How to Select a Trailer Hitch
Match hitch class to the door sticker and the product page before you shop a heavier trailer than the vehicle can safely tow.
Watch on YouTubeFactory Hitch: Keep or Replace (Canada)
Trailer hitches
Already have a factory hitch on your truck or SUV in Canada? You do not automatically need to rip it off. Plenty of owners keep the OEM receiver for a bike rack, a cargo carrier, or light trailering that stays inside the door-sticker numbers. Other owners upgrade when the factory tube is the wrong class, the wrong size, damaged, or missing the capacity they need for a real trailer. Here is the keep-versus-replace walk from Lots of Parts, with free shipping on every cover and lock.
Built for Canadian hitch shoppers. free shipping on CURT towing gear from Lots of Parts.
Related reading: what hitch class do I need, hitch versus vehicle tow rating, and hitch for bike rack only. Prefer the full index? Open the towing guides hub.
Related reading: what hitch class do I need, hitch versus vehicle tow rating, and hitch for bike rack only. Prefer the full index? Open the towing guides hub.
How we decide keep versus replace at the counter
Start with what the factory hitch is rated for and what you actually do with it. A stock Class 3 tube in good shape is often enough for racks and light trailers inside the door sticker. Upgrade when the OEM tube is Class 1 and you need a two inch rack, when rust or collision damage has thinned the receiver, or when a CURT hitch for your year offers a cleaner fitment or higher capacity. Wiring still matters either way. A receiver without lights is only half a towing plan.
Step 1Read the factory hitch stamp and the door sticker
The lower number still wins for real towing.
Step 2Inspect for rust, bent tube, and missing hardware
Cosmetic salt film is different from flaking welds.
Step 3Match the job to the tube
Bike racks may be fine. Heavy trailers may need a different class.
Step 4Plan wiring either way
Keep or replace, lights still need a working plug.
Official CURT videos for Canadian hitch shoppers
These clips come from the official CURT YouTube channel (@curtmfg). Use them before you open a product page.
If an embed does not load, use the YouTube link under each video.
Trailer Hitch Installation Techniques
If you replace an OEM hitch, confirm the CURT product page still lists your year and configuration before you cut fascia or torque bolts.
Watch on YouTubeHow to Connect a Trailer Wiring Harness
Factory hitches sometimes ship without a harness. Plan a four-flat or seven-way before the first night tow.
Watch on YouTubeHow to Choose a Ball Mount and Trailer Ball
Match shank size to the receiver tube, then level the trailer with drop or rise once the hitch is on.
Watch on YouTubeOpen what hitch class do I need
Use the class guide when you are deciding whether the factory tube still matches the trailer or rack you actually run, then shop covers and locks with free shipping.
Open the guideWorth knowing. Keeping a healthy factory hitch is fine. Replacing a wrong-class or damaged tube is also fine. Match the job.
CURT gear for the job
CURT part 22272Two inch receiver coverTwo inch receiver cover to keep dirt and road salt out when the hitch sits empty.$15.92 CAD
CURT part 23518Hitch lockKeyed hitch lock for racks and mounts that share the receiver.$37.70 CAD
CURT part 21500Five-eighths hitch pinFive-eighths hitch pin with clip for everyday inserts. Confirm tube size first.$12.84 CAD
CURT part 22321Two inch anti-rattle kitAnti-rattle kit sized for a two inch tube.$54.92 CAD
| Topic | What we tell shoppers |
|---|---|
| Keep when | The factory tube matches the job, ratings, and tube size you need, and the steel is still healthy. |
| Replace when | Wrong class, wrong tube size, collision damage, heavy rust, or a cleaner CURT fitment for your year. |
| Bike versus tow | Racks are lighter asks. Real trailers still bow to the door sticker and the hitch stamp. |
| Wiring | Keep or replace, lights still need a working plug before night towing. |
Related guides worth opening
What hitch class do I needClass before keep-or-replace drama.
Hitch versus vehicle tow ratingDoor sticker still wins.
Hitch for bike rack onlyWhen racks are the whole job.
Towing guides hubFull Canada hitch index.
In short: read the factory stamp and the door sticker, inspect the steel, match the tube to the job, and plan wiring whether you keep or replace.
