The Hitch Assembly
The hitch assembly includes the receiver Hitch, Ball Mount and Ball. All must be correctly sized for the towing application.
The receiver hitch is usually bolted directly to the tow vehicle frame using existing holes.
For some lighter duty applications the receiver hitch may be bolted to (an adequate) bumper.
Four classes of receiver hitches are defined as shown in the chart on the right.
The Ball Mount is a square steel bar that slides into a correctly sized square hold in the receiver.
A heavy pin is inserted through a hole in both parts holding them together. The Ball Mount may have a rise or drop to match the height of the trailer hitch (with trailer level).
The Ball has a threaded shank that is fitted to the Ball Mount with a nut and lock washer. The shank must be matched to the mount to ensure
diameter and length are adequate. The diameter of the Ball must be matched to the trailer hitch. The required size is stamped into the trailer hitch. The size is often stamped into the top of the ball as well.
