The Complete Guide to 2" Receiver Hitches

Whether you’re buying your first 2” receiver hitch or upgrading your old setup, our comprehensive guide will give you all the information you need to successfully purchase a new trailer hitch. Our guide covers everything from choosing the right hitch for your vehicle, to the pros and cons of a 2” receiver hitch, to must-have accessories. Let’s get into it.

• 2" Receiver Hitch Pros & Cons
• 2” Receiver Accessories
• 2” Hitch Classes and Vehicle Types
• How to Choose the Right 2” Receiver
• Newest 2” Receiver Hitches
• FAQ

While this may be true in some cases, generally the 2” version and 1-1/4” version of a receiver hitch have a marginal weight difference. The same hitch frame may be used for both versions, with the exception of the receiver tube size.

Here again, the 2” receiver hitch isn’t necessarily harder to install because of its larger receiver tube. The receiver tube size has no bearing on installation difficulty. It all depends on the hitch design.

Even though the 2” receiver tube is large than its 1-1/4” alternative, the mere 3/4" difference does not make the hitch visually intrusive on the vehicle. Any hitch can be visually intrusive, from class 1 to class 5. What makes a hitch low-profile and unobtrusive is a concealed main body. Most CURT hitches developed today come with a concealed main body, hiding the majority of the hitch up under the vehicle’s rear bumper and only exposing the receiver tube.

One of the biggest advantages of a 2” receiver hitch is its compatibility with a wide range of accessories. From ball mounts to cargo carriers and everything in between, the 2” receiver hitch allows you to customize your towing setup to suit all your outdoor adventures.

If you’re in the market for a 2” receiver hitch, you’ll be looking for either a class 3, class 4, or class 5 receiver. The type of receiver you need depends on the type of vehicle you have and what you’ll be towing. If you’re towing a small yard trailer, a class 3 receiver hitch will work just fine. On the other hand, if you’re towing a large camper, you’ll want a class 4 hitch or even a class 5 hitch since they both have a larger towing capacity.

Remember, your towing capacity is always limited to the lowest-rated towing component, whether it’s your hitch, an accessory, the vehicle, your trailer, or any other component of the towing system. For example, if you have a class 4 receiver hitch and your truck has a towing capacity of 8,000 lbs., you can only tow a trailer up to 8,000 lbs. even though your hitch may be rated for 10,000 lbs. 

When it comes to choosing a receiver hitch for your vehicle, it’s actually simpler than you might think. That’s because CURT hitches are custom designed to fit each individual type of vehicle. This allows you to use your year, make, and model to find the exact hitch you need for your vehicle. After that, it’s as simple as choosing the right hitch class and style to safely haul whatever you’re towing.

One last factor to consider when choosing a hitch is aesthetics. For example, you probably wouldn’t want the look of your sporty SUV tainted by a big, square hitch body sticking out. Thankfully CURT offers trailer hitches in both concealed and exposed styles for many vehicles, so you’ll be able to find a trailer hitch that not only fits your lifestyle but also the look of your vehicle.

1. Use CURT’s online tool to look up the year, make, and model of your vehicle.
2. Find out the overall weight of your trailer, boat, camper, or whatever you’ll be towing.
3. Select a hitch class based on the weight of what you’ll be towing.
4. After choosing your 2” hitch receiver, you’ll need to purchase a few additional accessories like a 2" ball mount, hitch lock, and wiring harness.

CURT continues to push the envelope with new hitch development by engineering high-quality, dependable custom hitches for your vehicle. Each and every CURT custom receiver hitch is made in the USA and engineered to fit your vehicle make, model, and year. Check out some of our newest 2” receiver hitch options.

How much weight you can safely tow depends on a couple of different factors. The first factor is what the towing capacity of your vehicle is. The second factor is what class of hitch you have and the ratings of your individual hitch. A class 3 hitch may haul up to 8,000 lbs., a class 4 hitch up to 10,000 lbs., and a class 5 hitch up to 17,000 lbs. These ratings may be limited, depending on the individual model.

Remember your towing capacity is always limited to the lowest-rated towing component in your system. Example: If you have a class 3 hitch and your SUV has a towing capacity of 5,000 lbs., you can only tow a trailer up to 5,000 lbs. even though your hitch is rated for 8,000 lbs. You can never exceed the capacity of the lowest-rated towing component in your system. 

A 2” receiver hitch is a specific type of hitch receiver used for towing. 2” receiver hitches are known as the standard and are commonly found on crossovers, SUVS, and full-size pickup trucks. The “2 inch” refers to the inside dimension of the square receiver opening where you can insert accessories, like a bike rack, cargo carrier, or a ball mount for towing your trailer. The 2” receiver hitch is incredibly popular because it offers a balance of strength and versatility and allows you to tow everything from a bike rack to a small camper or boat trailer.

For a 2” receiver hitch, you will need to use a 5/8” diameter pin with a minimum length of 3”. A 5/8” diameter pin is recommended for use on all class 3, class 4, and class 5 hitches with a 2” x 2” receiver. 

The most common size trailer hitch is a class 3 trailer hitch. Class 3 trailer hitches feature a 2” x 2” receiver and a towing capacity up to 8,000 lbs. Class 3 hitches are extremely versatile and are most commonly found on trucks and larger SUVs due to their ability to tow boats, campers, ATVs, utility trailers, and more.

The easiest way to figure out which trailer hitch will fit your vehicle is by using CURT’s online vehicle selector tool. Enter in the year, make, and model of your vehicle, and it will show you which class hitch will fit your vehicle. You’ll also want to take into consideration the towing capacity of your vehicle and what you’ll be towing. For example, if you have a 2024 Chevy Silverado, you may be able to choose between a class 3, class 4, or class 5 receiver hitch. Which one you need will depend on the size and weight of the trailer, boat, or camper you’ll be towing.

Disclaimer: These photographs, recommendations, and approximations are intended for demonstration purposes only and do not reflect the specifications of any particular tow vehicle, recreational vehicle, or trailer. Always consult the manufacturer’s Owner's Manual.