Tow Vehicle Weight Ratings and Hitch Requirements
Every tow vehicle carries a manufacturer-rated towing capacity that should not be exceeded. For open deck flat bed trailer rentals, the combined weight of the trailer's empty weight plus the full cargo load needs to fall within that rating. Exceeding it stresses the transmission, brakes, and suspension in ways that may not be immediately apparent but compound over the length of the trip.
Hitch ball size needs to match the trailer's coupler. The most common sizes for flatbed rentals are 1-7/8 inch and 2 inch — using the wrong size creates an insecure connection. Big Rentals confirms this at pickup, but verifying in advance prevents any last-minute issues on the rental day.