TS-Derek Site Admin
Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 115
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Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 2:53 pm Post subject: Truck Hitches - Power and Versatility |
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Truck Hitches - Power and Versatility
When people think about towing something, their minds naturally turn to the truck. They are more powerful and are able to tow objects much heavier than a car or motorcycle, making them the obvious choice.
In fact, many trucks come with a standard ball hitch. If you plan on doing some towing with your truck, it might be a good idea to consider buying a truck that comes pre-equipped with a ball hitch. This way you know that it will be installed properly and that the hitch, which is mounted, won�t exceed the maximum towing capacity of the vehicle.
There are a few other options for people who are planning on towing something heavier than a ball hitch can handle.
The gooseneck hitch is one of these. You need a pickup truck or a flatbed to install gooseneck hitches, but they can haul significantly more weight than a ball hitch. You install a frame into the bed of the pickup truck and hook the trailer up to this.
The good thing about a gooseneck hitch is that it allows you a better turning radius. The bad thing is that it takes up space in your truck bed and can be more difficult to install than a ball hitch.
Then there is the fifth wheel hitch. This bad boy can haul the most weight of any of the truck hitches available on the market today. It too gets installed within the bed of the truck, and resembles the hookup found on eighteen wheel rigs.
Fifth wheel trailer hitches can handle upwards of twenty five thousand pounds. Just like the gooseneck hitch, the fifth wheel allows the driver to make turns easier. It is also more difficult to install, and the buyer may want to consider getting a professional to install it for them, just to be safe.
The fifth wheel hitch also takes up a lot of room, but thankfully manufacturers have designed ways of getting around this problem. You can buy cases that can hold tools and other things that sit behind the cab. Because you will have to take the tailgate off in order to haul anything, they also make things called an air gate. These devices will allow the trailer to hitch while at the same time allow you to have some sort of tailgate.
You can also buy receiver hitches for your truck. The receiver hitch isn�t meant to haul extremely heavy objects, but they can be handy none the less.
With a receiver hitch, you will be able to change the ball hitch on your truck. You can also use it to hook up some accessories, such as a bike rack or cooler. Campers will enjoy the luxury that the receiver hitch affords, that�s for sure.
The receiver hitch takes up very little room, and can �receive� many different types of balls and accessories, making it one of the most useful hitches around.
No matter which hitch you choose for your truck, you should never haul more weight than your truck can handle. The owner�s manual will tell you the maximum weight that your truck can handle, and you should never exceed this limit.
You should also make sure that you read the instructions carefully, if you are installing your hitch by yourself. It is important that you install your truck hitch properly.
When using truck hitches (especially the fifth wheel or gooseneck) you might find that it is more difficult than you imagined. It may be wise to take it out for a practice run first, before trying to haul a heavy load.
Enjoy your truck hitch, and good luck with choosing the right one to fit your needs.
About the Author
Scott Gray is a trailer hitch specialist and provides useful information and money saving tips about trailer hitches and related information. Visit the web site at http://www.trailer-hitches-4u.com/ or see more trailers at http://www.trailershopper.com |
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