Trailer Hitch Ball for Towing a Camper

Question:

I purchased a camper that has a dry weight of 3000 lbs and requires a 2in trailer ball. Would this be safe to use? I see that its rated for 3500 lbs but adding gear to the camper would put me right at the max.

asked by: Craig E

Expert Reply:

The 2 inch hitch ball is the most common, and will be fine for your application as long as you do not exceed the gross towing weight, (or GTW), of the vehicle. I would recommend item number # 19255, a 2 inch hitch ball.

Please note, you indicate your trailer has a dry weight of 3000 lbs, and adding gear will put you close to the maximum. I assume the 3500 lbs is the maximum towing weight, or GTW, for your vehicle; the tongue weight, or TW, is generally 10 percent of the overall towing capacity of the hitch, likely 350 lbs. This will include the bikes. For safety reasons, please be careful regarding the TW and GTW of the vehicle. This information should be provided on the vehicle's hitch. If you think you will be over 350 lbs tongue weight, the bike rack will not be safe.

Alternatives to a hitch bike rack would be a roof rack or camper rack.

For your reference, I have included links to some of our help articles below.

expert reply by: Renee B