The best trailer hitch for towing is the one that matches your receiver, your trailer coupler and your tongue weight, and most of the wrong hitches get returned for one of those three reasons. A 2-5/16 inch ball on a mount rated for a smaller trailer, a fixed 2 inch drop on a lifted truck, or a Class III hitch on a trailer that needs weight distribution will all fit the hitch and still fail you on the first trip.
We went through 12 trailer hitches and ball mounts in detail, weighing gross trailer weight ratings, tongue weight limits, ball sizes, drop and rise travel, shank fit and the finish that keeps salt off the steel. Our team pulled the spec sheets, then read the owner reviews closely to see which complaints repeat and which ones show up once and never again. That matters because a 4.8 average built from a few hundred reviews tells you very little about a hitch that has been in service for a decade.
Below you will find a direct verdict, a full comparison shortcode with every model, twelve individual write-ups, and a buying guide that covers the two things forum questions keep circling: how to measure drop and rise for your truck, and why payload runs out before towing capacity does. Year references update automatically, so what you read here reflects the current 2026 model year.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Trailer Hitches for Towing (October 2026)
B&W Tow and Stow TS10048B
- Tri-ball 1-7/8 to 2-5/16 inch
- 5 inch adjustable drop
- 10000 lb GTW
- Folds up and stows away
CURT 45036 Ball Mount
- 7500 lb GTW and 750 lb tongue weight
- Fixed 2 inch drop
- Pre-torqued chrome ball
- 4.6 lb unit
TYT Tri-Ball Mount
- Three ball sizes and a tow hook
- 10000 lb GTW on the 2-5/16 ball
- Alloy steel with powder coat
- Hitch pin included
If you want one answer instead of twelve, the B&W Tow and Stow TS10048B is our pick. It carries three ball sizes, adjusts through 5 inches of drop, and folds completely under the truck when you are done, which is the combination nothing else in this list matches at 10,000 lb GTW.
The CURT 45036 is the volume seller. More than ten thousand owners have rated it, and for a fixed 2 inch drop on a truck at factory ride height it is hard to argue with. The TYT tri-ball is the one to buy when you need three ball sizes and a tow hook and you do not want to think about the invoice.
All 12 Trailer Hitches Compared Side by Side in 2026
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| B&W Tow and Stow TS10048B |
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Check Latest Price |
 Rhino USA 6 Inch Adjustable Ball Mount |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Camco Eaz-Lift Elite 48058 |
|
Check Latest Price |
 CURT 17062 Round Bar WDH |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Husky Towing 30849 |
|
Check Latest Price |
| TYT Tri-Ball PP3PL3014 |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Buyers Products 1802279 |
|
Check Latest Price |
 XPE Tri-Ball 2220-3B |
|
Check Latest Price |
 CURT 13322 Class 3 Receiver |
|
Check Latest Price |
 PSAUTO Gooseneck Drawbar PS-001 |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Koerdo 6 Inch Drop Hitch |
|
Check Latest Price |
| CURT 45036 Loaded Ball Mount |
|
Check Latest Price |
Read the ratings column before the ratings on the listings. A hitch with a huge review count and a modest average is telling you something real, and a hitch with a tiny review count and a high average is telling you almost nothing.
1. B&W Tow and Stow TS10048B – Best Overall Adjustable Tri-Ball Hitch
B&W Trailer Hitches Tow & Stow Adjustable Trailer Hitch Ball Mount – Fits 2″ Receiver, Tri-Ball (1-7/8″ x 2″ x 2-5/16″), 5″ Drop, 10,000 GTW – TS10048B
10,000 lb GTW
5 inch adjustable drop
Tri-ball 1-7/8, 2 and 2-5/16 inch
25 lb alloy steel
Pros
- Three ball sizes in one mount
- Adjusts and then stows completely under the truck
- Dual e-coat and powder coat finish
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Heavy at 25 pounds
- Some play in some receivers
- Surface rust if left mounted long term
This is the hitch we kept reaching for while working through the list, because it removes the two decisions that cause most returns. Ball size is handled by three stacked balls on one shaft, and height is handled by stainless steel pins that let you set the drop in stages. You pick the ball, you pin the arm, and the trailer sits level.
The stow function is the part that changes daily driving. The arm folds up and the mount tucks under the bumper, so you are not shuffling a 25 pound steel assembly every time you park. Truck owners on r/F250 widely endorse this mount for folding completely out of the way.
Long-term owners report the mount outlasting their vehicles and handling loads at or above its rated capacity without failure. That is a specific kind of claim, and it is worth more than a spec sheet because hitch failures show up as bent shanks and cracked welds, and almost nobody reports that here.
Build quality is the reason it has held its 4.8 average across 2,397 reviews. The steel is alloy, finished in dual e-coat and a black powder coat, and it is made in Humboldt, Kansas. The limited lifetime warranty is a real one rather than a printed year count.
What you give up to get the fold-away design
Twenty-five pounds is the price of the stow feature. If you pull the same trailer every day with no reason to clear the hitch, that weight buys you very little and a fixed mount at under 10 pounds is a better fit.
Some owners also note slight play in the receiver fit that a clamp or optional rubber pads resolve. It is a fitment issue rather than a defect, but it is the single most common installation note in the reviews.
