Tow Hitch Set up Suggestions & Prices

BEFORE YOU CAN TOW A CAMPER off the lot, you want extra than simply the thrill of RV possession—you want the proper tools. A correctly put in tow hitch is crucial for security and compatibility. Relying on what your car already has, your setup may very well be so simple as including a ball mount or as advanced as putting in a full towing bundle. So let’s discover the finer factors of equipping your car with the proper tow hitch set up, together with the place to get a tow hitch put in close to you!

Key Takeaways

• Skilled set up is commonly really helpful for tow hitches, particularly for weight distribution and fifth wheel hitches, attributable to particular torque and security necessities that will exceed DIY capabilities.
• The best hitch setup is dependent upon your RV kind. Journey trailers use a ball mount and hitch receiver, whereas fifth wheels require a bed-mounted fifth wheel hitch; appropriate element compatibility is essential.
• Set up prices differ by hitch class, starting from $150 to over $1,800. Extra advanced setups (like fifth wheel or gooseneck hitches) require increased labor and materials prices.

Does Putting in a Tow Hitch Require Skilled Help?

For journey trailers, your tow hitch set up may very well be so simple as deciding on a hitch mount and ball within the correct weight class. Then, safe it into your tow car’s hitch receiver. Nonetheless, utilizing a weight distribution hitch with sway management is strongly really helpful in case your trailer’s loaded weight is greater than half of your tow car’s curb weight. 

In case you’re new to RVing, an authorized RV technician ought to arrange and modify a weight distribution hitch to satisfy the required specs. In case your tow car wants a tow hitch receiver earlier than you possibly can tow, an authorized technician also needs to full that set up.

You have to additionally meet the right torque specs when putting in a hitch ball right into a mount. Some mounts include the ball pre-installed and torqued by the producer, however this isn’t at all times true. Except you personal a ¾” or 1” drive torque wrench and the right socket to your hitch ball measurement, it’s greatest to belief this set up to knowledgeable.

Which Parts Do I Want?

Deciding on the proper tow hitch elements is dependent upon whether or not you’ll tow a fifth wheel or a journey trailer. Fifth wheels require a fifth wheel hitch that sits within the mattress of a truck. In the meantime, journey trailers (and vacation spot trailers) are greatest towed utilizing a mount and ball put in right into a hitch receiver. That receiver have to be bolted or welded to the tow car’s body.

Begin by selecting the hitch kind and elements for the RV kind you plan to tow: 

How To Set up a Tow Hitch

As a result of this course of differs relying on the precise tow hitch elements you want to set up, we’ll cowl the fundamentals for 4 frequent purposes: 

• Including a ball and mount to a receiver
• Putting in a hitch receiver
• Establishing a weight distribution hitch
• Including a fifth wheel hitch to your truck mattress

Securing a Hitch Mount (and Ball) to a Receiver

Begin by ensuring your hitch mount and ball are appropriate along with your trailer and car. Measure the hitch receiver tube to pick out a hitch mount that matches its dimensions. In case you select a mount with a hitch ball pre-installed, you save a step, so long as the hitch ball is the proper measurement for the trailer you plan to tug. In case you’re shopping for the hitch mount and ball individually, make sure the hitch ball dimensions match the mount and your trailer coupler.

Nonetheless you get right here—shopping for a hitch mount with a pre-installed ball vs buying separate elements and placing them collectively to spec—these are your subsequent steps: 

1. Insert the ball mount into the receiver tube. 
2. Make sure the hitch ball is going through up. 
3. Securing the pin and clip to maintain the mount in place.

It’s that straightforward, however it is best to take into account upgrading the usual pin that comes with most hitch mounts to a locking hitch mount pin for added RV safety. 

Putting in a Tow Hitch Receiver

Photos by CURT

The most typical hitch receivers for trailer towing are bolted or welded to the tow car’s body. Weld-on purposes have to be accomplished by knowledgeable installer, except you could have appreciable welding experience. Bolt-on purposes are best for a DIY set up. Nonetheless, you will need to make sure the presence of {an electrical} connector for plugging in trailer lights. 

Actual set up strategies will differ with the wide range of tow automobiles and hitch receivers on the market, however listed below are the fundamental steps: 

1. Ensure the hitch receiver is appropriate along with your tow car. It should match the hitch class for the burden you plan to tow, and the mounting areas in your tow car’s body.
2. Prep the car by chocking the entrance wheels and jacking up the rear for simpler entry to the underside.
3. Take away any {hardware} blocking the set up and clear the mounting factors on the body.
4. If pre-threaded holes exist, clear them. If none exist, you will need to drill the proper gap measurement in accordance with the hitch producer’s advice. All the time test the opposite facet of the body member earlier than drilling holes to keep away from injury to wiring, brake strains, and many others.
5. Place the hitch beneath the body and insert bolts and washers till cosy.
6. Torque all bolts to the producer’s specification.

