- Ball
- Ball height
- Ball mount
- Bolt-on hitch (permanent
undercar hitch)
- Brake controller
- Bumper
- Class 1 (Class I) hitch
- Class 2 (Class II) hitch
- Class 3
(Class III) hitch
- Class 4 (Class IV) hitch
- Converter
- Coupler
- Curb weight
- Custom hitch
- Drawbar
- Equalizer
- Fifth wheel hitch
- Gooseneck
- Gross combined vehicle weight
(GCVW)
- Gross trailer weight (GTW)
- Gross vehicle weight (GVW)
- Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)
- Hitch
- Hitch ball
- Hitch bar
- Hitch weight
- Insert
- Jackknife
- Locking pin
- Lunette eye
- OEM
- Payload
- Pin
- Pintle hitch
- Pintle hook
- Pintle mount
- Plug
- Receiver
- Receiver cover
- Receiver style
hitch
- Round tube hitch
- Safety chains
- Surge brake system
- Sway control device
- Tandem axle
- Tongue
- Tongue weight
- Tow bar
- Transmission cooler
- Weight carrying
hitch
- Weight
distribution system
See
Hitch Ball.
Measurement from the ground to the center of the hitch
ball or hitch ball coupling (trailer) when parked on a flat surface and parallel
to the ground. Used to determine the amount of drop or rise needed in the ball
mount to make the trailer ride parallel to the ground when being towed.
A removable hitch ball platform that slides into the
Receiver
of a hitch and fastens with a pin and clip. Different ball mounts can be used
to raise or lower the height of the ball to allow for level trailer towing.
A device which attaches directly to the
tow vehicle
providing the connection between the tow vehicle and the trailer. A fixed
tongue hitch includes the ball platform, while a
receiver style hitch has a
receptacle (typically 1-1/4" or 2") for inserting special
ball mounts or bike racks.
Interface between tow vehicle and electric trailer
brakes. Can be inertia activated or based on time delay from activation of
vehicle brakes. Typically in the tow vehicle's driving compartment with
electrical line running to the trailer wiring connector. Most require the user
to adjust brake gain to compensate for varying trailer load. Necessary for the
use of electric trailer brakes.
The parts on a vehicle that protect the front and rear
ends in the event of an accident. Some trucks and SUVs have a tow bumper (or
step bumper) for attaching a hitch ball for towing.
Trailer hitch with capacity of up to 2,000 lbs gross
trailer weight and 200 lbs tongue weight.
Trailer hitch with weight-carrying rating of up to
3,500 lbs gross trailer weight and 300/350 lbs tongue weight.
Trailer hitch with weight carrying rating of up to
5,000 lbs gross trailer weight and 500 lbs tongue weight. Also sometimes used to
refer to a hitch with any 2" receiver, regardless of rating.
Trailer hitch with weight carrying rating of up to
10,000 lbs gross trailer weight and 1,000 - 1,200 lbs tongue weight. Although
many times any hitch with a capacity greater than 5,000 lbs gross weight is
referred to as a Class 4.
Converts 3-wire tow vehicle electrical systems to
2-wire systems by integrating the stop and turn signal circuits as is common in
trailer wiring.
The forward most part of a trailer
Tongue that envelopes and secures to the tow vehicle
hitch ball.
The empty weight of a vehicle full of fuel and all
fluids. Curb weight does not include passengers or payload.
A hitch that is designed for a particular year, make
and model of vehicle. Because these hitches are made for a specific vehicle, the
best possible appearance can be achieved.
Also see: hitch,
permanent undercar hitch,
receiver style hitch,
and round tube hitch.
A removable coupling platform that slides into a hitch
receiver
and fastens with a pin
and clip, or the "tongue" portion of a fixed-tongue hitch. The term drawbar is
sometimes used to distinguish a ball mount with a solid ball shank or a coupling
configuration different than a hitch ball (such as a
pintle hook).
Also see: Ball Mount
See
weight distribution
system.
A Class 5 hitch that mounts in the bed of pickup truck
which uses a plate in the bed of the truck (similar to a semi-tractor) and a
Pin
on the trailer.
A Class 5 hitch that mounts a
ball in the bed of a pickup truck (either 2-5/16" or
3" in diameter) to engage a coupler
on a trailer. Not to be confused with a
fifth wheel.
