Tow correctly: How Curt hitches and other hitches connect with your trailer and brakes

Are you done with raking your backyard and need to get rid of the leaves? Get the trailer going and leave your leaves there. Are you planning a trip to the desert and can't find space for your motorcycle? A trailer might be the solution. Or, are you're adventurous and moving from coast to coast with all your stuff? Well, get that trailer out of dad's garage and hit the road.

But be aware, and don't forget to ask yourself the most important question: can your car actually tow a trailer? If not, it should neither ruin your day nor your budget. The solution comes in the form of trailer hitches. These unimposing devices sit at the rear bottom of your car, either in your bumper or right below it. Good news: if your car isn't outfitted with factory ones, it doesn't take too much time to equip your vehicle, and it doesn't cost a fortune.

Trailer hitches come in two versions: as a receiver-type and as a fixed-drawbar type. Either way, the main axis of the trailer hitch has to be mounted onto the chassis of the car- and that's basically it. If you have a receiver-type trailer hitch, you want to make sure to have the tow-ball that connects your vehicle to the trailer ready. The receiver-hitch has an opening for ball mounts that allows not only trailers but also hitch mounted accessories like bike racks or cargo carriers to be mounted.

The other type of a trailer hitch is called a fixed-drawbar hitch. They are usually built as one piece and have an integrated hole for the trailer ball attached. Commonly, they are not compatible with aftermarket hitch accessories.

That said, you can go out and look out for hitches. You will see many Curt hitches on the street, though the variety of hitches in the store can be overwhelming. For whatever trailer hitch you decide upon, make sure to have your brakes in tip top shape to bring your vehicle to a halt. You might need an additional T-connector to keep your brake lights triggered when you hit the brakes.