1. A flat tongue towbar is a simpler design best suited for towing lighter loads. The curved ‘drop tongue’ includes a tow ball hole, offering space for a detachable tow ball. The other side of this design features a square metal tube known as the ‘shank’, which enables this design to connect to a hitch which in most cases, is built into the underside of your vehicle.
Tow Hitches, Bars and Towing Weights
May 26, 2022
Getting to grips with towing lingo and weights
The terms tow hitches, trailer hitches and towbars are often used interchangeably. This can be especially confusing to those starting out in the world of towing and not sure what they should be installing on their vehicle.
Towing hitches also look a little different whether you’re in the States or elsewhere in the world. In the States we refer to tow hitches and trailer hitches as a name for the same thing, but generally they fit into the larger tow bar category.
Types of Tow Bars
Towbars come in a variety of shapes and sizes. There are four popular designs that together cater for the vast majority of use cases and environments.
2. A horizontal hitch towbar is a more heavy-duty design suitable for towing larger loads. These are generally a multi-piece setup, and include a horizontal frame that mounts to the underside of the car. The horizontal frame section is often designed to specifically fit the factory mounting points on your car, so be sure to purchase a version tailored to your vehicle.
The frame section incorporates either a square 1.5 inch or 2 inch receiver hitch, with the 2 inch version offering greater towing capacity. Additionally, a separate ball mount that connects to the receiver hitch is also included, facilitating use of a tow ball.
3. A rear step towbar might be a great option if you’re looking to tow in rough terrain or off-road. These designs protrude from the rear of the vehicle, offering a form of sacrificial protection for the rear bumper.
4. A ‘swan/goose neck’ towbar which is a popular fitting on many European cars. This design is permanently attached to the vehicle, and consists of a vertical, upward sloping tube much like the neck of a swan/goose.
Tow hitches
Towbars need another mechanism to connect to a trailer or other vehicle, and this is typically known as a hitch.
A tow or trailer hitch is the primary connector between a tow vehicle and trailer. It is the structural component that bolts onto the vehicle and provides a coupling point to hook up a trailer.
Towing Classes and Weights
Apart from the towbar design, an important consideration is the maximum weight it can tow. This capacity must exceed or match the vehicle’s braked or unbraked towing capacity in order to maximise towing ability. Today, towbars fall into three distinct classes.
Class 2, also known as light-duty towbars, are rated to a maximum of 2,000 lbs and are therefore suitable to tow lighter items such as a small trailer. Most flat tongue towbars fall into this category. Typically used with cars, crossovers and minivans.
Class 3, or medium-duty, towbars are rated to tow up to 8,000 lbs, suitable for medium sized trailers. Entry level horizontal hitch towbars would fall into the Class 3 category. Typically used with crossovers, vans, SUVs and trucks.
Class 4 category, or heavy-duty towbars are rated to tow up to 10,000 lbs, suitable for a large caravan. Stronger horizontal hitch or rear step towbars are likely to be categorised within this class. Typically used with trucks and SUVs.
Speak to us at Smitty’s RV and Welding if you have any questions about your towing capacity or which tow bars or hitches to install. We specialise in tow hitch installations and custom hitch installations for all types of vehicles and RVs.
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