Total combined weight of the two coupled vehicles,
including all passengers and payload.
The total weight of a trailer including all of its
contents.
The total weight of a vehicle including all of its
contents and passengers.
The weight specified by a manufacturer as the
recommended maximum weight of a vehicle when fully loaded.
A device which attaches directly to a tow vehicle
providing the connection between the tow vehicle and the trailer. Hitch
installations are most often considered permanent. A fixed tongue hitch includes
a flat non-removable drawbar,
while a receiver style hitch
has a receptacle (typically 1-1/4" or 2") for inserting special
ball mounts or bike racks.
Also see: custom hitch,
permanent undercar hitch,
receiver style hitch, and
round tube hitch.
The ball-shaped attachment to a hitch onto which a
trailer coupler is attached.
See
ball mount or
drawbar
See Tongue Weight
Any item that slides into a
receiver style hitch
(i.e. ball mount, bike
rack, winch).
A hitch pin that locks with a key to prevent theft of a
ball mount or other insert.
A round metal ring used in place of a ball coupler on a
trailer. It attaches to a
pintle hook on the
towing vehicle.
Original equipment manufacturer.
Used to fasten any insert (ball
mount, bike rack) into a receiver hitch. Available in
standard and locking configurations.
A common heavy-duty coupling type which utilizes a
pintle hook attached to
a tow vehicle to pull a trailer having a lunette
eye. Pintle hitches are commonly used on military,
construction, industrial and agricultural equipment.
The "jaw" portion of a
pintle hitch which attaches to
the tow vehicle.
An insert for a receiver hitch, having a shank with a
flat plate to bolt a pintlehook
to. These mounts are typically adjustable for vertical height.
The connector used to connect trailer wiring to a tow
vehicle.
The receptacle part of a trailer hitch which
accommodates inserts such as ball mounts,
drawbars or accessory
carriers. Common receiver sizes are 1-1/4" and 2".
A temporary receiver end-cap insertable into a 1-1/4"
or 2" hitch receiver. Designed to protect from the elements. Also used to mask
or enhance the look of the hitch when not in use.
Any hitch with a receptacle (typically 1-1/4" or 2")
which accommodates inserts such as drawbars,
ball mounts, or bike
racks.
Also see: custom hitch,
bolt-on hitch
, hitch,
and round tube hitch.
A new generation of
custom hitches designed to produce a more pleasing
visual appearance. The use of round tubing lowers the weight of the hitch while
maintaining its strength. These hitches are designed to compliment the look of
the vehicles for which they are made.
The chains that are attached to the trailer
Tongue with hooks on their free ends. These chains keep
the trailer connected to the tow
vehicle should the
coupler
or hitch ball detach from
the tow vehicle. Safety chains must be secured every time you tow.
A surge brake system is entirely self-contained on the
trailer and is activated when the tow vehicle decelerates. The momentum of the
trailer pushes the surge brake housing forward. This drives the push rod that is
connected to the coupler into the master cylinder. Brake fluid is then forced
out of the master cylinder into the wheel cylinders or pistons that apply the
trailer brakes. The entire activation process is completed in less than one
second. Hydraulic surge brake systems can be used by a variety of tow vehicles
and can accommodate a variety of trailer loading conditions without requiring
any type of adjustment.
A device similar to a shock absorber which resists
swaying movement of a trailer tongue sometimes caused by passing vehicles and
wind.
Two axles (four wheels).
The part of the trailer which extends forward from the
trailer box and includes the coupler.
The downward weight applied by the towable equipment on
the hitch ball. Generally
tongue weight should not be more than 10% of the gross trailer weight.
Also see: weight distribution
system.
A device attached to the front of a vehicle which
allows it to be towed by another vehicle while riding on its own wheels.
The vehicle that pulls a trailer or towed vehicle.
An auxiliary cooler that is available to provide extra
cooling for automatic transmission fluid. Lower temperatures equal longer
transmission life.
Any hitch used without a weight-distributing system.
Some hitches are designed and clearly marked "weight carrying only". Some
hitches are weight carrying with weight distributing ability and will have a
dual rating – "weight carrying (WC) 5000 / weight distributing (WD) 10,000", for
example. To use a hitch at the higher rating (WD), a
weight distribution system
must be added.
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