Towing Hitch Class Ratings
#1
05-24-2010, 03:34 PM
Towing Hitch Class Ratings
THESE ARE THE MAXIMUM CAPACITIES OF THE HITCH SYSTEM - NOT YOUR VEHICLE. VEHICLE CAPACITY CANNOT BE EXCEEDED! AS A GENERAL RULE OF THUMB, WHEN TOWING MORE THAN ONE FOURTH THE VEHICLES CAPACITY, TRAILER BRAKES SHOULD BE USED. WHEN TOWING MORE THAN ONE HALF THE VEHICLES CAPACITY, A WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING HITCH SHOULD BE USED!
Class I (Most Vehicles/Bumper on Trucks) - Up to 2000 lbs. - Tongue Weight to 200 lbs.
Class II (Mid to Full Size Cars, Small Pickups/SUVs, Mini Vans) - Up to 3500 lbs. - Tongue Weight to 350 lbs.
Class III (Mid Size Pickups, Full Size 1/2 ton Pickups w/o factory tow package, Full Size Vans, Mid Size SUVs) - Up to 5000 lbs. - Tongue Weight to 500 lbs.
Class IV (Half ton trucks w/Factory Tow, most 3/4 ton trucks & Large SUVs) - Up to 12,000 lbs - Tongue Weight to 1200 lbs.
Class V aka 5th Wheel (some 3/4 ton trucks, 1 ton trucks, Dually's) - Up to 24,000 lbs. gross trailer weight.
Source: American Camper Association