Trailer Hitches
About Trailer Hitches
A hitch connects a UTV or ATV to a trailer, sprayer, spreader or other pulled equipment. Owners shop here for a replacement ball, a receiver for a machine that has none, a lock for the coupler or receiver, or the small parts that complete the setup.
Sizes decide most of the choice. A hitch ball is listed by ball diameter, shank diameter and shank length, such as 2 x 1 x 2-1/8. The ball diameter must match the size marked on the trailer coupler, and the shank must fit the hole in your ball mount. Receivers come in sizes such as 1-1/4 inch, and locks have to match them. The category also lists coupler locks, hitch locks, a recovery shackle for a 2 inch receiver, a marine trailer jack, and pulled equipment such as a spot sprayer and a dry material spreader. Check your machine's towing limit in the owner's manual before you load a trailer.
Brands in this category include Curt, Dead Bolt, All Balls, Kolpin and Trimax. For lines and straps, see Tow Ropes, Chains & Straps. You may also want Winches or Plows, and all of these are part of Towing, Recovery & Accessories.
FAQs on UTV and ATV trailer hitches
How do I find the ball size my trailer needs?
Look at the trailer coupler, where the required ball diameter is usually marked on the latch or coupler body. Use a ball of that diameter. Then check that the ball's shank fits your ball mount and that its weight rating covers the loaded trailer.
What do the numbers in a hitch ball listing mean?
They give the ball diameter, the shank diameter and the shank length, so 2 x 1 x 2-1/8 is a 2 inch ball on a 1 inch shank that is 2-1/8 inches long. The shank must fit the hole in the ball mount and be long enough to take the nut.
How much can my UTV or ATV tow?
The owner's manual gives the machine's towing capacity and tongue weight limits. The lowest rating anywhere in the setup, including the hitch and ball, sets the limit. Do not tow over those numbers, and remember that a trailer load changes braking and steering on slopes.
Do I need a hitch lock or a coupler lock?
They are optional, but they help deter theft. A coupler lock keeps the trailer from being hitched to another vehicle, and a hitch lock takes the place of the pin that holds an accessory in the receiver. Match the lock to your coupler or receiver size.