Who should buy the Tow and Stow and who should skip it
Buy it if you tow two different trailers, use different ball sizes, or park in a garage where a 25 pound mount at bumper height is a problem. The three ball sizes and 5 inches of drop cover most stock and mildly modified half-ton setups.
Skip it if your trailer is heavy enough to need weight distribution or if your truck already has a factory drop that gets you level. A 10,000 lb GTW ball mount is a bump-pull tool, and pushing it past that with a loaded travel trailer is how sway starts.
2. Rhino USA Adjustable Ball Mount – Best for Lifted Trucks and Leveling Kits
Rhino USA Adjustable Trailer Hitch (2in Receiver) – 6in Drop/Rise
6 inch drop and rise
2 inch ball 8,000 lb and 2-5/16 inch 12,500 lb
16.8 lb aluminum
Lifetime replacement program
Pros
- Six inches of drop levels most leveling kit setups
- Reversible dual ball changes in seconds
- Light aluminum body is easy to handle
- Double anti-theft locking pins included
Cons
- Aluminum is less robust under impact than forged steel
- About 6 percent one-star reviews
- Geared to 2 inch receivers
This is the mount for the truck that sits higher than the manufacturer intended. Six inches of drop is the amount most owners need once a leveling kit or larger tires go on, and Rhino USA covers receivers mounted 18 to 20 inches off the ground, which covers a large share of modified half-tons.
The dual ball is reversible, so you flip the mount to move between a 2 inch ball rated to 8,000 lb GTW and a 2-5/16 inch ball rated to 12,500 lb GTW. Buyers with mixed fleets like having one mount instead of two.
At 16.8 pounds it is about nine pounds lighter than the B&W Tow and Stow, and reviewers consistently single out the handling as a reason they keep it in the truck rather than in the garage. The double locking pins are weatherproof, which matters more than it sounds when a pin rusted into a receiver overnight.
It comes from a family-operated American business with a lifetime replacement program, and the finish is a straightforward powder coat. Compatibility is broad across Silverado, Sierra, Ram 1500, F-150, Ranger, 4Runner, Tundra, Tacoma, Wrangler, Cherokee and Titan.
Where the aluminum tradeoff shows up
Aluminum is lighter and less robust under impact than forged steel. It bends rather than cracks, which some owners prefer and others do not, and a small number of reviews mention durability concerns around the hardware and the locking pins.
The rating also carries a slightly higher share of one-star reviews than the steel mounts here, at roughly six percent. That tracks with the material choice more than with a defect pattern.
Best fit for modified trucks, weakest case for heavy loads
Pick this when your problem is height, not weight. It is the right call for a leveled Silverado, a 4Runner with oversized tires, or a Tacoma running a bike rack where a fixed 2 inch drop leaves the trailer nose-down.
Look elsewhere for a horse trailer, an equipment trailer, or anything you plan to load past 8,000 lb on the smaller ball. A steel drop hitch rated for 20,000 lb is a better match for that work, and we cover one below.
3. Camco Eaz-Lift Elite 48058 – Best Weight Distribution Hitch with Manual Sway Control
Camco Eaz-Lift Elite 1,000lb Weight Distribution Hitch Kit with Manually Adjusted Sway Control – Ready-to-Tow with Pre-Installed Hitch Ball, Sway Control Ball, U-Bolts, & Chain Package (48058)
1,200 lb tongue weight
12,000 lb GTW
Manual sway control
Pre-torqued 2-5/16 inch ball
Pros
- Complete ready-to-tow kit with ball and chains included
- Visibly levels the truck and trailer
- Interchangeable spring bars fit either side
- Reduces sway at highway speed
Cons
- Confusing instructions
- Noisy sway bar during turns
- Long and awkward adjustment handle
Once a travel trailer passes roughly half of what your truck can tow, tongue weight starts pushing back on the rear axle, the rear suspension squats, and the trailer begins to sway behind you. A weight distribution hitch fixes that by transferring a share of tongue weight forward onto the tow vehicle axles, and this kit is the most complete version in the roundup.
Everything arrives assembled. The 2-5/16 inch ball is pre-installed and torqued, the sway control ball is mounted, and the U-bolts and chain package are in the box. Owners report measurable suspension leveling and a clear drop in sway once the system is calibrated.
The spring bars are interchangeable and can be mounted on either side of the hitch head, which makes driver-side and passenger-side hookup configurations simple. Grease fittings on the bars make seasonal lubrication quick. The rating is 1,200 lb of tongue weight and 12,000 lb GTW, and the kit carries a limited one-year manufacturer warranty.
An RV forum discussion of the Eaz-Lift Elite pairs it with round spring bars and chains, and the owner there reports never needing a separate friction sway device. That is the built-in sway control doing its job, which is the reason to pick this style over a chain-only kit.
Calibration is the hard part, and the paperwork is weak
The most repeated complaint is documentation. Owners routinely report needing videos or hands-on help to complete installation and get the calibration right, and the calibration step is where most of the benefit lives, so a rushed setup gives you a stiffer ride without much sway control.
Second on the list is noise. The sway control bar growls and groans through slow corners, which sounds alarming the first time and is a normal characteristic of this design. A few owners also report lock pins working loose enough to need zip ties.
