Get notified of exclusive deals and learn about the latest products! For some people, handling the weight of the trailer alone can be very difficult. Choose a model that fits your vehicle best. Then use the holes from the trailer hitch as guides to the new ones. If your hitch isn’t secure, the item you’re towing could come loose, creating a hazardous situation for you and nearby drivers. The trailer has a socket on the end of the arm (or tongue) that fits onto a ball, found on the tow bar of the towing vehicle. If you do not have a backup camera, here are some simple step-by-step instructions to follow: People have come up with clever and resourceful tricks to help them hitch up their trailer solo. It is important to ensure that safety chains are long enough for the trailer to achieve maximum turning angle. So, this is how it’s done. Wear Gloves If you own a truck capable of towing, you can add a trailer hitch. Once you’ve figured out the maximum amount your vehicle can tow and found a trailer hitch, subtract the weight of the tow hitch itself. Ratings are based on our subjective opinions from evaluating hundreds verified customer reviews. If you own a truck capable of towing, you can add a trailer hitch. CURT custom hitches are engineered to make installation as easy and as minimally invasive as possible. Hitch ball squeaks happen when the thin metal on the ball on the tow vehicle’s hitch wears away. Ensure that the hitch’s locking mechanism – a simple clip – is in the ‘open’ position as you’re lowering the trailer. Drop the trailer jack and level the tongue with a bubble level. Picking up or moving a trailer by yourself can cause you some serious injury. Note – Some advanced and latest vehicles come equipped with cameras that make it very easy to align a ball or a hitch perfectly. If you use a driveable motor home or cabover truck to tow your boat, buy the 12-foot hitch extension. Handling a trailer solo can definitely pose some challenges. Don't be Misinformed. Once you bring a hitch and a receiver into line, there is a great chance that you could either back up too much or not enough, there’s no guarantee if you will be able to handle it well if not guided completely. Remove the template and drill the holes using drill and correct size drill bit. Hitch ball squeaks happen when the thin metal on the ball on the tow vehicle’s hitch wears away. Hold it in place with the C-clamps and use the holes from the trailer hitch as the guides for the new holes. Use the loosely assembled trailer hitch as a template. CURT custom hitches are engineered to make installation as easy and as minimally invasive as possible. Mostly for a bike rack, and a SMALL utility trailer that I will build in the spring. Even if you can push or pull your trailer by hand (manually) a short distance to align the hitch and ball, it is not recommended. Chip Thomas, RV buyer. This is due to the regular motion and turning of the trailer coupler (the part that goes over the ball) over the hitch ball. Measure the trailer hitch extension length you need. One major issue that you are going to face when hitching a trailer all by yourself is keeping the hitch and the ball aligned. You are left, unguided, trying to back up your towing vehicle carefully until it perfectly aligns under the trailer hitch receiver. For safe and comfortable towing purposes, you need to ensure that the level of your trailer is as level as possible. By distributing the TW, a Weight Distribution trailer hitch allows trailers with greater weights to be towed. It tends to get very complicated and those who have already tried hitching a trailer alone will agree. This is exactly why mount balls are made in various sizes and come with what’s known as rising and drop—to compensate for the height difference between your trailer and vehicle and allow for safe, level towing. Traveling By Yourself. For some, the weight of the trailer alone is too difficult to manually manage. Then lock the proper-size trailer ball into the trailer coupling. One of the most basic, simple, and affordable trailer hitch assist products you can find is the post system where you simply line up two rods. Attach the safety chains to your tow vehicle. Check the left and right turn signals, hazards, the brake, and reverse lights, with the tow vehicle’s headlights on. 3337-50th Ave. Red Deer, AB T4N 3Y2 Phone: (403) 346-7436. This product modifies that idea a little bit, with the addition of brightly colored balls on top to help you gauge distance. This Tesla Model Y trailer hitch is rated at 3,500lbs towing capacity and 350lbs tongue weight capacity. Get them all started before you tighten them down, this allows for wiggle room. When handling a trailer alone and all by yourself, there sure are a few challenges that can turn deadly if you don’t be cautious. Over time and without lubrication, the ball will wear out as will the ball socket on the trailer coupler. This site aims to serve as a helpful guide for our users to learn and compare different buying options. "Good to know. There are many options available and each depends on the the towing you plan to do. This guide covers how to hook up a trailer in just 10 steps, as well as tips for hooking up a trailer by yourself and a pre-towing checklist. I will start this off by reiterating that this type of trailer hitch lock is hardly a security product, but it might be necessary to secure the trailer hitch to your vehicle. How To Prepare and Hitch Your Travel Trailer. The TiltaHitch solves that problem. Yes, you can install a trailer hitch by yourself as long as you have the right tools for the job. Installing the trailer