Ball Mount Basics: Weight Capacity, Class, and Size
What Are Ball Mount Classes?
Which Ball Mount Class Do I Need?
Ball Mount Weight Ratings
Typical loads: kayaks, canoes, mobility scooters, small pop-up campers, small boats, and small trailers Typical tow vehicles: compact cars, midsize cars, full-size cars, SUVs, and minivans Manufacturers often recommend a specific ball mount be used with their Class I and Class II hitches Class I accessories, including ball mounts, can be used with Class II hitches
Typical loads: midsize campers, utility trailers, lawn maintenance equipment, kayaks, canoes, motorcycles, and snowmobiles Typical tow vehicles: full-size cars, large SUVs, minivans, and trucks An adapter allows you to mount hitch accessories made for a 1¼" receiver in a 2" hitch The available range of capacities for Class III hitches varies quite a bit—from 3,500-8,000 lbs GTW and 350-800 lbs TW. Be sure to choose a ball mount with sufficient capacity to match your hitch and the load that you want to tow.
Typical loads: large campers, large boats, and toy haulers Typical tow vehicles: heavy-duty trucks and SUVs An adapter allows you to mount hitch accessories made for a 1¼" receiver in a 2" hitch
Typical loads: large toy haulers, equipment haulers, multi-car trailers Typical tow vehicles: heavy-duty and commercial trucks A reducer sleeve allows you to mount hitch accessories made for 2" receivers in a 2½" hitch
Bernie S.
7/21/2021
Who/what defines the weight classes listed here? Those I see here are different from those found in SAE J684-2005 (IE class IV is 5,000-10,000 lbs in J684)
Jon G.
7/23/2021
There isn't really a standard when it comes to ball mount class ratings. Our article team basically lined this up with trailer hitch weight ratings so it's more of a range thing that has slight variants.
Mike
5/11/2021
2" Internal Thread Trailer Hitch Ball With 3/4" Shank, V5 3500 lb Brophy internal thread doesn't have a shank. requires a ball.
Jon G.
5/11/2021
Thank you for the clarification. Are you talking about something with a design like part # EI1C-C? This is a 1-7/8" hitch ball and I don't currently have a 2" ball with this style available.
Mike
5/11/2021
nothing to do with my comment. i was looking for a 2" threaded ball ( requires a bolt) and your picture shows a ball with threads the requires a nut. i need to use a 4" bolt for may application. picture does not fit ad.
Jon G.
5/11/2021
I'm not sure if I know what type of hitch you're talking about but we do have an off-road application which you can find in the attached links. This is the Lock N Roll system which uses an articulating attachment point.
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Matt
11/8/2023
Can you use a 2in hitch in a 3in receiver?