How important are hitch accessories?

Trailer hitches are an excellent addition to any vehicle. Being able to hook up a trailer and tow around heavy loads is helpful in several different scenarios. But is a hitch enough to get the job done? You’ve probably seen ads for hitch accessories, but how important are they? Knowing which accessories will enhance your towing experience and which products are unnecessary is difficult. So how important are hitch accessories, and which ones should you get? Here’s what you need to know.

Common Hitch Accessories

When considering the importance of hitch accessories, it’s necessary to look at several different products and identify what they do. Once you’re familiar with some standard hitch accessories, you’ll better understand which supplements will benefit you and which unneeded options. Here are a few standard hitch accessories.

Reducer Sleeve

A reducer sleeve works as an adapter, allowing you to switch out hitch balls without switching out your entire hitch assembly. This is an excellent accessory for those who tow multiple trailers and regularly need to utilize different size ball mounts.

Hitch Step

Perfect for those who want to protect the look of their truck, hitch steps are accessories that provide a foothold when gaining access to your vehicle’s truck bed, SUV trunk, or roof rack. This is optimal as it helps you avoid stepping on your vehicle’s bumper, which can damage it. Furthermore, a serrated hitch step, like those at GEN-Y Hitch, offers more traction than a bumper, keeping you from slipping or falling.

Weight-Distribution Shank

This accessory is beneficial because it allows you to adjust the height of your weight distribution system. A weight-distribution shank ensures that your tow vehicle and trailer are aligned correctly. Without proper alignment, your vehicle’s towing weight may be too high or too low, providing less control on the road and increasing your chances of an accident.

Mounting Plate

A pintle mounting plate is a beautiful hitch accessory that converts regular receivers to be used with pintle-type trailers. This makes your hitch even more diverse because you don’t need to purchase separate products. You can adapt your current receiver to your needs.

Hitch Extender

When towing, some vehicles need help staying clear of your towing kit, causing them to bump into each other during use. Hitch extenders keep this from happening by extending your hitch further away from your vehicle. However, it’s important to note that this will increase the leverage on your hitch, therefore decreasing your overall towing capacity by up to 50%.

There are many different hitch accessories, each with its purpose. Determining their importance depends entirely on your individual needs. If you regularly need to switch out hitches for other trailers, then a simple adapter could be a game changer. If you’re tired of scuffing your bumper with your boots, a hitch step would be an excellent addition to your vehicle.

Consider browsing GEN-Y’s selection of hitch accessories to find products that work for you. Don’t settle for a less-than-stellar towing experience when a simple hitch accessory could make a difference!

Let Us Help!

Gen-Y Hitch exists to better the lives of our customers, dealers, vendors, employees, and the automotive industry. We will always put our customers’ needs ahead of our own. Contact us today, and let us help you!

Scroll to Top

GEN-Y Hitch Limited Lifetime Warranty

This Limited Lifetime Warranty covers defects in the materials or workmanship of All GEN-Y manufactured products and is limited to the repair or replacement of the product by GEN-Y Hitch. The decision as to whether the solution is replacement or repair shall be at GEN-Y Hitch’s sole determination. This Limited Lifetime Warranty is provided only to the original purchaser and applies only to the original installation.

TORSION-FLEX Hitches

All rubber components for TORSION-FLEX Hitches are assured for 5 years from the date the unit was purchased.

Click HERE to purchase a TORSION-FLEX Lifetime Warranty  

This Limited Lifetime Warranty Warranty is expressly IN LIEU of any other express warranty and is further IN LIEU of any implied warranty, including, but not limited to, any implied WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE except as may otherwise be required by applicable Federal or State law at the time the hitch was manufactured.

This Limited Lifetime Warranty does not cover the following:

  • normal wear and tear 
  • the finish on the product  →  wear around the shank of the hitch, the ball mount & the pintle saddle is inevitable and should be expected with normal use of the hitch due to metal on metal contact from trailer couplers / lunette rings
  • replacement of the product by any person or entity other than GEN-Y Hitch
  • any consequential or incidental damages including, but not limited to: commercial loss, loss of time, loss or damage to personal property, lodging, meals or other related travel costs or any other incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of the product, the inability to use the product or for any other reasonable delay in performance under this Lifetime Warranty
  • service or labor charges for:
    • installing the product 
    • removing the product
    • returning the product to GEN-Y Hitch or replacing the product by anyone other than GEN-Y Hitch
    • damages caused by abuse, neglect, misuse, misapplication, overloading or improper installation, improper maintenance, repair, negligence or acts of God
    • alteration of the product in any way other than by GEN-Y Hitch
    • failure to utilize the product in compliance with it’s User Manual
    • failure of any product to which the GEN-Y product was attached

GEN-Y Hitch shall not be held responsible for any or all “compatible parts or products” being used or being utilized for towing with or around a GEN-Y Hitch product. GEN-Y Hitch products shall never be altered in any circumstance or for any reason and will void any warranties if done so.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

This Limited Lifetime Warranty gives you specific legals right, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state. The laws applicable to any litigation, dispute, mediation, arbitration, or any claim whatsoever arising from the sale, purchase, or use of the product shall be the laws of the State of Indiana, without regard to rules pertaining to conflicts of law. The exclusive jurisdiction for deciding any claims, demands or causes of action relating in any way, from the sale, purchase, or use of the product shall be with the courts of the Circuit or Superior Courts of Elkhart County, Indiana.

Changes in the Design of and/or Improvements to GEN-Y Hitch products and substitution of parts or components

GEN-Y Hitch reserves the unrestricted right at any time and from time to time to make changes in the design of and/or improvements upon GEN-Y Hitch products without thereby imposing any obligation upon itself to make corresponding changes or improvements in or upon GEN-Y Hitch products already manufactured. GEN-Y Hitch further reserves the right to substitute parts or components of substantially equal quality in any warranty service required by the operation of this Limited Warranty.

If your GEN-Y product was involved in an accident, do not continue to tow with it. There may be structural damage to the hitch that you cannot see that could result in product failure