Trailer hitch rating??

How do I determine the rating of the trailer hitch that's on my wagon? I did an online search, found plenty of explanations but, no real pics and that's what is confusing me.

Supposedly, the original own of my car had this one installed by the dealer. Its completely bolted in. I've pulled small trailers a few times, but, never anything 'big' because I don't know its rating.

This is the only pic I have. It has four bolts. The two closest to the bumper go thru the frame and into the car. It doesn't have a Reese style receiver, and the 'tongue' also mounts to the bottom two holes of the license plate mount (does this make sense?)

Anyone?



John

 

Hmmmm.....have I posted this in the wrong spot, or have I stumped the masses?

 

Not stumped at all. The question has some up a lot. Probably 4 or 5 long searchable threads.

Anyway, this should help.
http://www.reeseprod.com/content/default.aspx

 

I must be doing something wrong with the 'search' feature because I'm coming up empty in terms of posts regarding ratings.

:confused:

Thanks.

 

I just did it from the main page (our site, not Reese's) and typed in Reese. Got 16 hits including yours. Some really good info and I think even a calculator and some Factory recommendations.

My Fairmont Squire has a 5,000 lb hitch on it, and I've hauled 3,000 lbs of gravel with it. We moved from Mexico, with a utility trailer (double decker - 6 ft cargo height) with 3,100 lbs, at 60 MPH to Canada. 2,600 miles. Hot, August weather). The car weighs 2,800 lbs. Totally illegal, I know, but the way we had it loaded, on a steel trailer, nobody stopped us. It didn't look heavy, just big.

 

The typical minimum hitch rating is class 1 which is 2000 lb trailer with 200lb tongue weight. I would bet money that your hitch is a class 1.

 

Mine? I actually bought it Mexico. Reese hitch for a Lincoln Versailles. I got the wimpy, dinky one in Canada, on a business trip and saw that one down there on sale for like 500 pesos (clearance by the guy who built our trailer). I ran at around 300 on the hitch, with heavier duty rear springs and those spring blocks (rubber ones) for about 100 miles, and pulled them out and put the metal ones in. What a difference. No bouncing, no wind effects, just straight and true.

 

No, this isn't storminnorman.com , I was answering the original posters question.

 

I like that thought, but sorry I cut into this dance.

 

Probably a class 2. Most are stamped on the draw bar.

 

Thanks for the replies guys.

The rating should be stamped on it? I'm going to have to take a closer look.

The trailer in my sig pic is the heaviest I've towed with it.

 

Any hitch with flat bars like that will be a Class 1, MAYBE Class 2 at best. As noted, the load rating should be stamped somewhere on the hitch.