Whether you’re using a hitch or ball mount, all towing equipment comes with a “trailer weight rating”. The weight rating is the limit at which you can safely tow cargo. For example, a limit of 2000lbs means that you should not tow cargo above that weight without swapping out your hitch. As most towing enthusiasts are aware of, towing cargo that is too heavy for your tow vehicle will lead to an improper distribution of weight and hinder proper handling of your vehicle. This begs the question, what about the opposite? What should you do when your towing vehicle weighs more than the item being towed?

Why is it Common to Tow with a Trailer Hitch

Although most vehicles have a ball mount to easily tow cargo, plenty of people choose to invest in a trailer hitch. The reason why is because of the weight distribution properties of high quality equipment like the Equal-i-zer hitch.

If a load is too heavy, the tongue weight will be put too much pressure on the rear of the vehicle. This leads to “rear-sagging”, causing poor handling for the tow vehicle. Alternatively, if the load is too light, then the lack of weight on the trailer tongue may lead to swaying. A high quality trailer hitch ensures the best weight distribution possible in order to avoid either outcome.

Do I need a Trailer Hitch for Light Cargo?

No, you only need a ball mount for light cargo towing. This includes anything from bicycles to jet-skis. As long as you have a ball mount for the coupler, towing will be a smooth and easy process.

Using equipment like the Equal-i-zer hitch would be excessive and unnecessary for small towing like this. In fact, using a hitch can actually be detrimental because it would increase the distance between your bikes and towing vehicle. Its much safer and more compact to simply mount them to the back of your vehicle.

If your truck is noticeably heavier than your trailer, you’ll be safe just using a standard ball mount. Generally speaking, the heavier the item, the more likely you should use a trailer hitch. This is because heavy objects lead to excess pressure on the trailer tongue, which can cause poor handling for the towing vehicle. When you need a high quality ball mount to get the job done, trust the award winning towing equipment from Equal-i-zer Trailer Products today!