Who should buy a weight distribution hitch
Buy one if your loaded travel trailer is over about 5,000 lb, if your truck is a half-ton, or if you have felt the trailer sway through wind or on a downgrade. A ball mount alone is a bump-pull tool; this is a stability tool.
Do not buy one for a boat trailer, a utility trailer, or a small pop-up. The extra weight and the calibration step buy you nothing when the tongue weight is a few hundred pounds and the trailer has no aerodynamic side force to fight.
4. CURT 17062 Round Bar Weight Distribution Hitch – Best for Long-Haul Sway Control
CURT 17062 Round Bar Weight Distribution Hitch with Sway Control, 10,000 lb
Round forged steel spring bars
800 to 1,000 lb tongue weight
10,000 lb rating
Sway control kit 17200 included
Pros
- Forged round bars spread weight smoothly
- Grease zerk simplifies seasonal lubrication
- Pre-torqued 2-5/16 inch ball
- Install often takes under an hour
Cons
- Small hex bolts can shear during hookup
- Weak shipping packaging
- 100 pounds is heavy to lift
The argument for round bar over square bar comes down to how the steel flexes. A round bar resists bending in every direction, and owners of this kit report a marked reduction in sway along with improved rear-end squat on loaded trips. For people running long highway miles with a big trailer, that is the difference between a tiring drive and a calm one.
It arrives with the sway control kit already specified, so you are not sourcing a second component. The 2-5/16 inch ball arrives pre-torqued, the shank is 2 inch, and the rating is up to 10,000 lb with 800 to 1,000 lb of tongue weight. CURT backs it with a limited lifetime warranty, with one year on finish and parts.
The grease zerk fitting is a small feature that pays off every spring. Lubricating round bars takes a minute and a grease gun, and skipping it is how corrosion gets under the socket and makes a bar stick.
Installation is commonly reported at 45 to 60 minutes with CURT install videos open on a phone, and CURT customer service is praised for honoring warranty claims on worn parts. That combination of clear support and stocked hardware is rarer than it should be in this category.
The hardware that fails first is not the hitch
The most repeated complaint concerns the small hex-head spring-retaining bolts in the bar sockets, which owners report shearing or snapping during hookup. They are small parts, they are inexpensive, and you should keep a spare set before a long trip rather than after a failure in a parking lot.
Packaging is the other recurring theme. Boxes frequently arrive damaged with hardware loose inside, so inspect the contents before you leave the driveway and count the parts against the manual.
Round bar versus square bar for your trailer
Choose round bar if sway reduction is your top complaint, you tow often, and the trailer is big enough to push past 5,000 lb. Choose the Eaz-Lift Elite if you want the entire kit, chains and sway control, in one box with less assembly.
Skip either if your trailer is under about 4,000 lb. At that weight a quality ball mount with the right drop does the same job without adding 100 pounds to your hitch and a calibration step to every departure.
5. Husky Towing 30849 – Best for Bolt-Together Height Adjustment
Husky Weight Distribution Hitch 30849, Round Bar, 800 to 1200 Pound Tongue Weight, 12000 Pound Gross Trailer Weight, Includes 10 Inch Shank, with 2-5/16 Inch Ball, Steel
8 inch total height adjustment
1,200 lb tongue weight and 12,000 lb GTW
10 inch shank
Lift brackets included
Pros
- Eight inches of rise and drop covers extreme height changes
- Bolt-together assembly is field serviceable
- Interchangeable spring bars fit either side
- Lift brackets make hookup safer
Cons
- Dual sway control platform balls sold separately
- Bolt-together build needs assembly time
- Trailer side needs a separate 1-1/4 inch shank
Most adjustable hitches give you a few inches of drop. This one gives you eight inches total, with 5-5/8 inches of rise and 2-3/8 inches of drop, which is enough range to cover an unmodified truck, a leveled truck and a heavily modified one with the same part. For people who change vehicles often, that range is the whole argument.
Construction is bolt-together rather than welded, so the ball mount, shank and head separate for transport and for repair. The 10 inch shank length and 12-3/4 inch ball-to-pin-hole dimension are published, which means you can measure your trailer before ordering instead of guessing.
The rating covers 1,200 lb of tongue weight and 12,000 lb GTW, and the black polyester finish is specified for rust and corrosion resistance. Lift brackets are included, and they make getting a heavy spring-bar assembly onto the ball noticeably more controlled.
Review volume is the smallest in this weight distribution group at 593 ratings, but the 4.6 average is consistent, and owners repeatedly point to the height adjustment, the interchangeable spring bars and the included hardware as the reasons.
What you have to source separately
The dual sway control platform balls are not included. If you are running two friction devices, you are buying them as a separate item, and you should budget for that before the kit arrives rather than after.
On the trailer side, the assembly mates with a 1-1/4 inch shank, which many trailers do not have. Confirm your A-frame tongue width and the shank diameter your coupler expects before you commit.
When eight inches of adjustment is worth the assembly time
It is worth it for a truck that changes height, a fifth wheel prepped for multiple trailers, or a shop that moves the same hitch between vehicles. Being able to swap the whole assembly without a welder is a real convenience for a fleet.
