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 YouTubeHitch versus Vehicle Tow Rating (Canada)
Towing
Bought a Class 3 hitch and figured the truck or SUV can now pull whatever that hitch stamp says? Pause. The hitch rating is not automatically your vehicle tow rating. In Canada we tell shoppers to treat the door sticker and the owner manual as the vehicle side of the equation, then treat the hitch stamp as a separate limit. The lowest number in that stack wins. Here is the weakest-link rule, with free shipping anywhere in Canada when you are ready to shop.
Built for Canadian hitch shoppers. free shipping on CURT towing gear from Lots of Parts.
Related reading: what hitch class do I need, when do I need weight distribution, and factory hitch keep or replace. Prefer the full index? Open the towing guides hub.
Related reading: what hitch class do I need, when do I need weight distribution, and factory hitch keep or replace. Prefer the full index? Open the towing guides hub.
Hitch stamp versus door sticker
A hitch class describes the receiver hardware. A vehicle tow rating describes what the manufacturer will support for that year and configuration. Adding a higher-rated hitch does not rewrite the door sticker. Tongue weight, gross trailer weight, axle ratings, and cooling packages all still count. Shop the hitch that fits your vehicle, then tow only inside the lowest limit across vehicle, hitch, ball mount, ball, and trailer tires.
Step 1Read the door sticker and owner manual first
That is the vehicle side of it.
Step 2Read the hitch stamp second
Class and capacity describe the receiver, not a free upgrade to the truck.
Step 3Include ball mount, ball, and trailer tires
Every link in the chain has a rating.
Step 4Tow to the lowest number
Optimism is not a safety factor.
Official CURT videos for Canadian tow-rating 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
Confirm the hitch product page still lists your year before you treat any stamp as gospel for that vehicle.
Watch on YouTubeHow to Connect a Trailer Wiring Harness
Rating and lighting are different jobs. Still prove lights before a 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 YouTubeBrowse trailer hitches while you compare ratings
No hitch rewrites a door sticker. Browse CURT receivers we stock, then keep the weakest-link rule with free shipping anywhere in Canada.
Shop the collectionWorth knowing. A bigger hitch stamp is not a bigger truck. The door sticker still wins.
CURT gear for the job
CURT part 22272Two inch receiver coverTwo inch receiver cover for empty-tube days on Class 3 receivers.$15.92 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
CURT part 45036Two inch ball mountTwo inch ball mount for Class 3 and Class 4 tubes. Confirm drop or rise on the product page.$57.03 CAD
| Topic | What we tell shoppers |
|---|---|
| The myth | A Class 3 hitch stamp does not automatically become the vehicle tow rating. |
| Weakest link | Vehicle, hitch, ball mount, ball, and trailer tires all count. Lowest number wins. |
| Tongue weight | Gross trailer weight and tongue weight are related. Do not ignore either side of the sticker. |
| Shopping order | Fitment and class first, capacity second, accessories third. |
Related guides worth opening
What hitch class do I needClass language without the myth.
When do I need weight distributionWhen squat says the load is heavy.
Factory hitch keep or replaceThe factory tube counts too.
Towing guides hubFull Canada hitch index.
In short: read the door sticker first, read the hitch stamp second, include every rated link, and tow to the lowest number.
