We all need a way to get our lawn mower, hedge trimmer, and other yard equipment to the back of our cars. However, most of us don’t have a large garage or an industrial shed where we can store these things. Instead, we end up parking our small cars in narrow parking spaces and drive trailers to get everything inside. This is where a trailer hitch comes in handy. Welding trailer hitch to frame and allow you to tow other objects or trailers behind your car. They are common on sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and smaller cars but can also be found on trucks from various manufacturers such as Ford and Chevy.
There are many types of trailer hitches available today but most of them function in the same manner: they connect two brackets that are located on either side of your vehicle’s frame with a bolt passing through them at right angles to one another.
What is a trailer hitch?
Trailer hitches are basically mounting brackets that allow you to tow other objects or trailers behind your car. Traditionally, they are attached to the car’s frame with a few bolts or welds and are attached to the trailer with a simple drawbar. However, today most hitches are attached to the car’s body with a few brackets and can be locked or disconnected from the car’s frame with a few buttons on the dashboard. A trailer hitch is pretty much like a boat trailer. Unlike boat trailers, a car trailer is not meant to transport people and is generally used to transport large objects like lawn mowers, tractors, trailers, and more.
Type of Welding Trailer Hitch to Frame
Drawbar trailer hitch – The most basic trailer hitch. It uses a drawbar that is connected to the trailer’s frame. There is no mechanism for holding the drawbar in place and the trailer can be unhitched just by unhooking the hitch from the trailer’s frame. Drawbar hitches are generally used for towing trailers that have a low profile and are not meant to transport people.
Sling-type trailer hitch – The design of the sling-type trailer hitch makes it easier to tow a heavier trailer. This hitch connects to the car’s frame using a ball and socket joint that is tightened with a nut. While the trailer can still be unhitched, the mechanism can be used to connect the hitch to the trailer’s frame.
Tongue trailer hitch – The tongue trailer hitch is designed to prevent the trailer from swaying while towing. It has a heavy steel tongue that connects the car’s hitch to the trailer’s frame.
Electric trailer hitch – The electric trailer hitch is a more advanced design that allows for wireless integration with modern vehicles. It uses a custom receiver that is plugged into the vehicle’s 12-volt power socket and is connected to the vehicle’s wireless system.
How to attach a trailer hitch
Most trailer hitches come with a step-by-step guide on how to assemble and connect them to your vehicle’s frame. If your trailer hitch is relatively easy to install, you can find step-by-step instructions on YouTube or other DIY resources. However, some more advanced hitch designs can be a bit more complicated to install and require professional help. Depending on the hitch type you choose, you might need to detach your car’s bumper, remove brackets, and reposition your car’s exhaust pipe or other components.
When choosing a trailer hitch, pay attention to the weight capacity of the hitch and check the maximum weight the hitch can support. Also, check the maximum length of the object or trailer you plan to tow with the hitch and the width of the object. Make sure that the trailer you want to tow with your trailer hitch will fit. If it will not, you might have to make some changes to the trailer and its hitch to fit them together.
Pros and cons of trailer hitches
Pros – Increased cargo capacity, ability to tow heavier objects, and ease of towing.
Cons – Increased risk of damage to your car due to increased weight.
Summary
Trailer hitches are great for hauling a variety of objects or trailers behind your car. However, they are more risky to use given their increased weight and risk of damage to your car. Make sure to choose a trailer hitch that can support the weight of the trailer you want to tow, choose a hitch of the right weight capacity, and follow all instructions and warnings on the hitch.