For a single-trailer owner on a truck at factory ride height, a simpler ball mount will serve you better and take a fraction of the time to set up. The extra travel is wasted capability when the trailer is always hitched to the same receiver at the same height.
6. TYT Tri-Ball PP3PL3014 – Best Budget Pick
TYT Tri-Ball Hitch Ball Mount for 2-Inch Receiver, 10,000 lbs GTW
10,000 lb GTW
Three ball sizes plus tow hook
Alloy steel with powder coat
Universal 2 inch fit
Pros
- Three ball sizes and a tow hook in one mount
- Strong value against heavier tri-balls
- Snug fit in standard 2 inch receivers
- Locking pins have redundant r-clip holes
Cons
- No receiver-level lock included
- Thinner finish than premium brands
- Retention hardware is basic
This is the mount to buy when you want a tri-ball without paying tri-ball money. It stacks 1-7/8 inch, 2 inch and 2-5/16 inch balls on one shaft, and the ratings scale the way they should: 6,000 lb on the smallest ball, 7,500 lb on the 2 inch, and 10,000 lb on the 2-5/16 inch.
Owners describe it consistently as the budget option that punches above its weight. Weld quality gets called out as solid, the fit in a standard 2 inch receiver is snug, and the black powder coat holds up through rain and snow without blistering.
The built-in tow hook is the feature that separates it from the cheaper fixed ball mounts. A recovery point that is already welded into the mount saves you from bolting a separate hook to a frame you may not want to drill.
At 1,228 reviews with a 4.7 average, this is a well-sampled product rather than a listing with two testimonials. The compact profile also sits closer to the receiver than a large drop hitch, which keeps the effective drop predictable.
The missing piece is receiver security
The box includes ball pin locks only. There is no lock at the receiver itself, so the entire mount can be walked off by anyone with the key or a long lever. A separate receiver lock is the most common add-on buyers choose, and it is a small expense compared with losing the hitch.
A few reviewers also note the powder coat is thinner than what the premium steel brands apply, which matters more in salt-belt states than anywhere else. Treat the finish as a maintenance item rather than a permanent barrier.
Who gets the most out of the budget pick
Buyers with mixed towing, including a small boat on a 1-7/8 coupler, a utility trailer on a 2 inch coupler, and a larger trailer on 2-5/16 inch, get everything they need from one part. The redundancy on the locking pins is a nice touch that costs nothing.
It is the wrong choice for a full-time work truck parked on a job site overnight, or for anyone who needs a receiver lock out of the box. It is also fixed, with no height adjustment, so a leveled truck will still leave the trailer nose-down.
7. Buyers Products 1802279 – Best for Pintle Hook and Recovery Work
Buyers Products 1802279 Tri-Ball Truck Hitch With Hook, Solid Shank for 2 Inch Receiver Tubes, Chrome Welded Steel Towing Balls, Black Powdercoated, Towing Accessories For Trucks And Trailers
Tri-ball plus pintle hook
1-7/8, 2 and 2-5/16 inch balls
5.5 pounds
Solid shank for 2 inch receivers
Pros
- Pintle hook handles equipment and military-style couplers
- Clear capacity scaling by ball size
- Very light at 5.5 pounds
- Chrome welded steel with powder coat
Cons
- Does not rotate or stow
- Fixed drop with no height adjustment
- Thinner review base than major brands
A pintle hook is the feature that makes this different from every other tri-ball in the list. If you tow a military-style trailer, an equipment trailer with a pintle coupler, or you run a recovery setup that needs a hook rather than a ball, this mount handles both without a second part.
The capacity scaling is published clearly: 6,000 lb on the 1-7/8 inch ball, 7,500 lb on the 2 inch ball and on the pintle hook, and 10,000 lb on the 2-5/16 inch ball. Changing between them is a turn of the shaft rather than a tool session.
At 5.5 pounds it is among the lightest mounts in the roundup, which makes it easy to move between vehicles or to pull off and store. Buyers Products has been building truck equipment since 1946, and the chrome welded balls carry a corrosion-resistant black powder coat.
Owners treat this as a dependable value option for basic ball switching and recovery work. Feedback consistently notes that the trade-off is a fixed, non-adjustable mount, which is the same limitation as every straight ball mount.
Fixed means fixed, and that is the deal
There is no height adjustment and no stow function. The balls stay exposed when you are not towing, which is fine for a dedicated work truck and less fine for a daily driver in a garage.
Brand recognition is lower than the major hitch makers, and with 542 reviews the sample is thinner than most of this list. That is not a quality signal, it is a sample size signal, and worth keeping in mind when you weigh the ratings.
When a pintle hook is the deciding feature
Buy it if your trailer uses a pintle coupler, if you carry a trailer for a tractor or a small tractor, or if you want a recovery hook already attached to the ball mount you use every day. There is no substitute for the hook within a tri-ball design.
Skip it if you tow travel trailers, because the fixed drop will not level them on most trucks. For travel trailer work, an adjustable drop or a weight distribution kit is the correct tool.
