Should you Hitchityourself?

You must answer this question?  Should you hitchityourself?  Were not talking about putting together toys on Christmas morning or fixing your kids bike, a trailer hitch is part of a larger picture.  It is one of the most important parts of a towing system.  It must be installed correctly and to the manufacture’s specifications.  Anything short of this is dangerous.  I’m not saying you can’t hitchityourself, but what I am saying is that you should know what you are getting into before you start and that you must be honest with yourself and know that you can properly hitchityourself. 

Here is a list of things you can do to help you make your decision.

1. Print out the manufacture’s instruction sheet for the hitch.  This is available at hitchityourself.com.  Take a look at it, visualize the installation and ask yourself if you can hitchityourself.
2. Look on the manufacture’s instruction sheet and see how long it should take to install the hitch.  Hitches come in different shapes, sizes and difficulty of installation. This may aid you in the decision to hitchityourself.          
3. Make sure you have all the tools necessary to hitchityourself.  You can usually do this by looking at the vehicle and the “Tools Required” section on the manufacture’s instruction sheet.
4. Do you have a torque wrench or have access to one?
5. Do you possess the skills necessary to hitchityourself?  If you are a mechanically inclined person or a mechanic than you probably do.  However, if the installation and the manufacture’s instructions look like it is more than you can handle, consult the local professional and let them install the hitch for you. 

Remember, if your honest with yourself putting on your own trailer hitch can be a cost saving and enjoyable project.  

To find out more about Hitchityourself visit our web site at-HitchItYourself.com

Ford Truck Hitches- If you are lucky enough to own America’s most popular pick up truck I have some good news.  Installing a trailer hitch on your Ford Truck is simple and easy.  All new body style F-150/F-250 and F-350’s have hitches available from CURTMFG that are no drill applications,  all the holes are existing!  If you own a Ford Truck that is the old body style, 1996 and before for the F-150 and 1997 and before for the F-250/F-350, you have to drill.  Check out the instruction sheet before you buy and make sure you have the tools required for installation.  Your tool box does not have to be deep to install trailer hitches on these applications.  Always make sure you install your trailer hitch to the manufactures specifications outlined in the instruction sheet. 

Ford Truck Hitches from Curt are protected with Curt’s EVERGLOSS exclusive black powder coat finish. You need to one thing about the paint on a Curt hitch.  The paint is good, real good!

To find out more about Ford Truck Hitches you can visit our web site at- HitchItYourself.com

Trailer Hitch Ratings?  How do I know how much my trailer hitch can pull or tow?  Every trailer hitch made has a rating and a sticker that will tell you how much you can tow with the hitch it is attached to.    The confusion comes in trying to understand the meaning of the abbreviations on the sticker.  Just remember, this is the rating of the trailer hitch.  The towing capacity of your vehicle may be different depending on the engine size and other factors.  You should consult your owners manual or contact the dealer to determine what your vehicle is rated to tow.

Class 1 and 2 trailer hitches have two ratings.  Gross Trailer Weight (Gross Trailer Wt. or GTW)  in pounds and Gross Tongue Weight (Gross Tounge Wt. or GTW)  in pounds.  The rating of your hitch will be located on a sticker that is placed on your hitch by the manufacture.  The Gross Trailer Weight will usually be located above the Gross Tongue Weight Rating and the Gross Trailer Weight will always be higher than the Gross Tongue Weight rating.

(GTW) The Gross Trailer Weight is the weight of the trailer & cargo. You can measure this by putting the fully loaded trailer on a vehicle scale.

(TW) Tongue Weight- The downward force that is exerted on the hitch ball by the coupler. The tongue weight will vary depending on where the load is positioned in relationship to the trailer axle(s). To measure the tongue weight, use either a commercial scale or a bathroom scale with the coupler at towing height. When using a bathroom scale with heavier tongue weights, use the method shown and multiply the scale reading by 3.

