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Cajun_Bill's avatar
Cajun_Bill
Explorer
Oct 05, 2014

multi-purpose hitches

While I do own a 5th wheel, this question concerns hitches that I use to pull my boats. I have a need for two different hitches, one that is much higher than the other because one of my boats requires a high hitch to allow any rain encountered on the trip to the launch to flow out of the drain hole and one that is about as high as the receiver itself for the other boat. For sometime, I have wanted to get a hitch that could be adjusted high and low rather than continuing to switch out the tow bar/ball each time.

I know that B&W makes such a hitch, but it appears these hitches would rust when left out in the weather, just as my other two hitches have done. I have seen on other trucks a hitch that appears to be made out of stainless steel or some other material that is gray in color (galvanized possibly?), but I haven't been able to find such a hitch online and have never been able to get close enough to these hitches to get the manufacturer's name. The one I'm thinking of has notches all along the back vertical and it appears that all one has to do is pull a pin, slide the hitch up (or down) and then reinsert the pin. From what I can tell, both the ball and hitch itself are made of materials that don't rust.

I know my description is kind of fuzzy, but hopefully I have given enough info for someone to recognize what I'm talking about. Any help would be appreciated.

16 Replies

  • Golden_HVAC wrote:
    It seems to me that removing the hitch shank is something that I do when I am not towing, so that I do not hit the hitch receiver with my knees when not towing.

    Why not have two hitch receivers and have the ball already mounted on each? So simple to switch between the two. We do that at work all the time, as our van tows a 2 axle trailer with electric brakes most of the time and 2-5/16" ball, while the smaller single axle trailer has a 2" ball mount. Two heights too.

    Fred.


    Fred, that is what I do now, but each time I get rust on my hands because the hitch bars and the balls are not SS and coated with rust. In addition, one of the hitches sticks out too far so that I can't close my garage door so I have to remove it just to close the door.

    Now, to those who recommend the Anderson, that is exactly the hitch I was talking about. Talk about "immediate answers"! In addition, I posted this just before going to church today and as luck would have it, one of the trucks in the parking lot had this same hitch. What a coincidence. Great forum and thanks to all who responded.
  • I drive through RV alley (Shipshewana, Middlebury, Howe) daily and the RV haulers will often be using the aluminum Anderson Rapid hitch for what that's worth.
  • It seems to me that removing the hitch shank is something that I do when I am not towing, so that I do not hit the hitch receiver with my knees when not towing.

    Why not have two hitch receivers and have the ball already mounted on each? So simple to switch between the two. We do that at work all the time, as our van tows a 2 axle trailer with electric brakes most of the time and 2-5/16" ball, while the smaller single axle trailer has a 2" ball mount. Two heights too.

    Fred.
  • I'm looking at the Anderson Rapid Hitch myself. I like the B&W as well but the Aluminum construction on the Rapid hitch appeals to me.

    Here is a Link

    Thanks!

    Jeremiah