Whether you are planning on moving or simply want to tow some items across town, you will need to have a trailer hitch installed on your vehicle. However, matching your vehicle to a hitch and trailer can be complicated. You will need to make several measurements and know some specifics about your vehicle in order set up and tow correctly.

Here are some of the factors to consider when choosing the right hitch.

Different Hitch Types

Several types of hitches are available for all types of uses and towing needs. Some are designed for light uses with smaller vehicles, and others are excellent for heavy-duty or commercial towing.

Bumper Hitch

Bumper hitches are installed directly on the bumper and are designed for light-duty uses. Examples of the common uses for these hitches include bike or scooter racks or light trailers. This setup is limited by the strength of the bumper.

Weight-Distribution Hitch

These hitches are used in combination with other hitches to distribute the load’s weight more evenly across the vehicle and trailer’s axles. This type of hookup is great for heavy loads, and it works to help make steering easier.

Pintle Hitch

Pintle hitches are simply designed and easy to hook up. They consist of a round hook bolted to a trailer and a pincer-type pintle attached to the truck, connecting the trailer to the truck. This system has a very high weight rating and is most often used in commercial industries.

Receiver Hitch

Receiver hitches are one of the most common types of hitches and can be found on all types of vehicles. The receiver part is bolted to the car or truck and a ball mount and coupling is used to make up height differences between the trailer and the receiver. There are five classes of receiver hitches.

• Class 1: This hitch has a weight capacity of less than 2000 pounds and is designed for small or medium-sized passenger cars.
• Class 2: This is a heavier-duty hitch with a weight capacity of 3500 pounds. This class of hitch works well with full-sized cars as well as minivans and SUVs.
• Class 3: With a weight capacity of 8000 pounds, this hitch must be used with full-sized pickup trucks and SUVs. This class of equipment is also useful with a weight-distribution hitch.
• Class 4: This class has a weight capacity of 10000 pounds and is compatible with a weight-distribution hitch. This type of hookup is ideal for camping trailers.
• Class 5: This setup has a weight capacity of up to 20000 pounds and is frequently used with heavy-duty, full-sized pickup trucks or commercial vehicles.

Choose a hitch that is rated to haul the heaviest load you’ll ever have.

Weight Ratings and Your Vehicle

Be aware of the towing weight capacity of your vehicle and take into consideration the weight of not only your trailer and the item you plan to tow but also the weight of your hitch, mounts, and couplings. If you don’t know your trailer or tongue weight, you can have a professional weigh your equipment for you or you can use a truck scale.

Your towing capacity cannot exceed your lowest-rated component. For example, if your receiver is rated at 5000 pounds, but your ball is rated at 3500 pounds, then your towing capacity is 3500 pounds. However, just because your equipment can tow up to 3500 pounds, it doesn’t mean that your vehicle is capable of doing so. Check your car’s or truck’s owner’s manual for recommended towing capacity.

In order for your hitch to work properly and without damaging either your vehicle or your trailer, you have to do a little research. Make sure you get the right type of hitch and tow with the right type of vehicle.

Once you have everything set, then come over to Del’s Truck Rentals and get your hitch installed, or pick up a kit so that you can do it at home. We not only have receiver hitches but balls, ball mounts, and even pintle hitches that can handle all types of towing situations.

Renting a moving truck for your commercial move is easy if you prepare ahead of time. Below are five important dos that will help make the rental experience the best it can be.

1. Do Reserve Your Truck Early
   

   As with a lot of things in life, the earlier you make a reservation the better to insure that it will be available when you want to use it.

   Since you rent vehicles on a first-come-first-served basis, you may be stuck renting a vehicle that doesn’t meet your needs or wishes. That’s why you should make contact with a rental truck agency as soon as you know you will need a truck.

Moving your warehouse is a big job. For most businesses, the warehouse and the inventory it holds are key to all business operations. Does the idea of winding down an old warehouse system, physically moving operations, and starting a new one worry you? If so, here’s a guide to keeping productivity up during your transition.

A dump truck is among the most important pieces of equipment at a construction or job site. A dump truck eliminates the need for manual material hauling, allowing contractors to save on labor costs, boost productivity and efficiency, and minimize job site hazards.

One way to save on construction costs is to rent a dump truck. Renting is a smart choice especially for short-term construction projects. While purchasing a new dump truck can set you back $100,000 or more, renting a dump truck might be a more cost-effective option for short-term needs. Renting further eliminates maintenance and repair expenses, which can add up quickly over time.

Read on to find out how to make the most of your dump truck rental.

