Hitches, Receivers & Ball Mounts
Receiver Hitch Sizes: The Chart
Four tube sizes, four sets of accessories. Measure the opening before you order anything that slots into it.
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Short answer
Four sizes exist: 1-1/4 in, 2 in, 2-1/2 in and 3 in. Two inches is by far the most common on light trucks and SUVs. Accessories are not interchangeable between sizes without a sleeve, and a sleeve derates the connection.
The sizes
| Tube size | Common pin hole | Typical application |
|---|---|---|
| 1-1/4 in | 1/2 in | Class 1 and 2 - bike racks, light utility |
| 2 in | 5/8 in (sometimes 1/2 in) | Class 3 to 5 - the mainstream size |
| 2-1/2 in | 5/8 in | Heavy-duty trucks, higher Class 5 |
| 3 in | 5/8 in | Commercial and the heaviest applications |
Pin hole diameter varies by manufacturer and application - measure rather than assume, especially before ordering an anti-rattle pin.
How to measure yours
Measure the inside of the square opening across the flats, not the outside of the tube. A 2 in receiver has a 2 in opening; the steel around it adds to the outside dimension and will mislead you by a quarter inch or more.
Reducer sleeves
A sleeve lets a 2 in mount go into a 2-1/2 in receiver. It is a legitimate part and it has one consequence people skip: the connection is now rated to the sleeve and the smaller mount, not to the larger receiver. If your truck has a 2-1/2 in receiver because it is rated to pull a great deal, sleeving down to 2 in hardware throws that away.
Quick picks
Tap any row to jump to the full write-up. How these are chosen - and what we do and do not claim to know - is published in full on our research methodology page.
| # | Product | Best for | Our read | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  CURT Adjustable Channel Mount with Dual Ball (2 in shank, 6 in drop) 2 in receivers | Garages with several trailers | The most common size by far | Check price on Amazon #ad Affiliate link - we publish no price; Amazon shows the current one |
| 2 |  CURT Loaded Ball Mount with 2 in Ball (2 in drop, 7,500 lb) 2 in, fixed | One trailer at a known height | Simplest option for the common size | Check price on Amazon #ad Affiliate link - we publish no price; Amazon shows the current one |
| 3 |  CURT Anti-Rattle Hitch Pin and Shim (2 in receiver) 2 in, 1/2 in pin hole | Killing receiver rattle | Check your pin hole before ordering | Check price on Amazon #ad Affiliate link - we publish no price; Amazon shows the current one |
1. 2 in receivers
CURT Adjustable Channel Mount with Dual Ball (2 in shank, 6 in drop)
CURT · Best for garages with several trailers
One mount that covers two ball sizes and a range of heights, which is the answer when the garage contains a boat trailer, a utility trailer and a camper that all sit at different heights. Capacity drops to the lower-rated ball you are actually using.
Published specifications
What works
- Two ball sizes and a height range in a single mount
- Flipping it gives rise as well as drop
- Rated to 14,000 lb on the larger ball
What does not
- Heavy, and more joints means more places for rattle to start
- The pins and bolts need checking for torque, unlike a one-piece mount
Skip it if
Pointless if you own one trailer and tow it with one truck - a fixed mount at the right height is lighter, quieter and cheaper.
#ad Affiliate link - we publish no price; Amazon shows the current one
Raw specifications: CURT’s own page. We earn nothing on that link.
2. 2 in, fixed
CURT Loaded Ball Mount with 2 in Ball (2 in drop, 7,500 lb)
CURT · Best for one trailer at a known height
A one-piece mount with the ball already fitted and torqued, rated to 7,500 lb gross and 750 lb tongue with a 2 in drop. Nothing adjusts, which is exactly why nothing rattles or works loose.
Published specifications
What works
- Arrives with the ball fitted, so there is no torque step to get wrong
- One piece means nothing to loosen or rattle
- Light enough to leave in the receiver or throw in a toolbox
What does not
- The 2 in drop is the only drop - measure before you buy
- 7,500 lb ceiling rules out heavier trailers
Skip it if
Useless on a lifted truck, where a 2 in drop will still leave the trailer nose-high and the weight on the rear axle of the trailer.
#ad Affiliate link - we publish no price; Amazon shows the current one
Raw specifications: CURT’s own page. We earn nothing on that link.
3. 2 in, 1/2 in pin hole
CURT Anti-Rattle Hitch Pin and Shim (2 in receiver)
CURT · Best for killing receiver rattle
A pin plus a wedge shim that takes the slop out of the gap between a 2 in mount and a 2 in receiver. That gap is a manufacturing tolerance, not a fault, and this is the cheapest thing on the whole site that fixes a real, daily annoyance.
Published specifications
What works
- Removes the clunk over expansion joints for very little money
- Fits in a glovebox and transfers between vehicles
- No modification to the receiver or the mount
What does not
- Does nothing about rattle originating at the coupler or the sway bar
- Listed as superseded, so check the current item number
Skip it if
Not the fix if the noise is coming from a loose ball nut or a worn coupler - find the source first, because a shim will just mask it.
#ad Affiliate link - we publish no price; Amazon shows the current one
Raw specifications: CURT’s own page. We earn nothing on that link.
Key takeaways
- Measure the inside of the opening, not the outside of the tube.
- Pin hole diameter is a separate measurement and varies.
- A reducer sleeve derates the connection to the smaller hardware.
- Two inches is the mainstream size and has by far the widest accessory range.
How we sourced this
Every figure on this page came from one of the following, each fetched while the page was written. Where a manufacturer or regulator does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate it.
Common questions
- How do I measure my receiver?
- Across the inside of the square opening, flat to flat. The outside dimension of the tube includes the wall thickness and will give you the wrong answer.
- Can I make a 1-1/4 in receiver take 2 in accessories?
- No. Adapters that step up exist and are a bad idea - they put a larger, higher-leverage accessory on a receiver rated for far less.
- Why does my pin not fit?
- Pin hole diameters differ - 1/2 in and 5/8 in are both common. Measure the hole before ordering pins, locks or anti-rattle hardware.
More in Hitches, Receivers & Ball Mounts
Class, receiver size, ball diameter, drop. Four numbers decide whether your setup is right, and three of them are stamped on parts you already own.
Read next
Reference
Hitch Classes Explained
The class system from 1 to 5, the two ratings on every label, and the mistake of inferring capacity from tube size.
Guide
Hitch Pin Sizes
Pin diameters and lengths, the difference between clip and locking pins, and how anti-rattle pins work.
Reference
Receiver Size by Truck
A method rather than a lookup table: how to establish your receiver's size, pin hole and rating from the vehicle itself.
Best ball mount
Best Ball Mounts
Fixed, adjustable, stowing and scale-equipped mounts compared on drop range, capacity and how much they rattle.
Found something out of date, or a figure you can source better than we did? Corrections get read first. How we research explains how these pages are put together, and contact is one click away.