hitch and ball can be completed in less than an hour, with the right instructions and tools. If you're going to rent a trailer and you haven't had the trailer on the back of your vehicle before or you don't have a hitch assembly, go to a trailer hitch installation place, camper trailers, RV outlet, and those types of places and they'll have certified technicians who will be able to give you information about the correct trailer hitch that you need to mount on the back your vehicle. Unlock the hitch lock, then lower the trailer onto the ball and secure the tongue. You can always try and have someone else help you out but there can come instances when you are alone and you have to try your luck because you are basically out of options. If you do not have a backup camera, the following step-by-step guide is going to help you out. Start by backing your truck up to the coupler three or four feet at a time, getting out … Leaving your trailer hitch exposed to the elements can cause rusting and other water damage. Besides the boat, the trailer and your car, this rope may be the most important piece of equipment to have when launching your boat by yourself. One major issue can be trying to hitch the trailer without the help of anyone guiding you. Small 4 cyl SUV, SMALL HITCH. And U-Haul, from personal experience, will not rent you a trailer if this is not stamped on the trailer hitch. Connect the trailer light wiring system to the connector on your tow vehicle and check it to see if it works. People have come up with many clever and resourceful tricks to help themselves when it comes to hitching a trailer. Start lifting it into place slowly, adjusting the stands accordingly. However, the chains should be short enough not to drag on the ground and to ensure there is enough slack in either direction of the turn as well as to hold the trailer tongue up off the ground if it becomes disconnected while in tow. Then, flip the receiver latch closed, locking the ball in place. . If you want to install a trailer hitch on your car, you need to know how to install it … Riding Mower Trailer Hitch for $5: It's great to be able to tow things with a garden tractor, but the $50 ones are crazy cash for a simple idea. A trailer hitch allows you to pull large, heavy items from one place to the next. By clicking on the products below, we may receive a commission at no cost to you. You could also back up too far to the left or right and this much room for error is going to leave a driver very frustrated. It can take the form of a tow ball to allow the turning of the axle and articulation of the trailer. I have a 1960 trailer home w/the tongue/hitch still attached, I have covered it by placing a square plywood board over it then covering that w/a large piece of green astroturf and some potted plants on top of that but aft 10 yrs the elements have done their damage. Try to hitch up on level ground if possible. To choose a mounted ball that has the correct size of rising and drop, you will first need to take two measurements, the height of your hitch and the height of your coupler. A tow hitch or you can say trailer hitch is a device attached to the vehicle for towing purposes. Before attaching a trailer to your vehicle, you will need to make sure that you have the proper trailer hitch installed on the back of your car or truck. Aiken Hitch Service is a CURT Platinum Dealer, that specializes in trailer hitch sales and installation for all makes and models, wiring from simple flat 4 plugs to the most advanced brake controllers as well as trailer repair. Trailer hook up requires backing up, connecting the coupler, securing the safety chains and plugging in the trailer wiring. Open the coupler locking device while on the trailer hitch and make sure the coupler is open because the clamps that have not been used much can most likely jam. This video show the hated task of hitching a trailer by yourself. Whether you have a cargo trailer or an open utility trailer, follow these basic tips: Enlist help You can hitch a trailer to your vehicle by yourself, but it’s easier with assistance, especially if you’re inexperienced. The key here is to ensure that your coupler will clear the hitch trailer ball when you back up the rest of the way. By using adjustable spring bars and tension, an equalizer hitch distributes the weight of the trailer tongue to the trailer and vehicle axles evenly. I’ve been hitching and unhitching our Airstream trailer for two years of living on the road. The hitch refers to the entire system. When bringing a hitch and receiver into line, you could potentially back up too much or not enough. Lower the coupler until it has completely covered the hitch ball. You’re always best to try and have at least one other person present but there are instances where you are stuck alone. Trailer hitch installation can be a smooth and frustration-free process, as long as you’re properly prepared for each step. Use the trailer hitch as a template and then lock it into place with the clamps. Prying attacks, which are more common than cutting, are ultimately not an issue with such a trailer hitch lock as this. When I picked up my new trailer, the man doing the walk thru ran the emergency cable thru the safety chain." It is in a perfect position for towing trailers, and leaves the factor pin opening still usable. A trailer hitch is the mechanism that attaches a trailer to your vehicle. Call (864) 233-3957 today for a free estimate. Yes, you can install a trailer hitch by yourself as long as you have the right tools for the job. See Trailer Hitch Components for a visual. In truth, hitching to a trailer isn’t as