch class also has a 2″ x 2″ receiver opening but has a maximum weight capacity of 12,000 pounds.
- Best for: Large SUVs, CUVs, trucks, and heavy-duty trucks
- Uses: large boats, large trailers, large campers, and toy haulers
Class V
Lastly, class v has a receiver opening of 2 ½” x 2 ½” and a maximum weight capacity of 20,000 pounds.
- Best for: Heavy-duty trucks, commercial trucks
- Uses: equipment haulers, multi-car transport, large toy haulers
The class of auto hitch you choose will greatly depend upon the type of car you have, how much weight the vehicle can pull, and your purpose for using a hitch in the first place. So, a person who owns a small car and simply wants to haul their bike would purchase a Class I hitch while a family who has a large SUV that enjoys camping would likely get a Class IV hitch.
Looking for the best hitch for your car, truck, minivan, SUV, or CUV, check out our inventory and choose a hitch that works best for you.