Which hitch is right for me?

Your trailer's front coupling decides the hitch type. A ball coupler on a tongue needs a bumper pull hitch in a receiver. A kingpin needs a fifth wheel connection in the truck bed. A gooseneck coupler needs a gooseneck ball in the truck bed. Then match the hitch's rated towing capacity and tongue weight to the loaded trailer.

Start with your trailer's coupling

Look at what the front of the trailer connects with, then follow the matching section below.

Four questions that narrow the choice

What trailer are you towing?

The trailer's own coupling is the deciding factor, not its size. A heavy trailer with a ball coupler still needs a hitch that matches that ball coupler, and the hitch rating then has to cover the loaded weight.

What is the tow vehicle?

Bumper pull hitches slide into a receiver, so SUVs and pickups can use them when the vehicle's tow rating allows. Bed-mounted connections need a pickup truck with a bed. GEN-Y's gooseneck balls drop into compatible factory puck systems, so confirm the truck make, model year, and bed length before ordering.

How heavy is the loaded trailer?

Use the loaded trailer weight, not the empty weight. The truck, receiver, hitch, ball, and coupler each carry their own rating, and the lowest rated part sets the real limit for the whole setup. Bumper pull hitches are tested against SAE-J684, and bed-mounted hitches are tested against SAE-J2638.

Tongue weight matters as well. GMC lists proper tongue weight for ball-mounted trailers at roughly 10% to 15% of the loaded trailer weight. Too little can make a trailer prone to swaying, and too much can overload the tow vehicle.

How often do you tow?

Frequent towing raises the value of margin. Leave room between the loaded trailer weight and the hitch rating so cargo added later does not push the setup past its limit. Owners who tow often and want less shock passed through the connection can look at Torsion-Flex, covered below.

Bumper pull: choose this if

• The trailer has a ball coupler, such as a boat, utility, car hauler, equipment, or camper trailer.
• You tow with an SUV or pickup that has a receiver hitch.
• You tow trailers of different heights and want one adjustable drop hitch to serve them all.
• Your loaded trailer weight falls within the 5,000 to 32,000 pound range that GEN-Y bumper pull hitches are rated for.

Ready to size the drop and weight rating? Use the drop hitch selection guide or browse the Bumper Pull Towing collection. The Bumper Pull Guide covers setup in depth.

Fifth wheel: choose this if

• Your trailer is a fifth wheel with a kingpin pin box on a supported frame: LCI Rhino Box or Lippert 1621, 1621 HD, 1116, or 1716.
• The trailer's gross vehicle weight rating falls between 7,275 and 30,000 pounds, the range the EXECUTIVE covers.
• You want a Torsion-Flex pin box that isolates the truck bed from trailer shock. Owners report up to 90% smoother towing than with a standard rigid pin box.

The EXECUTIVE Fifth Wheel Torsion-Flex King Pin Box comes in three tiers, matched to the trailer's gross vehicle weight rating.

Lippert 1116 and 1716 frames need add-on shim plates. The EXECUTIVE needs a 1,000 mile break-in period, and the rubber components carry a five year warranty with a limited lifetime warranty on the remaining components. GMC lists tongue weight for fifth wheel trailers at roughly 15% to 30% of the loaded trailer weight. Learn more on the fifth wheel towing page or in the Fifth Wheel Guide.

Gooseneck: choose this if

• Your trailer is a gooseneck flatbed, utility, or enclosed trailer.
• Your truck has a compatible factory puck system and you want a ball that drops in without drilling or permanent modifications.
• Your loaded trailer weight calls for a rated towing capacity between 21,000 and 30,000 pounds.
• You tow daily. GEN-Y reports that hotshot haulers who tow daily have reported fuel savings and reduced tire wear with the SPARTAN.

Gooseneck hole patterns vary significantly between trailer brands, so check the trailer's hole pattern before ordering a coupler. The SPARTAN sits taller than a standard coupler, so measure from the bottom of the current coupler to the retaining pin to confirm it clears the trailer deck. See the full Gooseneck Towing collection or read the Gooseneck Guide.

Torsion-Flex or standard?

Torsion-Flex is GEN-Y's patented rubber torsion technology. GEN-Y states that the torsion arms transfer about 10% of trailer inertia, compared with 100% through a rigid hitch, and owners report up to 90% smoother towing. The BOSS suits owners who want to protect cargo and give passengers a smoother ride. A Torsion-Flex hitch is an option, not a requirement, and GEN-Y states that its standard hitches also exceed SAE testing requirements. Read more on the Torsion-Flex technology page.

Frequently asked questions

Which hitch type do I need for my trailer?

Your trailer's front coupling decides. A coupler that drops over a ball on the tongue uses a bumper pull hitch in a receiver. A kingpin uses a fifth wheel connection in the pickup bed. A gooseneck coupler uses a gooseneck ball in the pickup bed. Check the coupling first, then match the hitch's rated towing capacity and tongue weight to the loaded trailer weight.

Do I need a pickup truck?

Bumper pull hitches mount in a receiver, so SUVs and pickups can use them when the vehicle's tow rating allows. Bed-mounted connections need a pickup with a bed. GEN-Y's gooseneck balls drop into compatible factory puck systems, so confirm your truck make, model year, and bed length before ordering.

How do I find the weight rating that matters?

Start with the trailer's loaded weight, not its empty weight. Check the rating tag on the hitch and the tow rating in the truck's owner's manual. The lowest rated component sets the safe limit for the whole setup, so match the ball, coupler, hitch, and vehicle to the loaded trailer with room to spare.

How much tongue weight should I have?

GMC lists proper tongue weight for ball-mounted trailers at roughly 10% to 15% of the loaded trailer weight, and 15% to 30% for trailers with a bed-mounted connection. Too little can cause sway, and too much can overload the tow vehicle's rear tires. Every GEN-Y hitch lists its own tongue weight rating, which is a ceiling, not a target.

Is Torsion-Flex worth choosing?

Torsion-Flex is optional. GEN-Y states its torsion arms transfer about 10% of trailer inertia compared with 100% through a rigid hitch, and owners report up to 90% smoother towing. It fits owners who want to protect cargo and give passengers a smoother ride. Standard GEN-Y hitches are also tested to exceed SAE requirements.

Can I run Torsion-Flex on more than one part of my setup?

GEN-Y does not recommend using the DOMINATOR alongside other Torsion-Flex products in the same towing setup. If you already run a Torsion-Flex hitch or coupler, contact GEN-Y at (574) 218-6363 before adding another.

Still unsure?

Use the dealer finder to locate an authorized dealer, or call the GEN-Y team at (574) 218-6363 for help matching a hitch to your truck and trailer.