5 Best Trailer Hitches, Tested (2023 Guide)

A basic trailer hitch for your essential towing needs.

A trailer hitch suitable for most towing jobs.

A versatile trailer hitch for a variety of coupler sizes.

A tri-ball trailer hitch with a helpful added hook.

An adjustable trailer hitch for Class IV towing.

Trailer hitches are for more than just trailers. Bike racks, kayak racks, cargo carriers, and more can link to your vehicle thanks to these handy devices. A great trailer hitch creates a steadfast lock between your vehicle and whatever it is towing, bringing you peace of mind when hauling your extra cargo.

It’s important to choose the best trailer hitch for both your transportation needs and vehicle’s weight requirements. Keep reading to learn more about the best trailer hitches our product team recommends for your next big move. We’ve also tested and reviewed the best trailer hitch locks to keep your trailer secure.

The trailer hitches in this article went through two rounds of reviews. We started by searching retailers like Amazon, RealTruck, and Advance Auto Parts for top products, looking at factors such as shipping, customer ratings, and prices.

Our product testing team then ordered the trailer hitches that best met these standards. A team member tested each product on a 2013 Toyota Highlander with a 2.0-in. receiver, taking note of each trailer hitches ease of installation, versatility, and maximum towing capacity. Each trailer hitch was given a rating out of 5 stars based on these criteria.

Each year, we test over 350 auto products on vehicles and in our testing lab. Our team of product testers thoroughly researches top products, unboxes and puts our hands on each component, and tests the items on real vehicles before making recommendations to readers.

We publish hundreds of product and service reviews to bring car enthusiasts detailed guides on automotive tools, detailing kits, car seats, pet products, and much more. For more information on our testing methodology and how we evaluate every product, check out our methodology page here.

Both our top pick and Amazon’s Choice for the best trailer hitch, the Curt Fusion Trailer Hitch Mount is suitable for basic moving needs. It’s rated to tow 7,500.0 lbs. in gross trailer weight with a 750.0-lb. tongue weight and its 4.0-inch drop promotes level towing with almost any trailer setup. Its 2.0-in. by 2.0-in. shank fits almost any 2.0-in. receiver with ease.

The Curt’s 2.0-in. bulb is corrosion-resistant thanks to its durable black powder coating finish and chrome plating.

We gave the Curt trailer hitch a rating of 5 out of 5 stars for its excellent fit, high weight capabilities, and smooth operation.

Amazon Review Score: 4.6 out of 5 based on over 840 ratings

Some reviewers claim to have been buying Curt products for years and have been very satisfied with their consistently high quality. Other negative reviews complain that the Curt hitch doesn’t actually have a 4.0-in. drop, likening it closer to a 2.0- or 3.0-in. drop instead.

The Curt Fusion Trailer Hitch Mount is a great choice for anyone who wants the basic functions of a trailer hitch for day-to-day transportation. If you’re only moving your trailer around and don’t need more than a 2.0-in. receiver and ball, this is the best option.

With a 2.0-in. drop and 0.75-in. rise, the Reese Towpower Starter Kit is everything you need for a beginner’s trailer hitch. Its standard sizing and gross trailer weight of 6,000.0 lbs. is perfect for hauling small loads. This hitch also has 600.0 lbs. of tongue weight for handling medium-sized trailers.

Like the Curt trailer hitch, the Reese Towpower Starter Kit fits 2.0-in. receivers and has a 2.0-in. hitch ball mount.

Our testing team rated the Reese Towpower Starter Kit at 4.8 stars. It has many similar features to the winner of our roundup, the Curt Fusion hitch, except with less weight capacity.

Amazon Review Score: 4.8 out of 5 based on more than 3,400 ratings

Currently the number one bestseller for towing ball mounts on Amazon, nearly 85 percent of all reviews are 5 stars.

Many of the positive customer reviews commend the Reese hitch for its dependability at a low price. Some customers who leave negative reviews, however, notice that their Reese hitches rattle at high speeds.

If you’re a beginner to trailer hitches or simply need to move your furniture across town with a U-Haul trailer, check out the Reese Towpower Starter Kit. It’s an easy-to-use basic trailer hitch that won’t break the bank.

With three separate hitch ball mounts welded together, the MaxxHaul Triple Ball Mount is exceptionally versatile. It’s equipped with 1.5-, 2.0-, and 2.5-in. mounts that handle 2,000.0, 5,000.0, and 7,500.0 lbs. of gross trailer weight, respectively. And the MaxxHaul hitch’s 10.0-in. length lessens the chances of collision between a trailer and your vehicle.

This trailer hitch has a tongue weight of 200.0, 500.0, and 750.0 lbs. and is made of hallowed steel. It also has a heavy-duty black powder coat finish to prevent scratching.