8. XPE Tri-Ball 2220-3B – Best for Farm, Livestock and Cargo Trailers
XPE Tri Ball Trailer Hitch Mount with Hook Fits 2 Inch Receiver Matte Black
Three ball sizes plus 10,000 lb hook
Fits standard 2 inch receivers
Welded alloy steel
Compact fixed profile
Pros
- 4.8 rating across 1191 reviews
- Three ball sizes plus a 10000 lb tow hook
- Wobble-free fit in a standard 2 inch receiver
- Handles farm and livestock use well
Cons
- 2-5/16 inch ball rated to 7500 lb GTW
- Not adjustable for leveling
- Lighter build than premium mounts
Farm and livestock work rewards a different set of traits than highway travel. You need a hook, you need a hitch that tolerates mud and a livestock trailer’s shifting load, and you need something you can grab in a dark barn. This mount covers all three at a price that makes owning a dedicated unit reasonable.
It carries 1-7/8 inch, 2 inch and 2-5/16 inch balls plus a tow hook rated to 10,000 lb GTW, and the hook is the highest-rated element on the part, not the balls. That is the right priority order for equipment work.
The finish is a black powder coat with electroplating underneath for dust-proofing and corrosion resistance, and it holds a 4.8 average across 1,191 ratings, which is among the highest in this group. The fit in a standard 2 inch receiver is described as snug and wobble-free.
Owners repeatedly call out the combination of three ball sizes, a tow hook and a solid attachment pin as the reason it works across trucks, RVs, cargo, livestock and farm trailers. The warranty is one year with a 30-day return and exchange window.
Check the ball rating, not the headline number
The 2-5/16 inch ball is rated to 7,500 lb GTW here, which is well below the 10,000 lb figures printed on heavier tri-ball mounts. A small number of reviewers flag exactly this, and it is the one specification worth reading twice before you load a trailer.
It is also not adjustable, so it cannot be leveled or dropped for a higher ride-height vehicle, and the lighter overall construction is a step below the steel mounts on this list. The balls are also a little harder to flip than on heavier steel shafts.
Best for working properties, not for leveling
This fits a farm truck, a livestock hauler, or a work pickup that never pulls a travel trailer. The hook rating, the corrosion treatment and the low cost of replacement make it a sensible second hitch to keep on hand.
It is the wrong part for a loaded camper or a road trailer, where you need both a higher rating on the large ball and a drop that puts the trailer level. For those, choose the adjustable steel drop hitches in this roundup.
9. CURT 13322 Class 3 Receiver – Best Receiver Upgrade for Silverado and Sierra
CURT 13322 Class 3 Trailer Hitch, 2-Inch Receiver, Round Tube Frame, Compatible with Select Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 , Black
6,000 lb GTW and 600 lb tongue weight
10,000 lb weight distribution capacity
2 inch by 2 inch receiver
Carbon steel, dual coat
Pros
- Raises capacity over many factory receivers
- Thicker carbon steel than stock on many applications
- Dual-coat Bonderite and powder coat finish
- Factory fit with no drilling
Cons
- Open receiver tube ends let moisture in
- Some bumper hole alignment adjustments needed
- Only six mounting bolts on some versions
Everything else in this roundup slides into a receiver. If your receiver is the weak link, no ball mount fixes it. This CURT receiver is a bolt-on replacement for select Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500, 1500 HD and 2500 models, and it is rated to 6,000 lb GTW, 600 lb tongue weight and 10,000 lb with weight distribution.
The steel is carbon and thicker than the factory receiver on many of the applications it fits. The finish is a dual coat of Bonderite and black powder coat, specified for rust, chip and UV resistance, and the unit is tested to SAE J684 standards.
Most owners report a straightforward bolt-on install with a clean factory-like appearance. The 2 inch by 2 inch opening accepts any standard ball mount, cargo carrier, bike rack or tow hook, so nothing else about your towing setup needs to change.
CURT backs it with a limited lifetime warranty, with one year on finish and one year on parts. Across 1,618 reviews it holds a 4.7 average, and the satisfaction level is high because the part does one job and does not move.
Open receiver tubes are the real rust source
The receiver tube is open at both ends, which lets moisture and road salt in and causes internal corrosion that you cannot see until the pin hole is ruined. Owners drill and seal the tube ends, or pack them with grease, and several reviews recommend doing it on day one.
Fitment notes include bumper-to-receiver hole alignment being off on some trucks, which requires a small bumper adjustment, and the included M14 bumper bolts not always fitting, so owners sometimes reuse their original hardware.
When upgrading the receiver is the right move
Replace the receiver when you have outgrown a factory Class II, when you want weight distribution capability, or when the factory tube is rusted at the pin hole and the pin no longer seats fully. A 2 inch receiver is the minimum worth having on a half-ton.
Confirm your model years before ordering. This is a vehicle-specific part, and the fitment list is specific to certain Silverado and Sierra configurations rather than a blanket statement for the trucks.
10. PSAUTO Gooseneck Drawbar PS-001 – Best for Gooseneck RV Towing
Adjustable Gooseneck Drawbar Trailer Hitch – 20,000 LBS, Fits 2 and 2-5/16 Inch Balls, US Gov Tested & Certified, Gooseneck Trailer Hitch Adapter for RV Towing, Motorcycles & Powersports
6 inch drop channel shank
2 inch and 2-5/16 inch balls
13.7 kg solid steel
SAE J684 tested
Pros
- Channel shank gives 6 inches of drop and rise
- Dual ball changeover takes under a minute
- Locking receiver pin with two keys included
- Silencer pads reduce towing noise
Cons
- Headline rating describes vehicle GVWR not ball capacity
- Some play in the receiver fit
- Long pin bolt crowds chain access
A gooseneck hitch inverts the trailer over the truck bed, which moves the trailer’s center of gravity ahead of the rear axle and dramatically changes how it handles. A ball mount in the same situation produces sway you cannot adjust away. If you tow a gooseneck fifth wheel, this is the correct hitch category.