bad as it can seem. When you reach the launch point, switch over to the extension hitch coupler. Try to position the vehicle’s ball hitch directly under the trailer hitch to avoid having to move the trailer manually. The hardest part of the trailer hitch and ball is choosing which one will work best for your vehicle. Now, safely and securely back your vehicle to the trailer. All in, that's under $500 provided you can handle the installation by yourself. The Smart Hitch system from Hopkins is basic trailer hitch camera system that is similar to others in that a camera attached to your hitch gives you a live view in the driver’s seat to help guide your hitch in. So there's a weight rating, as you can see here in the image on the trailer hitch for towing a trailer. Periodic greasing of the hitch ball and coupler will prolong the life of these components. In this piece of post, you will find all the answers to your questions related to the 5th wheel hitch installation and its cost. I haven’t made all the mistakes, but I’ve made a few so I can speak from experience.All of my examples here are for travel trailers specifically. Apr 5, 2017 - How To Prepare and Hitch Your Travel Trailer. Make sure the coupler will clear the trailer ball as you back the vehicle up the rest of the way. The hitch is the mechanism connecting the trailer to your vehicle. Now, line up the center of your vehicle the same as the trailer while backing your towing vehicle as close to your trailer as possible. Unlock the coupler locking device Then, place the coupler directly over the hitch ball. Looking to do it yourself? Now, with the trailer level, measure from the ground to the bottom of the coupler. For example, drawing a line using a glass marker on their back window, placing tape on their truck bed or tailgate to line up with where their ball hitch is or even using a baby monitor. Even if you can push or pull your trailer by hand (manually) a short distance to align the hitch and ball, it is not recommended. Step 2 - Create the Hitch. Once you’ve figured out the maximum amount your vehicle can tow and found a trailer hitch, subtract the weight of the tow hitch itself. It is best to start the process of how to install a trailer hitch by reading the instructions. Manufacturers will have their own guidelines on how to install their products on your vehicle. When a coupler is correctly lined-up, it will be secure and fairly easy to clamp down. Step 3: Use the Extension. The friendly trailer-hitch counterman points to the display of electrical connectors and suggests that if you can't get them working on your own, he can have a mechanic do it … Simply slide the ball mount platform up or down the shank and secure it in place with the locking pin to achieve the necessary rise or drop. The hardest part of the trailer hitch and ball is choosing which one will work best for your vehicle. Cross the safety chains to the hooks near the vehicle hitch, making sure there is enough slack in … If you are not using your trailer every single day and it is left outside, a trailer hitch cover is highly recommended to pr… If you want to install the hitch ball to the ball mount yourself, or if you frequently tow different trailers and have to change ball size often, here’s how to do it at home. Now is also a great time to consider adding a backup camera if you don’t have one. There's nothing we haven't seen! It can becomes unreliable and difficult to maneuver, and you may have to replace the entire hitch before you can use the trailer after a period of idleness if the rust or damage is sufficient to make the hitch dangerous to use. Whether you haul a trailer often, or just occasionally, every time you hitch something up to be towed by your truck, there are best practices to follow. For example: if your car’s tow limit is 8,000 pounds and your tow hitch weighs 150 pounds, you’d be able to tow only 7,850 pounds’ worth of trailer and cargo. Be sure the trailer tongue is locked or latched securely on the hitch ball, without excessive play or looseness. Also, SAE J684 state… Park the tow vehicle on level ground and measure from the ground to the top of your hitch receiver opening. There are many options available and each depends on the the towing you plan to do. Hitching Your Trailer to Your Tow Vehicle by Yourself If there’s no one around to help you, it may take more time and several steps just to get the ball lined up with the coupler. Or, you can always complete this step yourself with the Trailer Valet mover that’s right for you. Once everything is secure, latch the coupler and ensure that it has been locked in place. Some trailer hitch installations require removing bolts and plugs to mount way for the hitch frame. If your hitch height is greater use a ball mount with a drop whereas if your coupler height is greater, than use a ball mount with a rise. Now exit your vehicle and see where your hitch is about the coupler. I have never actually ATTACHED a hitch … … We hope this article was helpful to you. And the trailer hitch is capable of towing that trailer. Over time and without lubrication, the ball will wear out as will the ball socket on the trailer coupler. A trailer hitch, as you've no doubt discovered, is a kind of key that opens a world of possibilities. DIY hitch installation is a great way to save money on the trailer hitch installation cost. Once the coupler is directly over the ball hitch, use the jack to lower the coupler onto the tow ball. The vehicle for towing purposes, you need to ensure that safety chains are long enough for the trailer height... 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