Class 3,4,5 and trailer hitches that have higher ratings.  These Trailer Hitches have four ratings.  This is where the confusion begins.  Each hitch will have a sticker placed on it by the manufacture.  On the left side of the sticker will be the hitch rating using a  ball mount

and on the right side will be a rating using a weight distribution system. 

When you use a normal ball mount (like the one pictured above) your hitch is only rated to carry the amount of weight outlined on the left side of the sticker, no exceptions.  You must also use a ball mount, ball, pin and clip that is rated at or above this rating as well.  The sticker will usually refer to this rating as WC=Weight Carrying.  The sticker will also give you a tongue weight (TW) rating that applies when using  a standard ball mount.

The rating on the right of the sticker only applies when you use a Weight Distribution system and it is properly installed!  The weight distribution system is limited by the rating of the trailer hitch.  Which ever one has the lower rating is all you are rated to carry.  The sticker will usually refer to this rating as WD-Weight Distribution.  The sticker will also give you a tongue weight (TW) rating that applies when using the weight distribution system.

What is included with a Weight Distribution Hitch  

1. Adjustable Weight         Distribution Shank     2. Spring Bars     3. Adjustable Ball Mount     4. Hook-up Brackets     5. Hook-up Chains     6. Pin & Clip (not pictured) Note: Weight Distribution Hitches DO NOT include hitch ball Recommend 2 5/16” A-6 or 2” A-90 Trailer Ball

 Trailer hitch rating are provided by the manufacture so you do not overload your trailer hitch.  Do not overload any part of your towing system.  I hope this helped explain what your hitch is rated to tow.  Consult your local professional if you have any questions or let us know if you have anymore questions?

To find out more about weight distribution systems you can visit our website- HitchItYourself.com

CURTMFG’s Reflex Brake Controller is a great new addition to the CurtMFG line up.  The Reflex brake controller “uses an advanced accelerometer mechanism to sense when the vehicle slows down and responds with the right amount of trailer brake pressure to provide a smooth, seamless stop.”  Well that’s what the box says on the Reflex Brake Controller.  But what happens when we hook one up and put it through the test? 

First, a short side note.  Installing the Reflex Brake Controller is a breeze.  It comes with a QUICK PLUG as standard equipment.  What does that mean to you?  If you have a vehicle equipped with a factory tow package you have the option of selecting a Quick Plug from CURTMFG and your installation is a simple plug in.  Some vehicles that come with tow packages do require you to add a fuse or relay that should come with the vehicle.

With our Reflex Brake Controller installed it was time to go.  We backed into an enclosed cargo trailer and got hooked up and ready to tow.  The first thing that we did was to follow the instructions and set the Load Range.  This process is easy and calibrates the Reflex to the weight of the trailer.  The instructions do a great job of explaining this process.  We are happy to report that the Reflex did great.  We experienced no problems and the Reflex performed above our expectations.  Breaking was smooth under fast and slow braking situations.  The manual override control worked as designed.  The advantage of Reflex is that it applies the brakes on your trailer in relation to the braking of your tow vehicle.   If you stop fast it applies more power and if you stop slow it applies less power.  It does this using the “Advanced Dual-Axis Accelerometer.”   The important part is the stopping fast part.  You want your brake controller to apply the brakes fast in the situations that require fast stopping power.  A timed brake controller does not do this and Reflex does. 

The Reflex Brake Controller by CURTMFG performed great and is priced below its competition.  I have copied the standard features below.  Reflex, I highly recommend one. 

To find out more about the Reflex Brake Controller visit us at – HitchItYourself.com

Front End Hitch?  Just what is a front end hitch?  A front end hitch is one that mounts to the front of the vehicle. They are available for most Pick Up Trucks and SUVs.

