Differences between Class III and Class IV Hitches

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Question:

What's the difference between Class III and Class IV.

asked by: Brian W

0

Expert Reply:

The main difference between a Class III hitch and a Class IV hitch is the capacities they set for the hitches. Class III hitches are rated for up to 6,000 lbs GTW with 600 lbs TW whereas a Class IV is rated for up to 12,000 lbs GTW and 1,000 TW.

For more info on the hitch classifications check out the link I attached.

expert reply by: Jameson C

0

Barry B.

8/2/2020

I just bought a used pick-up with a Class IV hitch but have all sorts of class three hitches with various ball and heights. Surely there must be a sleeve that fits in the class IV to make a class III. Any suggestions where to find one?

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Chris R.

8/12/2020

Both your existing Class IV hitch and your previous Class III hitch should have a 2" receiver - if that's not the case just let me know. The only difference between the two is the amount of weight they can handle. You shouldn't need to add any kind of adapter sleeve to your existing higher-class receiver so that it can be used with your Class III accessories.

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Don D.

5/15/2022

@BarryB had Nissan with class 3 hitch ---- holes for pin will not line up in class 4 reciver

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James F.

10/1/2022

@ChrisR on my 02 Silverado it used a 2x2 hitch. I just bought a 08 and it has a 2.5 inch x2.5..?

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See All (4) Replies to Barry B. ∨

Russ P.

6/19/2020

Looking at an 2014 Evergreen EVER-LITE 30BHPR with a GVWR of 8,795. We have a Class 3 UHaul ball rated for 7,600 attached to a Tundra rated up to 10,000. Should we go ahead and get a Class IV to attach? Thanks in advance

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Chris R.

6/23/2020

If the loaded weight of the trailer will exceed the hitch's 7,600 pound rating you'll certainly need to upgrade it. Also make sure that you won't be going over the towing capacity of the Tundra itself (check your owner's manual). If you can tell me what model year Tundra you have I will be happy to make a specific recommendation.

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Dan

6/12/2020

My 2011 1500 Quid Ram 5.7 hemi w/2:92 rear is rated at 10,250 lb towing. Has 2 " receiver ,not sure if it is a 3 or 4 class .Will be using a 2 5/16 ball ,with weight distribution w/ 10,000 lb bars . Do you see any problems with my set-up ? Thanks

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Chris R.

6/16/2020

All sounds good to me! The specific Class rating isn't terribly important, especially if you know the hitch's weight capacity. There should be a sticker on the hitch itself that indicates this.

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Phil

4/2/2024

@ChrisR what if the sticker is wore off? How can you tell the difference between a class 3 and class 4 receiver, especially if the opening is 2 inches on both of them?

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Ben

3/8/2020

Ok, so, probably a dumb question here, but: I have a Forest River Rockwood A122S hardside camper. Dry weight right out of the factory is about 2000 lbs and max weight is a little over 3000 full loaded and water tanks full which I will probably never hit. I am having a hard time confirming the ball size but is it safe to assume it is a class III w 2 ball? Based on weight it would seem so but any reason it would be a class IV w a 2 5/16 ball?

Reply

Chris R.

3/10/2020

I wouldn't get too hung up in the class ratings - as long as the hitch itself has a towing capacity of over 3,000 pounds it doesn't matter if it's a Class III or Class IV model, it will pull the camper without a problem. The ball size though is definitely something you want to verify. You're right that it most likely connects to a 2" ball. I wasn't able to verify this 100 percent but if you take a look on the coupler itself, typically on the underside, it should have the ball size stamped into the metal. If not you can try contacting Forest River directly.

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Answer 1

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Answer 2

I would be happy to! To add a hitch to your 2024 Volvo XC60, I recommend the Draw-Tite item #76194. This hitch is custom fit and bolts to your Volvo with included hardware. I really like this hitch because the crosstube mounts behind the bumper…

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Answer 3

To ensure you have enough towing capacity with your 2010 Chevy Silverado 1500 I'd recommend a Class IV hitch like the Curt #14301 as the Class III hitches for your truck are limited to 6,000 lb total trailer weight.

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Answer 4

The 2017 GMC Sierra 3500 cab-and-chassis is a confirmed fit for the Draw-Tite Ultra Frame Trailer Hitch #41947 so long as the truck frame width dimension is 34-inches from outside edge to outside edge. This frame dimension requirement applies to…

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Answer 5

In the trailer world GTW stands for Gross Trailer Weight, and TW means tongue weight. Gross trailer weight is the entire weight of the trailer and tongue weight is the amount of vertical load that is on the coupler of the trailer. Basically how the…

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Answer 6

Yes, the Curt Trailer Hitch #C53HR will fit your 2019 Volvo XC90. The crosstube is hidden for this trailer hitch so the only part that hangs down is the hitch receiver. You won't have any issues with ground clearance because the receiver…

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Answer 7

The correct trailer hitch receiver we offer for a 2022 Volvo XC60 Recharge is the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver part #C92WR. This is a bolt-on trailer hitch which does not require any drilling. It has a 2" receiver with class III rating so you…

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Answer 8

I took a look at the online owner's manual for your 2005 Dodge Durango. It states that all 2005 Dodge Durango trucks are intended to tow trailers of up to 2,000 pounds without any added equipment or alterations to the standard model. It goes…

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Answer 9

There is only one difference between the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver #C13176 and etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver #e98909 that fit your 2020 Chevrolet Colorado, which is the finish. The Curt trailer hitch has a glossy black finish while the etrailer…

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Answer 10

A 4-Way trailer connector has the basic lighting functions only; running lights, left turn signal and brake lights, right turn signal and brake lights, and ground. A 7-Way has these functions and a 12 volt circuit, a circuit for electric trailer…

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Answer 11

There's typically a range for capacity for each class and some brands have ranges that overlap with other classes from other brands so the only real important thing here is to ensure that you know the capacity of the vehicle (5,600lbs) and the…

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Answer 12

I checked with Draw-Tite, the Draw-Tite Max-Frame Trailer Hitch Receiver part #DT79MR is a confirmed fit for a 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Hybrid. I also found several customers who installed the hitch successfully on their Hybrid as well so you can rest…

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Differences between Class III and Class IV Hitches

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