Why Do Trailer Hitches Have Higher Towing Capacities than Vehicles

Updated 09/24/2020 | Published 09/23/2020

Question:

As I read the information the hitch you sold me for the car I own. 2016 ford taurus. Was good to tow 3500 lbs. I bought it had it installed 255.00 . I have read elsewhere a ford taurus can not pull what you told me it would tow 3,500lbs Why was your information so incorrect? Why did you sell me on something that is incorrect. And I can not use, since the car can only pull 1000lbs.

asked by: Gerald F

Expert Reply:

I apologize for confusion on towing capacity figures. The hitches we offer are first designed to fit the vehicle and then reinforced to be as strong as possible. Then the hitch is fail tested till a safe capacity is decided on. A lot of times the capacity ends up higher than what the vehicle is rated for but the info is still listed so that people know it's a strong trailer hitch that wouldn't fail under normal use.

expert reply by: Jameson C