We gave the MaxxHaul Triple Ball Mount 4.8 stars. Its various ball mounts offer a great deal of variety for different hitches, but sadly it doesn’t come with a hitch lock or pin to secure it.

Amazon Review Score: 4.8 out of 5 based on more than 1,800 ratings

Positive reactions to the MaxxHaul hitch love its solid build quality and finish. Negative reviews mark against the MaxxHaul hitch’s lack of drop, which customers complain makes their trailers ride higher than intended.

If you transport multiple sizes of trailers or just like having the option to do so, check out the MaxxHaul Triple Ball Mount. While it may need some extra tools to fit in your vehicle’s receiver, it has unmatched utility.

Some trailer hitches have tow hooks, which allow for vehicles to pull each other using a winch or act as added security measures. The Towever Tri-Ball Mount comes equipped with a chrome-plated steel hook for extra towing purposes. It also has 1.88-, 2.0-, and 2.5-in. balls for fitting onto multiple trailer hitch sizes.

This trailer hitch has a black powder-coated finish for rust and chipping prevention. Its gross trailer weights are greater than those of the MaxxHaul thanks to its alloy steel body.

With its well-made hook and various possibilities with a tri-ball design, the Towever Tri-Ball Mount earned 4.8 stars. Like the MaxxHaul, this hitch didn’t come with a hitch pin or lock.

Amazon Review Score: 4.7 out of 5 based on over 1,200 ratings

On Amazon, customers have rated the Towever Tri-Ball Mount highly, citing the optionality of multiple mounts as a major plus. Around 84 percent of all reviews have been 5 stars, and they celebrate the Towever hitch as one of their favorite hooked hitches.

Negative reviews, although very scarce, penalize the Towever hitch for rusting easily.

The Towever Tri-Ball Mount works best for anyone who may need the extra hauling capabilities of a hook to tow vehicles or heavy trailers. And the various sizes of the ball mounts offer competitive weight capacities over other tri-ball hitches.

If you have trailers of various heights, an adjustable hitch can save the hassle of changing out hitches based on their drops. The Bulletproof Drop/Rise Adjustable Trailer Hitch has five height settings that its double-sided 2.0- and 2.5-in. ball mount can reach. It’s also a Class IV hitch with a gross trailer weight of 14,000.0 lbs. for a 2.0-in. receiver.

While many other trailer hitches have a sleek black powder coat, this Bulletproof hitch has a textured powder coating that’s nearly impossible to scratch or rust.

We rated the Bulletproof Adjustable hitch at 4.7 stars. It’s incredibly versatile and offers best-in-class weight capacity, but also sits very low to the ground.

Amazon Review Score: 4.7 out of 5 based on more than 200 ratings

Many customers claim this is the most versatile hitch they’ve ever used, calling its durability outstanding. Some negative reviews say the hitch is too big for the vehicles, nearly dragging on the pavement as they drive with it installed.

Adjustability. The Bulletproof Drop/Rise Adjustable Trailer Hitch works well for anyone who needs to hitch trailers of various heights without worrying about high or low riding. It’s also great for anyone who has a lift on their vehicle and needs a hitch for shorter trailers.

We’ve included a short buyers guide to give you a basic overview of what trailer hitches are and how they function.

A trailer hitch, also known as a tow hitch, is a sturdy metal device that mounts to the frame of a vehicle. It allows drivers to connect a variety of accessories such as trailers, cargo carriers, bike racks, and more to their car.

Trailer hitch classes represent the levels of trailer attachments. These are each designed for different vehicle types and weight distributions.

Trailer hitches are designed to make towing cargo easier than ever before. After testing each product, our team has determined the best trailer hitches for different uses, considering ease of installation and versatility. Our buyers guide and review is a tool for you to make the process of finding the right trailer hitch for your vehicle easier than ever.

In general, most trailer hitch receivers are 2.0 in. in diameter, and hitches are designed to fit this. Be sure to check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for technical specifications regarding your receiver’s size. It is also important to consider the size of your trailer’s coupler to ensure it fits the trailer hitch of your choice.

While our product review team tested and reviewed bumper-mounted trailer hitches, there are also others such as weight distribution hitches, receiver hitches, gooseneck hitches, and wheel or fifth wheel hitches. Bumper-mounted hitches are the best for basic trailer transport based on their ease of use and reliability.

As long as your vehicle has a receiver for a trailer hitch and a mount, it can tow a trailer. The size of the trailer depends on the weight ratings of both the vehicle and its mount. For example, a sedan is more than likely not suited to tow a camper but can likely pull a small travel trailer or cargo carrier.

Trailers should be level with the towing vehicle to improve stability, braking performance, ground clearance, and aerodynamics. An uneven trailer that rides too high or too low runs a higher risk of scraping the ground or even damaging the towing vehicle, so creating an even ride is very important when choosing a trailer hitch.

*Data accurate at time of publication.