Receiver Hitches - The most popular style of hitches

Whether you are towing your trailer for a camping trip or hauling your speedboat from home to the lake, the trailer hitch forms the bond between your truck or tow vehicle and the objects to be towed.  The hitch is bolted or welded to the rear of your vehicle frame and joined to the front of the trailer. Receiver hitches are the most popular style among the various types of hitches available for trucks, SUV's, RV's and vans. Receiver hitches are also the unanimous choice when using bike racks, ski racks and cargo racks.

The Receiver is that part of a trailer hitch that attaches to the frame of a tow vehicle, and has a holder for inserting an attachment. Receiver hitches by virtue of their design hold the trailer hitch above ground. They also function by distributing and transferring weight from the hitch forward towards the front wheels. This weight transfer is done by other hitch components that twist the receiver, enabling the receiver to lift up its rear end and push down on the front end.

Reese receiver hitches are the best-known hitches for their durability and strength and come with a wide range of capacities for various applications. Common receiver sizes available in the market from various manufacturers are 1-1/4" and 2", and are made of aluminum or stainless steel. Class I and II receiver style hitches are restricted to towing as a weight carrying hitch. Class III and IV receiver hitches can be used either as a weight carrying hitch or as a weight distributing hitch with the addition of a weight distribution system.  A trailer hitch receiver can also be installed on the front of your vehicle to make launching and recovering boats easier, to attach bike carriers while you are towing a trailer or to mount a winch.