Front Mount Hitches Class 3 Rated Receiver Up to 500 lb TW 9,000 lb Straight-Line Pull 2″ Receiver
• Provides a convenient mount for hitch accessories • Use hitch-mounted accessories while towing a trailer • Easy maneuvering at the boat launch or campground

Front end trailer hitches are useful for a variety of things.  The main purpose is what us old school people call a spotting hitch.  Got a tight place where you store your trailer?  Put it away by pushing it into place. You will have greater control and better visibility when you push your trailer compared to backing it in.  Extra bike and your hitch is being used to tow your camper or boat?  Front end hitches make a great place to attach a bike rack or a cargo carrier with that extra load. 

To find out more about Front End Hitches visit us at- HitchItYourself.com

CURTMFG has done it again.  Introducing the New Discovery Electric Brake Control.  When I was first sent a sample of the Discovery Brake Control I was excited.  Yes, I get excited about trailer hitch brake controls?  The cool thing about this brake control is its size.  Most brake controls on the market are a little smaller than a brick.  The Discovery is small and has all the features of a its bigger competitors.  Being smaller makes it easier to find a place to mount it.  The Discovery Electric Brake Control is about 4-1/2″ long x 3-1/4″ wide x 7/8″ thick.   It’s about the size of the palm of my hand.  Discovery Electric Brake Control by CURTMFG.  I highly recommend it!

 To find out more about the Discovery Electric Brake Control visit us at- HitchItYourself.com

Trailer Hitch Cargo Carriers are a great way to take that extra gear on a trip.  With vehicles becoming smaller trailer hitch cargo carriers can be the solution that you have been looking for.  They come in a couple of models and can be used for variety of purposes.  The most popular one on my list is the Basket Style Cargo Carrier because its 6″ tall sides help keep cargo in its place. 

Economy Trailer Hitch Cargo Carrier models offer the same utility but do not come with the offset mount.  The offset mount becomes important if your vehicle sits to close to the ground.  Exit a steep driveway and you may come in contact if your trailer hitch sits low to the ground.  Other than that they are a great way to haul that extra gear.

Fold up Trailer Hitch Cargo Carriers can be useful if you have the need to keep the cargo carrier with the tow vehicle while you travel.   Just watch out for bumper clearance in relation to the trailer hitch on your tow vehicle.  If the hitch sits to far behind the bumper the cargo carrier will not have enough room to fold up.

I hope this article helped you understand more about trailer hitch cargo carriers.  One other thing I might suggest is to invest in a lock to lock your cargo carrier into your trailer hitch.  The lock replaces the normal pin and clip that is used to hold the cargo carrier to the trailer hitch. 

For a complete selection of Trailer Hitch Cargo Carriers you can visit our store- hitchityourself.com

Just a note- don’t overload your new cargo carrier.   Your cargo carrier cannot carry more than your hitch is rated  for or your cargo carrier is rated for!

  Read the rest of this entry »

I’m writing this article to help you select the proper trailer hitch for your trailer hitch bike rack.  Trailer hitch bike racks have become very popular in the past ten years.  They keep the bikes away from the vehicle to prevent damage and are easier to use than vehicle or roof mounted bike racks.  A trailer hitch bike rack will come in a couple of styles.  The important thing to do is to match the bike rack with the hitch. 

Most trailer hitch bike racks mount into a receiver style hitch or are held in place by the hole normally used by the hitch ball.  If your trailer hitch mounted bike rack replaces the ball then you can use almost any trailer hitch for your bike rack.  If your bike rack is the reciever style than you have two options.  Your bike rack may fit into a 1-1/4″ receiver, a 2″ receiver or some will fit into both.  After you have determined the size of the bike rack receiver the next step is to pick out the proper trailer hitch.

Example of a Class 1or2 Trailer Hitch with a 1′-1/4″ receiver!

If your bike rack fits into a 1-1/4″ receiver style hitch than you need a class 1 or a class 2 hitch.  Both of these hitches are equipped with a 1-1/4″ receiver.  However, some manufactures of class 1 hitches put a stop in the hitch that will not allow you to mount a bike rack in the hitch.  If you select a CURT MFG trailer hitch you will not have that problem. 

