Difference Between Class I, II, and III Trailer Hitch Receivers
Published 11/05/2021
Question:
Difference of a 2” class I, II, or III hitch Will all 3 fit any 2” hitch, what is the difference between them?
asked by: Randall B
Expert Reply:
The main difference between trailer hitch classes is the towing capacity (GTW) and tongue weight capacity (TW). Typically class I and II hitches come with a 1-1/4" receiver instead of a 2" receiver but there are a few on the market that do have a 2" receiver. Most trailer hitch accessories, like bike racks or cargo carriers for example, are made to fit 2" receivers. There are some that fit 1-1/4" receiver but with a 2" receiver you can always use a reducer to have a 1-1/4" accessory fit. Most bike racks on the market today will already come with an adapter that will let you use them with either a 1-1/4" or 2" receiver.
Class I hitches typically have a GTW of 1,000-2,000lbs and TW of 100-200lbs
Class II hitches typically have a GTW of 2,000-3,500lbs and TW of 200-525lbs
Class III hitches typically have a GTW of 3,500-8,000lbs and TW of 300-800lbs
For your 2021 Toyota Venza we have the Class III Curt # C89UR with a 3,500lbs GTW and 525lbs TW.