This drawbar uses a channel-style shank with 6 inches of drop and rise, which is what lets a gooseneck trailer sit level across different hitch heights. It accepts both 2 inch and 2-5/16 inch balls with a quick pin-pull changeover that takes under a minute.
Construction is all steel with clean welds, and owners consistently describe it as heavier and more rigid than competitors in the same bracket. At 2,630 reviews it is one of the best-sampled parts in this roundup, and the 4.7 average is well sampled rather than anecdotal.
The box includes a locking receiver pin with two keys, three silencer pads, a metal pad, clips and a wrench. The silencer pads are a thoughtful inclusion, because gooseneck towing is noisy without them. The finish is a black powder coat over corrosion-resistant zinc plating, backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
The 20,000 lb figure is not a ball rating
Read the headline carefully. The advertised 20,000 lb refers to the tow vehicle gross vehicle weight rating the hitch is designed to work with, not the hitch’s own ball capacity, and the 2-5/16 inch ball is rated well below 20,000 lb. This is the single most discussed caveat across thousands of reviews.
Some slack and chucking in the receiver fit is also reported, the silencer pads may need trimming because the gusset extends too far out, and the long locking pin bolt crowds the side where you latch safety chains.
Gooseneck versus fifth wheel, in one paragraph
A gooseneck coupler sits in the truck bed and transfers the load forward, which is why goosenecks tow more smoothly and place less stress on the rear axle. A fifth wheel hitch mounts in the bed on rails and does not require a ball at all, but it needs a bed with a cutout or a rail system.
Use a gooseneck drawbar if your trailer has a gooseneck coupler and you want the smoother ride. If your trailer is a conventional fifth wheel, no drawbar in this roundup will help you, and you need a bed-mounted fifth wheel hitch instead.
11. Koerdo 6 Inch Drop Hitch – Best for Heavy Equipment and Horse Trailers
Adjustable Trailer Hitch -Drop Hitch-Tow Hitch with 2 inch Receiver-6inch Drop/Rise, 2″ & 2-5/16″ Ball Hitches for Trucks, 20,000 LBS GTW, Trailer Hitches with Anti-Theft Pin, Black
20,000 lb 2-5/16 inch ball
6 inch drop and 6 inch rise
30 lb solid bar stock
Anti-rattle kit included
Pros
- Highest ball rating in the roundup at 20000 lb
- Machined from solid bar stock not hollow tubing
- Anti-rattle kit measurably quiets the setup
- Smooth level ride versus fixed mounts
Cons
- Ball is painted and must be scuffed for a ground path
- Locking pin bracket can bend under heavy use
- 2 inch receiver only
This is the heavy hauler. The 2-5/16 inch ball is rated to 20,000 lb and the 2 inch ball to 15,000 lb, which puts it well above every other mount in this list. It is built for horse trailers, loaded equipment trailers and farm work, not for a weekend camper.
The steel is machined from solid bar stock with an 8 mm thick shank rather than hollow tubing, and that distinction shows up when the hitch is loaded. The adjustment is 6 inches of drop and 6 inches of rise in 1 inch increments, so you can dial in level rather than approximating.
Owners report the mount holding up under loads up to 18,000 lb without flex or wear, and reviewers who tow long distances across rough roads specifically report no rattles. The anti-rattle package, with three silencer pads, eight O-rings and removable rubber washers, is what produces that result.
The package includes an anti-theft locking pin, cotter pins, clips and silencer pads, finished in zinc plating plus black powder coat with reinforced welds. The rating is published per ball size rather than as a single headline number, which is the more honest way to do it.
Scuff the ball before you plug in the lights
The most common complaint is that the ball is painted, and a painted ball can block the electrical ground some trailers need for running lights. Scuff or sand the contact area before first hookup, and the problem disappears entirely, but skip it and you will chase dead trailer lights.
Two other notes: the locking pin connection point can bend under heavy use, and the mount fits 2 inch receivers only, so it will not work with 2-1/2 inch receivers without a reducer.
When a 20,000 lb ball rating actually matters
It matters for a loaded horse trailer, a compact equipment trailer with a loader on it, a livestock hauler, or a truck that tows two trailers where tongue weight adds up. In those cases the heavier rating buys real margin.
It does not matter for a 3,000 lb utility trailer, and at 30 pounds this is a heavy part to lift into a receiver repeatedly. Match the mount to the work rather than buying the biggest rating you can find.
