Class 1 hitches are light/regular-duty trailer-hitches suitable for most sizes of vehicles including smaller and compact cars. Towing capacity for this class of hitch is up to 2,000 pounds. Maximum tongue weight is 200 pounds. This class of hitch should be restricted to use with smaller trailers.
Class 2 hitches are medium- to heavy-duty hitches suitable for midsize and larger vehicles, including minivans; this class is not recommended for use with compact cars. These hitches can safely pull a cargo trailer up to 12 feet in length or a boat trailer up to 20 feet. Towing capacity for this class is up to 3,500 pounds.
Class 3 are heavy-duty hitches suitable for trucks, vans, SUVs and minivans. They incorporate heavier mounting hardware and utilize an under-car receiver attached to the vehicle's frame. Hitches in this class can safely pull an automobile-transport or a boat trailer up to 24 feet in length. Towing capacity ranges from 3,500 to 5,000 pounds.
Class 4 hitches can tow up to 7,500 pounds, and a Class 5 up to 14,000 pounds. Both utilize weight-distributing mounting brackets to transfer the weight to all of the vehicle's wheels.
Class 5 utilizes the heaviest hardware -- generally a welded single body. These hitches are designed for use with full-size trucks and vans and are often used with three-quarter-ton and one-ton trucks for commercial towing. They are designed to handle very large loads such as large horse-trailers, enclosed car-trailers, boat-trailers of more than 24 feet in length, large campers, etc.