Technician Tip: A second set of arms will assist when positioning the receiver to put in bolts and washers. If finishing this set up alone, use one thing like wood blocks to carry the receiver’s weight whilst you begin the bolts.

Your subsequent steps can be putting in the wiring harness and connector that may provide energy to your trailer’s lights. The simplest technique is to discover a vehicle-specific plug-and-play harness that gained’t require splicing into the tow car’s present electrical wiring. 

The harder technique is splicing into the proper car wiring to put in a trailer connector. Most useful DIYers can handle the plug-and-play set up, however skilled help is strongly really helpful if splice-in wiring is your solely choice.

Setting Up a Weight Distribution Hitch

The precise steps for putting in a weight distribution hitch (WDH) to your trailer and tow car will rely on the hitch producer’s advice. That stated, right here’s an outline of easy methods to set up a weight distribution hitch: 

1. Open your weight distribution hitch and guarantee all elements are current and in good situation.
2. Park the tow car and RV trailer on a stage floor and guarantee weight is distributed evenly in your RV. They have to be simply far sufficient aside to soundly carry out the set up and make sure the accuracy of your bumper top measurements.
3. Take the really helpful measurements.
4. Set up your upgraded hitch head meeting (hitch mount and ball) by utilizing the elements along with your WDH bundle or making certain a appropriate improve.
5. Grease the hitch ball, join your trailer coupler to it, and lift the tongue jack a number of inches to scale back weight on the hitch ball.
6. Grease spring bar ends earlier than inserting them into the hitch head meeting.
7. Transfer the spring bars parallel with the trailer and mark areas on the trailer’s body for the burden distribution brackets. 
8. Swing spring bars out of the way in which and safe brackets, tightening to specification.

The principle a part of the burden distribution tow hitch set up is full, however chances are you’ll must make different needed hitch head changes. Plus, you’ll must learn to correctly connect the spring bars to the brackets earlier than towing. We’ve lined extra particulars in our full information to establishing a weight distribution hitch.

Including a Fifth Wheel Hitch

Like all tow hitch installations, making certain the compatibility of hitch elements is significant. The hitch you select should work along with your tow car and be rated to deal with the burden of your fifth wheel. We cowl extra shopping for and set up ideas within the full tutorial linked under, however listed below are the fundamental steps for a fifth wheel hitch set up—remembering that actual strategies will differ primarily based on the hitch producer.

1. Take away the tow car’s spare tire and place the entrance base rail.
2. Mark your first drill location, drill a pilot gap, and test the opening location beneath the truck mattress.
3. Mark and drill the remaining pilot holes earlier than enlarging them to the really helpful measurement for the hitch bolts.
4. Begin the bolts for the entrance bed-to-frame brackets and base rail.
5. Measure for the specified hitch top earlier than attaching the hitch’s legs.
6. Place the rear base rail, mark and drill pilot holes, enlarge holes, and begin the bolts for rear base rails and bed-to-frame brackets.
7. Set up any remaining bolts and safe the hitch meeting onto the bottom rails. 
8. Torque all bolts for brackets, rails, and hitch {hardware} to the hitch producer’s specs.

Technician Tip: Correct hitch top requires measuring from the bottom to the underside of the fifth wheel’s king pin plate (Measurement A), and from the bottom to the highest of your truck’s open tailgate (Measurement B). Your really helpful hitch top is calculated by subtracting B from A (A – B = Your Required Hitch Top). It is a first strive match. Retract the jacks and observe the truck and trailer with the burden on the hitch to make sure each are stage. Alter as required.

The place Can I Discover Tow Hitch Set up Close to Me?

In case you’re new to RVing, it’s sensible to have a tow hitch put in for you. Most automotive retailers can deal with a hitch receiver set up, however an authorized RV technician ought to full weight distribution and fifth wheel hitch installations. 

How A lot Does it Value to Set up a Tow Hitch?

The typical price of a tow hitch set up is dependent upon the hitch class. Class 1 hitch installations will typically be essentially the most reasonably priced, whereas fifth wheel and gooseneck hitch installs are the costliest. Based on AutoZone, tow hitch installations can vary from $250 to $1,300. That elements in prices for set up elements and supplies (not essentially the price of the hitch elements) and repair labor. Labor charges differ primarily based in your area and repair supplier. 

Based on sources like Simple Auto Ship and House Information, right here’s a fast breakdown of the typical set up price for the principle hitch courses: 

• Class 1: $150-250
• Class 2: $200-350
• Class 3: $300-500
• Class 4: $500-800
• Most Fifth Wheels (probably Class 5 – Xtra Obligation): $800-1,800
• Most Goosenecks (probably Class 5 – Business Obligation): $600 – 1,000

Many RVers love making small upgrades to their campers yearly. Listed here are just a few RV renovations and modifications to think about: 

What questions do you could have about putting in a tow hitch for RV towing? Tell us within the feedback under.