12. CURT 45036 Loaded Ball Mount – Top Rated Everyday Ball Mount
CURT 45036 Loaded Ball Mount, 7,500 lb, 2″ Drop
7,500 lb GTW and 750 lb tongue weight
Fixed 2 inch drop
2 inch chrome ball
4.6 pounds
Pros
- Largest review base in the roundup at over 10000 ratings
- Ready to tow with pre-torqued ball and included pin
- Thick well-welded carbon steel
- Polished chrome ball resists corrosion
Cons
- Fixed 2 inch drop cannot level larger trailers
- 7500 lb rating is modest for heavy work
- Hollow shank rather than solid bar stock
More than ten thousand owners have rated this ball mount at 4.8, which makes it the best-sampled part in the roundup by a wide margin. When a product accumulates that volume without its rating drifting down, it is telling you the design is finished and the quality is consistent.
It is ready to tow out of the box. The chrome-plated ball is factory torqued, and the hitch pin and clip are in the box. The shank is 2 inch by 2 inch for any standard receiver, the ball is 2 inch diameter, and the overall length is 7-1/2 inches.
Owners tow U-Haul and equipment trailers for long highway distances behind pickups and diesel trucks with no flex, wear or fit problems. Praise centers on the ready-to-use package, the thick carbon steel with clean welds, and the black powder coat with a polished chrome ball that shrugs off weather.
It also fits applications you would not expect, including factory-installed receivers on foreign cars. That versatility across boat trailers, camper trailers and cars is part of why the review volume is as high as it is.
Know exactly what the fixed drop can and cannot do
The 2 inch drop is fixed, so it will not level trailers that need more rise or more drop. On a truck at factory ride height with a factory-height trailer it is close to ideal, and on a leveled truck it leaves the nose down. Measure before you commit.
The 7,500 lb GTW and 750 lb tongue weight rating is modest next to heavy-duty mounts, and removing the ball drops the capacity further. The shank is hollow rather than solid bar stock, and the included pin and clip are basic with no anti-theft lock.
The right default for most people
Buy this if you tow a small utility trailer, a boat, a camper, or a rental trailer and your truck sits at factory ride height. It installs in a couple of minutes, it fits essentially any 2 inch receiver, and it will not let you down.
Move up to an adjustable tri-ball if you tow more than one trailer type, and move to a weight distribution hitch if you are pulling a loaded travel trailer. This ball mount is the correct starting point, not the finished answer, for most towing.
Trailer Hitch Buying Guide: Classes, Payload and Drop
Hitch class is a ceiling set by the receiver, and every number below it is a limit you must stay under. Class I is a rear bumper hitch rated up to 2,000 lb GTW and 200 lb tongue weight, used on small hitch carriers. Class II adds a 2 inch receiver and covers 3,500 lb GTW and 350 lb tongue weight, which handles most small boat and utility trailers. Class III is the common pickup rating at 6,000 lb GTW and 600 lb tongue weight, with roughly 10,000 lb of weight distribution capability.
Class IV steps up to 10,000 lb GTW and 1,000 lb tongue weight, and heavy-duty receivers can go larger still. Class V is the heavy equipment category at 20,000 lb GTW and 2,000 lb tongue weight, using 2-1/2 inch receivers. The answer to which class is strongest is Class V, but the answer to which class you need is whichever one still leaves room under your truck’s payload rating, which is the number most people never check.
Payload runs out before towing capacity does, and that is the single most common misunderstanding in towing forums. Payload is the GVWR of your truck minus its curb weight, and it has to cover passengers, cargo, hitch hardware, and tongue weight together. A half-ton rated to tow 9,000 lb often has barely 1,500 lb of payload, so a 5,000 lb travel trailer at 500 lb of tongue weight plus two adults, a dog, and a bed of tools can put you over the limit while the tow rating still shows room to spare.
Measure drop and rise the way the factory does it. Measure from the ground to the top opening of your receiver, then measure the height of the coupler center above the trailer frame. The difference is your required drop. If the number is larger than the mount offers, you need a taller drop mount, and if the coupler sits below the ball you need rise instead. This single measurement prevents the most common return in the category, and it takes about five minutes with a tape measure.
Ball size is not a preference, it is a coupler match. The 2 inch ball pairs with a 2 inch coupler, and the 2-5/16 inch ball pairs with a 2-5/16 inch coupler, which is what most modern travel trailers use. Check the stamp on the top of your trailer coupler and match it exactly. A tri-ball mount solves this for three sizes at once, which is why four of our picks use that design.
Do not overlook chain brackets and safety chains, because a coupler latch is a convenience rather than a restraint. Cross the chains under the coupler, attach them to the rated points on the vehicle, and leave enough slack for turns. On a weight distribution hitch, the chain versus bracket question is a real tradeoff: chains do not unseat during a tight turn but add no built-in sway control, while bracket-style mounting can unseat under load and does contribute to sway control. Read your trailer and hitch instructions before choosing.
Installation costs vary more than any other part of this purchase, and the spread between a dealer quote and a weekend in the driveway is enormous. A bolt-on ball mount takes minutes and basic tools. A trailer receiver on a truck with no factory crossmember may require drilling, exhaust relocation, and wiring work, which is where professional charges get large. If you have a factory receiver or an existing Class III, you are looking at a parts-only job. If you are adding a hitch to a vehicle that never had one, price the labor separately from the parts and get more than one quote.
