The Best Off Road Hitch

Types & Classes of Trailer Hitches

Tuesday April 18th 2023
Dan

When it comes to towing a trailer, it's essential to have the right hitch for the job. The type of hitch you choose will depend on factors such as the weight and size of your trailer, as well as the towing capacity of your vehicle. However, it's important to note that the capacity of your hitch should always match or exceed the weight of the trailer being towed to ensure safe and secure towing. It's also worth keeping in mind that towing regulations can vary from state to state in Australia, so it's essential to check the specific rules and guidelines in your area before hitting the road with your trailer. In this guide, we'll explore the different types and classes of trailer hitches available in Australia, including off-road hitches, so you can choose the best hitch for your towing needs with confidence.

Types Of Trailer Hitches Commonly Used In Australia

This table provides an overview of the different types of trailer hitches commonly used in Australia, including standard ball hitches, pintle hitches, fifth-wheel hitches, gooseneck hitches, weight distribution hitches, and off-road hitches.

Type of Hitch

Maximum Capacity 

Application

More Information

Standard Ball Hitch (50mm)

Up to 3,500 kg

Cars, SUVs, Light Trucks

Most common type of hitch, available in different sizes to match weight and towing capacity of trailer

Large Ball Hitch (70mm)

Up to 4,500 kg

Cars, SUVs, Light Trucks

Used for Large Trailers ranging from 3,500kg to 4,500kg.

Weight Distribution Hitch

Up to 4,500 kg

Cars, SUVs, Light Trucks

Used to distribute weight of trailer more evenly across tow vehicle and trailer axles, improves stability and handling while towing.  These are normally used in conjunction with either a 50mm or 70mm ball coupling.

Off-Road Hitch

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Up to 4,500 kg

4WD vehicles, Camper Trailers, Caravans, Remote Access Trailers

Provides greater articulation and flexibility over uneven terrain, often uses multi-axis pivoting

The Different Types and Uses for Off-road Hitches

Pintle Hitch

Up to 45,000 kg

Heavy-duty trailers, construction, mining and agricultural trailers

Strong and durable, uses pintle hook and ring coupling 

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4 Common Trailer Tow Balls 

In Australia, trailer hitches are classified according to the weight they are capable of towing and the braking capacity of the towing vehicle. The following are the standard tow ball sizes used on trailer hitches in Australia, please note just because you have this hitch size does not mean your trailer has that capacity, your trailer must also have a compliant braking system with the correct braking capacity:

Class

Common Applications

Receiver Size

Towing Capacity

Brakes

Coupling

Breakaway

1

Single Axle Trailers

50mm

Up to 750kg

Vehicle Brakes Only

50mm Ball Coupling

No

2

Tandem Trailers, Small Boat Trailers, Small Campers, Small Car Trailers

50mm

Up to 2000kg

Trailer Override Brakes (Manual and Hydraulic)

50mm Override Coupling

No

3

Large Tandem and Tri-Axle Trailers.  Camper Trailers, Caravans, Horse Floats, Car Trailers, Small Plant & Equipment Trailers

50mm

Up to 3,500 kg

Electric Brakes/Electric Over Hydraulic Brakes

50mm Electric Ball Coupling

Yes

4

Large Caravans, Large Boat Trailers, Mining Trailers, Agricultural Trailers, Large Horse Floats, Large Horse Floats, Large Plant & Equipment Trailers

70mm

Up to 4,500kg

Hydraulic Brakes

70mm Ball Coupling

Yes

Again, it's important to note that the capacity of a hitch should always match or exceed the weight of the trailer being towed and that towing regulations may vary depending on the state or territory, so it's important to check the specific rules and guidelines in your area before towing a trailer.  The trailer must also have a compliant braking system that matches the maximum allowable towing capacity.

Tow Ball Weight

Tow Ball Weight is a critical figure often overlooked.  Tow Ball Weight is the maximum downward weight that can be applied to the tow ball for safe towing.  As a general rule of thumb tow ball weight should not exceed 10% of the towing capacity.  However the maximum permissible tow ball weight is set by both the Towing Vehicle Manufacturer ie Toyota, and the Towed Vehicle Manufacture (who made your caravan/trailer) and you must use the lesser figure.  This figure is critical to stability and can be easily checked with a set of tow ball scales.

Off-Road Trailer Hitches 

The types and availability of Off-Road trailer hitches have increased significantly in recent years and Off-Road hitches are available with up to 4,500kg towing capacity.  The most common are rated at 3,500kg and are tested to significantly higher levels. The key features of an Off-Road hitch are multi-axis articulation, ease of re-hitching, low profile and safety locks.  All hitches fitted to Australian trailers should also be tested to ensure they comply with Australian Standards and have a Component Type Approval (CTA).

Multi-Axis articulation gives the hitch the ability to move in the 3 dimensions along the X, Y and Z geometrical axes. Some Off-Road hitches only really give an X and Y articulation with a limited Z, particularly those that use Ball Couplings or Poly-Blocks. Most major manufacturers in Australia offer a range of Off-Road hitches.  The table below only refers to OZHITCH Off-Road Hitches.

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Trailer Type

OZHITCH Model

Towing Capacity

Self Aligning

Articulation

Low Profile

Safety Locks

CTA/Test

1

Single Axle Trailers

OZHITCH2.5G-4H

Up to 750kg (Un-braked)

Yes

XYZ

Yes

Double Pin Lock and Security Lockable

Yes

2

Tandem Trailers, Small Boat Trailers, Small Campers, Small Car Trailers

OZHITCH-OR-G-4H

OZHITCH-OR-G-6H

Up to 2000kg (Override Brakes)

Yes

XYZ

Yes

Double Pin Lock and Security Lockable

Yes

3

Large Tandem and Tri-Axle Trailers.  Camper Trailers, Caravans, Horse Floats, Car Trailers, Small Plant & Equipment Trailers

OZHITCH3.5G-4H

OZHITCH3.5G-6H

Up to 3,500 kg

(Electric Brakes)

Yes

XYZ

Yes

Double Pin Lock and Security Lockable

Yes

Off-Road Trailer Hitches and Weight Distribution Systems

Can you use a Weight Distribution System (WDS) with an Off-Road Hitch ?  You can, do we recommend it ? No. 

A WDS puts a lot of multi-axis load strain on Off-Road hitches and they are not tested to operate with this level of force applied by a WDS.  The WDS will actually fight against letting the hitch do what it is designed to do.  Even low speed manouvres such as U-Turns, spoon drains, speed bumps can cause problems and off-road conditions could be catastrophic.

The Australian Design Rules (ADRs) specifically make mention of the above.

How Much Does A Trailer Hitch Cost?

According to the report from Forbes, the price range for trailer hitches alone is AU$180-$715. Installing a trailer hitch, on average, can cost between AU$260-560 for class 1 to 4 hitches. The total installation cost of a trailer hitch typically falls within the range of AU$450-$1,275. For a fifth wheel hitch alone, the average price is $1,800.

Explore our online shop now and discover a wide range of high-quality hitches and accessories.