If you are looking at a trailer hitch for sale in the store, you may be surprised to learn that there is more than one type. There are reasons for these different types, and it is important to know them before you buy your hitch. By the time you buy your hitch, you may even be an expert in trailer hitches, since you may have to make a few mistakes yourself before you have the right hitch.

The Ball Hitch

A ball hitch has the classic metal ball that is so easily recognizable to anyone driving behind a vehicle that has a ball hitch. The ball can be stationary, with the trailer hook up looping over the top. The ball can also be a pin, which when pulled from the hitch reveals a connection for the trailer. The trailer's connection overlaps the hitch hole, and the ball pin drops back in to secure the two together. While it is a common type of hitch, not all boat trailers and utility trailers use them. The ball hitch is NOT interchangeable with any other hitch, so if you buy a ball hitch and your trailer requires a pin hitch or a snap-together hitch, you will have to take the ball hitch back.

The Pin Hitch

The pin hitch is so named for the long metal cylinder that pops in and through the connection of the hitch and the trailer.  It allows for greater swivel movement because the trailer can move around the pin to create a ninety-degree angle to the vehicle pulling it. The pin itself hangs on a long chain when the hitch is not in use, or you can wind the pin and chain around the hitch to keep the pin from dragging on the ground.

The Snap-Together Hitch

This type of hitch typically uses a cube-shaped end piece on the trailer, which pops into an open cube-shaped piece on the hitch. It locks in place. Because the hitch makes an automatic snap connection, it also connects to the electrical system of the vehicle. This type of connection is necessary for any small trailer that needs functional signal lights on the back because it will be driven/pulled on public roads.

Failing to Pay Attention to the Type of Hitch You Need

Failing to pay attention to the type of hitch you need is not only inconvenient, but it is also frustrating. You only have to look at the front end of the trailer you expect your vehicle to pull to see which type you need. That few seconds of checking it out will save you time and money and even gas because you will not have to go back and forth from a retailer like Geny Hitch trying to get the correct hitch.