How to Select a Trailer Hitch
Classes, receiver sizes, and matching hitch ratings to the trailer.
Watch on YouTubeHow to Choose a Trailer Hitch (Canada)
Towing
Choosing a trailer hitch is a fitment decision first. Start with the vehicle year and tow rating, pick the class that covers your trailer with room to spare, then plan wiring and a ball mount so the first trip is level and lit.
We stock CURT hitches and wiring for common Canadian vehicles, with free shipping anywhere in Canada.
Prefer a class primer?
Open the buying guide
or
Class 3 versus Class 4.
Full library:
towing guides hub.
Truck, SUV, or crossover
Half-ton trucks and midsize SUVs usually land on a Class 3 hitch with a two-inch receiver. That covers most utility trailers, mid-size boats, and hitch-mounted racks within the vehicle rating. Compact crossovers and cars often need Class 1 or Class 2 with a one-and-one-quarter-inch opening. Heavy trailers on three-quarter-ton or one-ton trucks may call for Class 4 when the trailer chart and the truck chart both support it.
Do not buy a hitch on class alone. The door-sticker tow rating, payload, trailer weight, and tongue weight still set what you can safely tow. If the vehicle already has a factory receiver, confirm what is already installed before ordering another hitch.
Wiring checklist before you order
Basic lighting usually wants a four-way flat connection. Trailers with electric brakes generally need a seven-way blade plug and a brake controller in the tow vehicle. Many CURT vehicle harnesses are plug-and-play at the taillight connectors. Older vehicles without a dedicated tow circuit may need a taillight converter. Match the plug on the trailer, not the one you wish it had.
More detail lives in the wiring guide and the four-way versus seven-way guide.
Official CURT overview
These are official CURT clips from @curtmfg. Use them for class and wiring context, then confirm fitment on the product page for your year.
After the hitch is on
Match a ball mount with the right drop or rise so the trailer sits level. Size the hitch ball to the coupler. If the trailer has electric brakes, plan the controller and breakaway kit before the first loaded trip. See the ball mount guide and the brakes and breakaway guide.
Parts that finish the hitch
Every part ships free anywhere in Canada. Open the product page for the full rating and fit notes.
CURT part 45036Two inch ball mountClass 3 and Class 4 two-inch receivers. Check drop and rating on the product page.$57.03 CAD
CURT part 40003Two inch hitch ballThe common two-inch ball. Match the shank to the mount hole.$26.20 CAD
CURT part 21500Five-eighths hitch pin with clipEveryday pin for two-inch receivers.$12.84 CAD
CURT part 57184Four-way flat to seven-way adapterVehicle four-flat to a seven-way RV blade trailer plug.$40.27 CAD
CURT part 51180Echo wireless brake controllerPlugs in at the seven-way. No dash wiring.$405.93 CAD
CURT part 23518Hitch lockLocks the mount or rack into the receiver.$37.70 CAD
