Whether you’re planning to tow a trailer across the country or just want to mount a bike carrier on your car, you’re going to need a hitch. There is a wide variety of options out there, and finding the perfect one for you can be challenging—but the trailer repair experts at Haskins Hitchen Post are here to help. Based in Cincinnati, OH, these professionals sell and install top-quality trailer hitches so you can get on your way.

When choosing hitches, it’s important to consider the type of vehicle you drive and the load you plan to haul. Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual to determine the Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), which refers to the total mass of your trailer, and the Tongue Weight (TW), or total weight that will be resting on your hitch. There are five different weight classes and guidelines to help you haul trailers or other cargo safely. 

When setting up hitches on your car or truck, consider these three things:

• Hitch Height: When hooked up properly, your tow hitch and the load you’re hauling should be straight and level. Hitches should remain the same height and not dip in the front or back. The trailer itself should also remain even with the ground.
• Adjustments: Before attaching a hitch, measure the front and back of your tow rig, noting the height. Attach the spring bars, and measure again. The measurements will change, but both the front and back end of the tow rig should have settled evenly. The spring bars should be tight enough to distribute a similar amount of weight between the hitch and the front wheel of the tow rig. Here’s a good rule of thumb: when driving over a bump or rough ground, if the load feels stable in front but loose in the back, the spring bars are too loose. If the back end feels stiff, the spring bars are too tight. Adjust accordingly. 
• Tilt: All hitches have some type of head tilt adjustment. Once the spring bars are set up and properly adjusted, you can check the amount of tilt in your hitch and adjust it in small increments.