Forum Discussion
BarneyS
Jan 15, 2015Explorer III
The receiver is the square tubed hitch attached to the rear of the tow vehicle. It may be 2.5 inches, 2 inches, or 1.25 inches square.
The draw bar, or WD hitch shank, slides into the receiver and is held in there by a 1/2 inch or 5/8 in diameter pin.
The draw bar will have the ball attached and the shank usually has several holes in it, is L shaped, and has the hitch head attached to which the ball and the weight distribution bars are attached.
Ball Mount or Draw Bar
![](http://i.imgur.com/0Mlrx9vl.jpg[/IMG]<br><br><b>Shank</b><br>[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/ob3FBE8l.jpg)
WD hitch head mounted on shank
![](http://i.imgur.com/q7WkqPXl.jpg)
All receivers have a weight limit attached to them and that means just what the receiver is capable of - not necessarily the whole vehicle. There are other limits imposed on the vehicle by the manufacturer that may be higher or lower than those of the receiver. In other words, your receiver may be capable of carrying 1000lbs but the manufacturer limits the tongue weight to 600lbs for some reason.
Barney
The draw bar, or WD hitch shank, slides into the receiver and is held in there by a 1/2 inch or 5/8 in diameter pin.
The draw bar will have the ball attached and the shank usually has several holes in it, is L shaped, and has the hitch head attached to which the ball and the weight distribution bars are attached.
Ball Mount or Draw Bar
![](http://i.imgur.com/0Mlrx9vl.jpg[/IMG]<br><br><b>Shank</b><br>[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/ob3FBE8l.jpg)
WD hitch head mounted on shank
![](http://i.imgur.com/q7WkqPXl.jpg)
All receivers have a weight limit attached to them and that means just what the receiver is capable of - not necessarily the whole vehicle. There are other limits imposed on the vehicle by the manufacturer that may be higher or lower than those of the receiver. In other words, your receiver may be capable of carrying 1000lbs but the manufacturer limits the tongue weight to 600lbs for some reason.
Barney
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