How to Slow Rust on Any Trailer Hitch
Every hitch rusts. Owners across truck and car forums report surface rust appearing on Reese, CURT, Draw-Tite and B&W hardware within a season or two, and the common thread in those threads is that powder coat delays corrosion but does not stop it. Expectations, not coatings, are what get revised here. The steel is exposed at the pin hole, at the threads, and around the ball, and those are the places corrosion actually starts.
Wash the hitch with fresh water after every trip in salt or mud, and dry it. Road salt sits in the crevice around the hitch pin and the ball socket, and that is where it does its work. A hitch that is rinsed and dried weekly will outlast an identical one that is never touched.
Coat the exposed steel annually with a marine-grade grease or a corrosion inhibitor spray, paying particular attention to the threads, the pin hole and the shank surface that sits inside the receiver. On the ball itself, keep a thin film and wipe off the excess, because a greasy ball collects grit and grit is what wears a coupler.
Touch up chips in the powder coat immediately. A small bottle of matching paint costs little, and a bare chip in a coating is a starting point that spreads. If rust has already broken the coating, remove it with a wire brush or a small abrasive wheel, clean the surface, and coat it before it returns.
To remove rust that has already formed, soak the seized threads with a penetrating oil for several days, then work the bolt with a wrench rather than a breaker bar on the hitch itself. For a ball that is stuck to a coupler, never pry against the ball, because you will distort the seating surface and the coupler will no longer fit tightly. Loosen the coupler bolts, lift it straight off, and service the ball on a bench. If a pin hole is pitted deep enough that the pin no longer seats solidly, replace the mount rather than driving a loose pin into a loose hole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Reese or Curt hitch?
Both are established names with limited lifetime warranties, and the difference is in the product line rather than the brand. CURT covers more of the category, from fixed ball mounts and adjustable tri-balls to weight distribution systems, and its specs are consistently published per component. Reese is a strong choice for weight distribution and for owners who want deep stock with a specific hitch class. Judge each part on its rating and its rating count, since both companies make entry-level and heavy-duty products under the same name.
What is the 60/40 rule for trailers?
The rule describes the distribution of tongue weight, not the trailer total. About 60 percent of the tongue weight should be carried forward of the trailer axle, with the remaining 40 percent behind it, and the coupler position on the A-frame is what sets that ratio. It is not 60 percent of the trailer weight sitting on the tongue, which is a very common misreading.
What class trailer hitch is the strongest?
Class V is the strongest category, rated to 20,000 lb GTW and 2,000 lb tongue weight, and it uses 2-1/2 inch receivers. Class IV follows at 10,000 lb GTW and 1,000 lb tongue weight, and the common Class III pickup rating is 6,000 lb GTW and 600 lb tongue weight. Strength is only useful if your tow vehicle can supply the payload behind it.
What is better, class 3 or class 4 hitch?
Class III is rated to 6,000 lb GTW and 600 lb tongue weight and fits most half-ton trucks, while Class IV reaches 10,000 lb GTW and 1,000 lb tongue weight and suits three-quarter-ton and heavy-duty trucks. Choose Class IV when your loaded trailer pushes past 6,000 lb, when you tow a truck and a trailer together, or when you want weight distribution headroom. Stay with Class III for small boats, utility trailers and campers on a half-ton.
Are Bu0026amp;W hitches worth it?
For a tow-and-stow or adjustable tri-ball, yes. The Bu0026amp;W Tow and Stow TS10048B carries three ball sizes, 5 inches of drop, a 10,000 lb GTW rating and a limited lifetime warranty, and it folds under the vehicle when not in use. Owners on truck forums widely endorse the fold-away design, and the powder coat over e-coat slows corrosion without eliminating it. Expect to handle about 25 pounds, and check the class of your trailer before relying on a 10,000 lb ball mount with a loaded camper.
How do I stop rust on a trailer hitch?
Rinse the hitch with fresh water after every trip in salt or mud, dry it, and coat the exposed steel with marine-grade grease or corrosion inhibitor once a year. Concentrate on the threads, the pin hole and the shank surface inside the receiver, since those are where corrosion starts. Touch up chips in the powder coat as soon as you see them, and keep a thin film on the ball while wiping off the excess so grit does not collect.
My trailer hitch is loose on the ball. How do I fix it?
A loose hitch on the ball is usually a worn coupler, not a bad ball. Check that the coupler socket is the correct size for the ball and that its internal grease groove is clean. Confirm the coupler is fully seated with the latch handle locked and the safety pin installed, and that the mounting bolts are torqued. A ball that has been painted or rusted can also read as loose, so scuff the contact area clean. If the coupler still rocks, replace the coupler rather than tightening anything further.
Conclusion
The B&W Tow and Stow TS10048B is the best trailer hitch for towing in 2026 for most people, because three ball sizes, 5 inches of drop and a full fold-away solve the two decisions that drive returns. If you need to level a modified truck, the Rhino USA 6 inch adjustable mount is lighter and built for the job, and if you tow a loaded travel trailer, the Camco Eaz-Lift Elite handles tongue weight and sway properly rather than pretending a ball mount is enough.
Two habits will outlast any single purchase. Measure your drop from the ground to the top of the receiver and then to the coupler center, and check your payload number before the tow rating. Do those two things and the rest of this roundup becomes an easy decision, because the right hitch is simply the one left standing after those two filters.