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THE ACCESSORY DREAM GUIDE
•
Tongue capacity
should also be consid-
ered when mounting a hitch accessory
such as a bike rack. For example: a Thule
T2 Pro XT bike rack can carry up to 4 bikes
and weigh approx 70lbs. Add 4 bikes @
35lbs each, and the total weight being
put on the tongue of the hitch climbs to
over 200lbs.
RECEIVER HOLE DIAMETER
The receiver hole open-
ing can range in size
from 1.25”, 2”, or 2.5”.
•
The most common size
opening is 2” (Class 3
hitch).
•
Class 1 and 2 hitches typically have a
1.25” hole opening. If you are mounting
a bike rack to your hitch, we recommend
installing a hitch with a 2” hole opening
whenever possible. For example, many
mid-size SUV’s and minivans can be
fitted with a Class 1, 2 or 3 hitch….
we recommend installing the Class
3 with a 2” hole opening. This will
provide a more stable platform for
adding bike racks and other hitch
mounted accessories.
HITCH BALL AND MOUNT
If your hitch is being
used for towing a
trailer, you will need a
Hitch Ball and Mount.
•
Always match a
hitch ball with a weight rating equal to or
greater than the maximum capacity of
the hitch.
•
The height (or “drop”) of the mount must
ensure that the trailer is level when at-
RECEIVER HITCHES AND WIRING
Receiver hitches, also known as Trailer
or Bumper pull hitches are the most
common type of hitch installed on Cars,
Trucks, SUV’s, Jeeps, & Minivans. Receiver
hitches aren’t just for towing! They also give
you the flexibility to mount a bike rack,
off-road spare tire mount, storage boxes,
extended rack mounts and more.
Raven Truck Accessories and North Shore
Off-Road store locations are equipped to
provide you with professional installation
for all of your hitch needs, ensuring you get
on the road safely and securely.
Check out the some of the common hitch
related terms that will help you select the
hitch setup that will work best for your
needs:
TOWING & TONGUE WEIGHT CAPACITY
•
Receiver hitches are classed by weight
rating, from Class 1 through Class 5, with
the most popular being a Class 3.
•
The Towing Capacity
refers to the weight
of the trailer being towed.
Example: a trailer with a total loaded
weight of 5,000lbs, requires a hitch and
towing vehicle designed for a minimum
of 5,000lbs.
•
The Tongue Capacity
refers to how much
weight you can put on the hitch itself,
and is typically easily calculated as 10%
of the trailer weight. A 5,000lb trailer
typically has a tongue weight of 500lbs.
tached to the hitch on your vehicle.
•
The experts at Raven and North Shore Off-
road will help you select the Hitch Ball and
Mount that best matches your trailer to
your vehicle.
HITCH WIRING
If you plan on towing, you will need to
ensure the vehicle is equipped with the
necessary wiring to connect to your trailer.
•
The two most common types of trailer
wiring are “4-Way Flat” or “7-way Round”.
•
4-way Flat wiring is most common for
lightweight trailers without electric brakes
(Taillights / Right Turn Signal / Left Signal /
Ground).
•
7-way Round wiring is most com-
mon for trailers with electric brakes.
(Taillights / Right Turn Signal / Left Signal /
Ground /Axillary Back-up / Electric Brakes
/ 12volt power).
•
If your vehicle is already equipped with
7-way wiring, but the trailer is equipped
with a 4-way flat plug, we can supply you
with an adapter that easily plugs into the
7-way wiring hole.
Contact your nearest Raven Truck
Accessories or North Shore Off-road store,
and start enjoying the benefits of adding
a hitch and hitch accessories before your
next trip.
Written by Raven Managing Partner
Steve Hagopian