Example of a Class 3/4/5 Trailer Hitch with a 2″ Receiver!

If your bike rack fits into a 2″ receiver style hitch than you need a class 3,4 or 5 hitch that is equipped with a 2″x2″ hitch receiver.  Some manufactures put a 2-1/2″ receiver on the class 5 hitch, CURT MFG does not so you won’t have to worry about it.  If you do happen to have a trailer hitch with a 2-1/2″ receiver that you can buy an reducer sleave so that your bike rack will work (CURTMFG Part#D-2505).

For a complete selection of trailer hitches for your trailer hitch bike rack you can visit our store- hitchityourself.com.

When I created hitchityourself.com I wanted to to deliver trailer hitches within two days. 

 My favorite fast food is Jimmy John’s.  They serve you a sub quicker than anyone on the planet.  I knew I could not deliver a hitch as fast as they could build a sub but I wanted to deliver a hitch as fast as possible. So I selected the best hitch on the planet, CURT trailer hitches.  CURT builds the best overall hitch in the industry.  We devised a plan, CURT had eight warehouses across the USA and together we can deliver hitches anywhere in the continental United States usually within TWO DAYS.

I’m going to give you a great solution to transporting your bikes by using a Curt Bike Rack connected to a Curt Trailer Hitch on the back of your vehicle but first let me tell you my story.

I’m an avid biker, the human powered pedal driven kind.  I have three mountain bikes (no suspension, half suspension and full suspension with disc brakes), two California Cruisers (a three speed and a single speed with wicker baskets and painted in pretty colors) and a Cannondale road bike, red while a blue.  I love to ride around town on all my bikes. 

The road bike takes me farther from home and the mountain bikes get me in the woods.  However sometimes I want to experience other great places to ride that are far enough away that it is not feasible to ride there on one of my bikes.  What I’ve done in the past was to toss my mountain bike in the back of my boyfriend’s pick up.  Then I got my own little pickup with jump seats in the back and tossed my bike back there.  It had a Tonneau cover so I had to roll it up to use it. Kind of annoying.

Then my kids got bigger so I needed a different vehicle.  Time went by. I gained more bikes, (lost the boyfriend), and wanted to use them far away so I opted for an on top of the car bike rack.  At the time I had an Escape, a small SUV.  But not so small that it was at the very edge of my capability to put those bikes up on top of the SUV.  It was worse if the car was parked on any kind of incline or decline or if I was putting my mountain bike up there after a long grueling ride.  I could barely lift it safely.

Then I sold the SUV due to high gas prices and got a very small car, so small that my mountain bike wouldn’t fit inside it without taking the wheels off.  And that was one more thing I didn’t want to do every time I’d ride.  So I decided to look for another solution to my bike rack needs.

This is what I came up with.  You can get a Curt Trailer Hitch and a Curt Bike Rack to that work together making carrying bikes a snap.

1. This kind of rack can carry up to four bikes.
2. It attaches to a trailer hitch on your car so you just slide it over the hitch and lock it with a pin and you’re done. No straps and tension to mess with. It won’t wreck the paint on your car.
3. This Curt bike rack tilts out of the way so you can open your trunk or lift gate easily.
4. The hitch cradle has a rubber coating so it won’t damage your bikes.
5. And the super cool thing about the Curt Bike rack is that you can pick your favorite color.  Yes. The Curt Bike Racks come in ten custom colors so you can match your racing team’s bikes or your car color or just make a statement!  That’s awesome!

If you are a do it yourself type person buy your Curt Trailer Hitch and Curt Bike Rack in Custom Colors online at HitchItYourself.com and they will help you with installation instructions.  Don’t worry about the install.  They will let you know what it takes and if you’re not up to it where to find an installer.