Trailer Hitch Buying Guide (Canada)
Trailer Hitch Buying Guide (Canada)
Choosing a trailer hitch is mostly about fitment, class / capacity, and receiver size — then wiring so your lights work legally on the road. This guide explains Class I–V CURT receiver hitches in plain language so you can shop with confidence at Lots of Parts.
1. Start with your vehicle
Receiver hitches are vehicle-specific. A hitch that fits a 2024 RAV4 will not bolt to an F-150. Use our fitment landers (year + make + model) or the shop-by-vehicle tools on the site, then confirm the CURT part number on the product page.
2. Hitch classes (I–V) at a glance
Class is a capacity family — always respect the lowest of the hitch rating, ball mount, and your vehicle’s towing capacity.
| Class | Typical receiver | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| Class I | 1¼″ | Lightest cars / crossovers; bike racks, small utility trailers |
| Class II | 1¼″ | Cars & compact SUVs; light trailers (often up to ~3,500 lb GTW depending on hitch) |
| Class III | 2″ | Most trucks, SUVs, and many crossovers — the everyday workhorse |
| Class IV | 2″ | Heavier truck / SUV towing; higher GTW / tongue ratings |
| Class V | 2″ or 2½″ | Heavy-duty truck applications; confirm vehicle capacity carefully |
Gross trailer weight (GTW) and tongue weight are printed on the hitch and in the CURT listing. If you use weight distribution, check the hitch’s WD ratings separately.
3. Receiver sizes
- 1¼″ — common on Class I–II passenger vehicles.
- 2″ — the most common truck/SUV size (Class III–IV and many V).
- 2½″ — heavy-duty Class V setups; needs matching ball mounts / adapters.
Match accessories (ball mount, bike rack, cargo carrier) to the receiver opening. Adapters exist but can change capacity — read the adapter rating. For drop vs rise, hitch-ball sizes, and tongue-weight basics, read the ball mount trailer hitch guide for Canada or browse ball mounts.
4. Wiring & lights
Your trailer lights need a vehicle-side connector. Many installs use a T-connector harness that plugs into the factory tail-light circuit, or a custom wiring kit when a T-harness is not available. Common plugs are 4-flat (light trailers) and 7-way (brakes, charge, reverse on larger trailers).
Read the full trailer wiring harness guide for Canada (4-flat vs 7-way, converters, when you need a harness), then browse wiring & electrical once you know your hitch and trailer plug type. If you are unsure, open your vehicle’s hitch page and ask our team — we are gearheads, not a ticket bot.
5. Canada shipping & buying tips
- Free shipping across Canada on CURT hitches from Lots of Parts (Canadian warehouses — no surprise border brokerage on these domestic shipments).
- Prefer vehicle-specific CURT receivers over universal frames when a custom fit exists.
- Check for a factory hitch before buying; some trucks already have a receiver (and some CURT listings exclude factory-receiver or cab-chassis applications).
- Keep the hardware kit and torque the fasteners to the install sheet.
Popular vehicle hitch pages
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