Tech Spotlight: Hitches

You’d be forgiven if “hitch” wasn’t the first thing you thought about when choosing a towable. But, as you barrel down the road with your home-on-wheels, your hitch can, literally, make or break you. Most towables come with factory-installed hitches, but many RVers install aftermarket upgrades. To learn more, we reached out to J.D. from Big Truck Big RV, who runs a YouTube channel devoted to all things recreational and vehicular.

Photo Credit: B&W

Fifth-Wheels

“Ultimately, the hitch decision comes down to what you’re trying to accomplish,” says J.D. (The creator doesn’t use his last name for publication.) “Traditionally, fifth-wheel kingpin hitches are the most common. When you want something more convenient or flexible, the gooseball comes into play.”

“Kingpin” hitches (sometimes called companion hitches) are similar to those on 18-wheelers. A heavy frame—the coupling device—bolts into the truck bed, while the trailer features a large steel pin that slides and locks into place. They leave little room for truck-bed storage. One of the best traditional kingpins is B&W’s Companion 5th Wheel Hitch RVK3500. The CURT Helux Pinbox, using a trademarked coil spring design, significantly reduces the force applied to a vehicle’s frame.

Gooseneck hitches use a ball receiver installed directly into the truck bed, and bolt to the frame below. The trailer then uses an adapter to attach to that ball—creating a lower connection point for heavier towing. Gooseneck hitches can add strain to your trailer’s frame, so research first. The Reese Goose Box is one of the only versions approved by Lippert, the largest manufacturer of fifth-wheel chassis in the country.

Photo Credit: Blue Ox

Travel Trailers

Travel trailers attach to tow vehicles via more traditional bumper hitches. Because they can be heavy, specialized connection points are necessary to help drivers prevent sway. Among the most popular options is the SwayPro from Blue Ox, which comes in various models and evenly distributes weight over the axles of the tow vehicle and trailer. Weigh Safe also offers models with built-in scales to measure the tongue weight on the hitch.

This article originally appeared in Wildsam magazine. For more Wildsam content, sign up for our newsletter.

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Source: https://www.rv.com/gear-accessories/tech-spotlight-hitches/