You have to tow something - a trailer, car, motorhome, etc. If you are mechanically oriented you will want to put together the tow hitch assembly yourself - which is a relatively simple task but, one you have never done before.

There are several Hitch Balls, also referred to as "ball mounts", to choose from. Do you know how to pick the right one for the particular task at hand? Are you familiar with the weight and height factors involved and how to figure them out?

Learn how to obtain the correct measurements, how weight ranges dictate the class type, and the styles and types of Hitch Balls available. Other terms and formulas with which you will be familiarized here with with are "Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) and Tongue Weight (TW), that are "two of the most important items to consider." (www.hitchesonline.com)

"Hitches, receivers, ball mounts and hitch couplers are the main components that make up a complete towing system." (wwwauto.howstuffworks.com) Hitch Balls "ensure the proper connection between hitch and trailer." (www.hitchesonline.com) Therefore, both must be level to ensure a smooth tow. "Sometimes a trailer's tongue is higher or lower than the ball mount on the vehicle, and a ball mount with a rise or a drop is required to level the trailer." (www.hitchesonline.com)

When deciding which Hitch Ball is the one you need there are certain factors which come into play and which need to be considered. "These include vehicle type, towing capacity, and of course, trailer and load size. Trailer hitches, ball mounts (Hitch Balls) and couplers are classified by the amount of weight they can withstand safely." (www.auto.howstuffworks.com)

When measuring for Hitch Balls you must firstly "measure from the ground to the top of the hitch. Secondly, you need to measure from ground to the (inside) top of the trailer coupler. When conducting this second measurement, ensure that the trailer coupler is level. Lastly, subtract the height of the Hitch Ball from the coupler measurement. The difference of the two measurements is the amount of Hitch Ball rise or drop required." (www.redtrailers.com)

"This is one of the two most important items to consider and . is the weight of a fully loaded trailer. It's not a weight rating determined by the manufacturer or a weight combined with any other weight -- it's the actual weight of the trailer after you've loaded all of your snowmobiles, firewood, camping gear, people or any other cargo onto (or into) it. Any weight that you add to the trailer adds to the gross trailer weight." (www.auto.howstuffworks.com)

(Photo courtesy of: sister72, Flickr.)

The other important item to consider is Tongue Weight ((TW). Tongue Weight is the term used to describe the downward weight applied by the towable equipment on the hitch ball and "should not be more than 10% of the Gross Trailer Weight.Too much Tongue Weight can loosen the steering of your tow vehicle. Too little tongue weight and your trailer will fishtail." (www.querycat.com)

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has created 5 hitch classes which are, basically, dependent on the Tongue Weight and Gross Trailer Weight figures. Below, is a chart provided by www.auto.howstuffworks.com, with the different hitch classes and their respective weight allowances:

Unless you are towing a spaceship, Hitch Balls normally come in the 3 most commons styles: straight cut, angle cut and drop cut. When choosing Hitch Balls "you must compare the towing capacity of your trailer to the maximum GTW and TW." (www.auto.howstuffworks.com)

The types of Hitch Balls which are most common and that are used "on light passenger or heavy duty pickup trucks are:

• Self aligning -- ball mount with integrated aligning system similar to forming a "V" to guide the trailer coupler on to the ball
• Multi-ball -- mount that has a ball on three or four sides that can be rotated to accept different sized couplers
• Cushioned ball mounts -- mounts that act as a shock absorber so that the trailer weight doesn't damage the drivetrain during acceleration and braking
• Integral ball -- a one-piece mount that does not have an opening to accept different balls; the ball is part of the mount
• Dual-ball mount -- similar to multi-ball mounts, yet only has two balls
• Triple-ball with pintle hook -- similar to multi-ball mounts only these integrate a pintle hook as well for use with lunette ring trailer couplers." (www.auto.howstuffworks.com)

When considering towing anything the issue of SAFETY must be first and foremost in your mind. Trying to cut corners, buy the wrong equipment because it is cheaper equipment and, in general, doing things that are illogical will simply not work. Remember that you are not only putting your life in danger but also the lives of others on the road.

(Photo courtesy of: Elsie esq for Flickr.)