Moving your business yourself may cost much less than hiring professional movers, but the part where you get yourself to another location still isn’t free. A budget and some other steps can help you financially prepare for a move and keep your costs manageable. Here’s how to make a budget for your local business move.

Step 1: Price a Moving Truck

Start by pricing how much a moving truck will cost you as soon as you know you’ll be moving. Truck rental companies provide quotes months out, and you’ll definitely need a truck since you can’t fit everything your business needs in your personal vehicle. By pricing a truck in advance, you might be able to save on the rental costs.

Between packing, planning, and finding friends willing to help lug boxes, moving can be very stressful. If you’re an environmentally conscious homeowner, you’ll also want to plan are location that doesn’t waste any of Mother Nature’s resources. Luckily, you can do several simple things to plan an environmentally friendly move.

Here are a few tips to help you plan and execute an eco-friendly move.

Your business is expanding, which means you need to move into a bigger space. Just because profits are up, the money is coming in, and you’re on top of your game, doesn’t mean you should spend extra money on new furnishings when you move into your new property.

Being practical and a savvy business-person means taking your old office furniture, fixtures and everything else with you. Unfortunately, it also means that the move into your new space suddenly becomes a bigger challenge, but not a challenge you can’t handle.

Renting a truck is the first step in your move, but the truck is not the only rental that can make the trek from one place to another easier. What else do you need to move your commercial office, retail or other business space? Take a look at how to make your business-related move almost painless.

Moving is a costly process on its own, but with poor planning before a move, relocating can be a highly stressful and financially draining experience, both during and after the move. Fortunately, you can move while staying on budget. Use this guide to learn more about the things you can do to save money on your upcoming move.

Are you planning a road trip with your extended family? If you have to move a lot of people at once, you need to plan differently when it’s just you and your own children.

No matter whether it’s a reunion, a family wedding, or just a little vacation time, you can make sure everyone has a great time by following these ideas.

Driving a moving truck may sound daunting. The vehicle is big and heavy, and maybe you’ve never driven anything like it. But if you apply the following eight tips, you can make the trip confidently, whether it’s a few blocks away or across the country.

1. Rent the Right Size Truck

You need to make sure you rent the right size truck for the amount of belongings you pack. If you rent a truck too small, you can’t fit everything. If you rent a truck too big, the contents of the truck could shift in transit. Shifting makes the drive more difficult and could also result in your belongings getting broken or damaged.

2. Check Your Insurance Coverage

While you don’t typically need a special license to drive a moving truck, your insurance might not have adequate coverage. Call your insurance company or take a close look at your policy. If driving a moving truck is not covered, go ahead and update your policy now.

3. Know the Truck’s Specs

There are three main things about the moving truck you need to know before setting out. One, you need to know its maximum weight capacity. If you come across any weigh stations, you may need to report this information. Secondly, you need to know what kind of fuel the truck takes. Some trucks take diesel, some do not.

And finally, you need to know the truck’s height. Low bridges or underpasses have a sign that tells you exactly how tall they are so you know if you can make it. If it’s too close, don’t attempt it. Find another route.

4. Drive Around the Block First

Take the truck for a short drive around the block once it’s loaded up and ready to go. Find all the controls: turn signals, windshield wipers, climate controls, and other devices. Get accustomed to the side mirrors and lack of rear view mirror, and be aware of the blind spots. You need a feel for driving the vehicle fully loaded before you’re on the freeway.

5. Plot Your Route

Plan your route carefully, especially on longer trips. Any stops you make will need to have adequate parking. If your trip is going to last more than a day, find hotels that have parking specifically for trucks. Do keep in mind as you plan your route that ETAs, unless they’re calculated for trucks in particular, will not be met.

6. Keep the Size of the Truck in Mind

This truck may be significantly larger than anything you’ve ever driven before. Acceleration takes much longer than you’re accustomed to, as does deceleration. Keep a good distance from the car in front of you at all times. Turning also takes up more space than you’re used to, so give yourself plenty of room.

7. Take It Slow

Because acceleration and deceleration take longer, don’t to go too fast. Don’t try to pass another car going just about as fast as you are: it’ll take too long. In some areas, your speed limit is actually lower than other vehicles’. Follow the rules of the road. An accident with a moving truck will be much worse than with your everyday vehicle.

8. Know How and Where to Park

Some hotels have truck parking as do most rest stops along the interstate. Remember to park in those provided areas instead of the normal parking. For other locations, pay attention to where parking is allowed and find somewhere that has enough space, is out of the way, and is easily accessible.

Take it slow and take it easy. Be extra cautious. If weather gets out of hand, stop. Take breaks when you need them. Driving a moving truck may be daunting, but if you use your head and keep these tips in mind, you’ll be fine.