Towing requires much more equipment than simply a platform to put things on. If you're wondering what kind of equipment will be necessary to get an upcoming towing job done, you should familiarize yourself with the necessary supplies and hardware.
Your towing service provider (such as Glen's Towing & Road Service) will need to have quality equipment including all of the following for most customer towing needs. Asking about the equipment specifications available to towing service providers will help you evaluate if that towing service is adequately equipped to get your job done right.
The hitch receiver
The hitch receiver on the trailer will be placed beneath the frame of the towing vehicle. It will hold the ball mount that will allow the trailer to connect to the towing vehicle.
Trailer hitch receivers are given different "class" ratings depending on what size load they can handle. These class ratings range from Class I to Class V. A Class I will tow loads up to 2,000 pounds and a Class V receiver will tow loads up to 20,000 pounds. It's important to note that this maximum weight is the combined weight of both the trailer and the load, not merely the load by itself.
The ball mount
Different ball mounts accommodate different hitch ball and receiver setups. The ball mount fits in to the hitch and serves as a platform on which the hitch ball can be placed. The ball mount is sometimes also referred to as the "drawbar".
The trailer hitch ball
Like the trailer hitch receiver, the trailer hitch ball must also be matched up to the necessary weight capacity for a given load being towed. The trailer hitch ball will help link the trailer with the towing vehicle by connecting with locks and coupler mounts.
Harness for wiring
A harness is necessary to hold up the wiring that connects indication lights on the trailer with those of the towing vehicle.
For the sake of safety, an effective wiring harness is important. This harness makes it easy for other drivers out on the road to see direction signals given off by a vehicle towing a trailer.
Pin and clip setup
The pin and clip setup ensures that the ball mount will not be able to come out of the hitch receiver. Those interested in making their towed load extra safe can also add a hitch lock to the setup that prevents a thief from stealing an unattended load by detaching it from the towing vehicle and towing it away with another vehicle.
Safety equipment
In a trailer setup, safety is maximized by the inclusion of a set of safety chains. These chains serve as an extra precaution that prevents the trailer and the towing vehicle from detaching from one another during the trip.
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