7 Best Adapters For Towing A Flatbed Trailer With A Class C RV Vets Trust
Towing a flatbed with a Class C RV requires the right adapter. We review 7 top-rated options trusted by veteran RVers for a safe and secure connection.
You’ve got your Class C RV packed and ready, but the adventure requires bringing along your UTV, a project car, or a load of materials on a flatbed trailer. The problem is, the hitch on your RV and the coupler on the trailer don’t line up, and you know that an unlevel, unstable trailer is a recipe for disaster. This isn’t just about connecting two vehicles; it’s about creating a single, safe unit that can handle highways, crosswinds, and long miles without a second thought.
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Key Factors for RV Flatbed Towing Adapters
Before you even look at brand names, you need to understand the physics of what you’re doing. The single most important factor is achieving a level tow. Your flatbed trailer is designed to ride parallel to the ground, distributing its load evenly across its own axles. A nose-up or nose-down trailer handles poorly, wears tires unevenly, and can drastically affect braking. This is where drop or rise comes in—the vertical distance you need to adjust the hitch ball to match the trailer’s coupler height.
Next, you absolutely cannot ignore weight ratings. Every component in your towing system—the RV’s hitch, the adapter, the ball, and the trailer itself—has a maximum Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) and Tongue Weight (TW) rating. Your adapter must be rated for more than your fully loaded trailer’s weight. If you’re towing a 7,000 lb trailer, a hitch rated for 7,500 lbs is not enough; you want a significant safety margin. A 10,000 lb rating provides peace of mind.
Finally, consider the unique challenges of towing with a Class C RV. The long wheelbase and significant rear overhang can create a "tail wags the dog" effect, making sway a serious concern. A simple ball mount does nothing to mitigate this. For heavier or larger flatbed loads, you must look at systems that incorporate weight distribution to level the entire rig and sway control to actively fight the forces that want to push your trailer sideways.
CURT Adjustable Channel Mount for Versatility
Tow confidently with this adjustable ball mount. It offers a 6-inch drop/5.25-inch rise, fits 2-inch receivers, and features a built-in anti-rattle mechanism for smooth, quiet towing up to 14,000 lbs.
The CURT Adjustable Channel Mount is a workhorse, and for many RVers, it’s all they need. Its strength lies in its simplicity and flexibility. The design features a heavy-duty shank that fits into your RV’s receiver and a channel plate with a series of holes. This allows you to bolt the ball mount at various heights, providing a wide range of drop or rise to perfectly level your flatbed trailer.
Think of this as the go-to solution for lighter, well-balanced loads. If you’re towing a 4,000 lb trailer with a UTV on it and your Class C handles the tongue weight without significant sag, the CURT mount is a reliable and cost-effective choice. It solves the height problem, which is the first and most basic hurdle.
However, you have to know its limitations. This is a connection device, not a control system. It provides no inherent sway control or weight distribution. If you notice your RV’s steering feels light or the rear end sags noticeably when you hook up the trailer, you’ve exceeded the capabilities of a simple mount and need to look at a more comprehensive system.
B&W Tow & Stow Adjustable Ball Mount Hitch
B&W builds things to last, and their Tow & Stow hitch is a perfect example of smart, rugged engineering. Like the CURT, it’s an adjustable ball mount designed to solve the height issue. But it adds a layer of incredible convenience that veterans love. The key feature is its ability to stow the entire ball assembly underneath the hitch when not in use. No more removing a greasy hitch or bashing your shins on it in the campground.
This hitch often comes with multiple ball sizes (typically 2" and 2-5/16") on a single rotating platform. This is fantastic if you tow different trailers—maybe a flatbed one day and a small enclosed trailer the next. The build quality is immediately apparent; the solid steel construction and durable powder coat finish inspire confidence on the road.
The B&W Tow & Stow is a premium choice for direct towing. It’s for the RVer who values convenience and top-tier build quality and is towing a load that doesn’t require weight distribution. It’s an elegant, overbuilt solution to the most common towing problem: getting the height and ball size right every single time, without the hassle.
Weigh Safe Drop Hitch for Accurate Tongue Weight
Safely tow with the integrated tongue weight scale for balanced loads and an adjustable 6" drop for perfect trailer height. This premium aluminum hitch offers 18,500 lbs GTW and includes keyed-alike locks for convenience.
The Weigh Safe hitch takes the guesswork out of one of the most critical and misunderstood aspects of towing: tongue weight. Flatbed trailers are particularly sensitive to load placement. Move a vehicle just six inches forward or backward, and you can dramatically alter the tongue weight, potentially creating a dangerously unstable setup. Too little tongue weight invites catastrophic sway; too much overloads your RV’s rear axle and suspension.
This hitch solves the problem with a simple, brilliant feature: a mechanical scale built right into the ball mount. As you lower the trailer onto the ball, a needle moves, giving you an instant, accurate reading of the tongue weight. This allows you to adjust your cargo on the flatbed in real-time to achieve the ideal 10-15% tongue weight ratio for safe towing.
For anyone hauling variable loads—cars, tractors, or mixed materials—the Weigh Safe is less of a convenience and more of an essential safety tool. It’s an adjustable drop hitch first and foremost, so it handles the leveling task perfectly. But the integrated scale provides data that allows you to create a fundamentally safer towing configuration before you even pull out of the driveway.
Gen-Y Torsion-Flex Hitch for a Smoother Tow
Experience smoother towing with the GEN-Y Phantom-XT Torsion-Flex Hitch. Its dual ball mount offers a 4.25" drop and 10,000 lbs towing capacity, reducing trailer sway and providing a comfortable ride.
Towing can be a jarring experience. Every bump, pothole, and expansion joint the trailer hits gets transferred directly to your RV’s frame, and you feel it in the driver’s seat. The Gen-Y Torsion-Flex hitch is designed specifically to solve this problem. It’s essentially a suspension system for your tow connection, using pivoting arms and torsion rubber to absorb road shock.
The difference in ride quality is immediate and dramatic. Instead of a rigid, jarring connection, the Gen-Y isolates the movement of the trailer from the RV. This drastically reduces the chucking and jerking that fatigues drivers and puts stress on both vehicles. For long-distance towers, this isn’t just about comfort; it’s about reducing wear and tear on your equipment.
This hitch is a significant investment, but for those who tow frequently or carry sensitive cargo, it’s a game-changer. It still requires you to have a properly balanced load and doesn’t provide the same level of sway control as a dedicated WDH. But by smoothing out the ride, it makes the entire towing experience safer, more comfortable, and less damaging to your gear.
Reese Steadi-Flex for Superior Sway Control
This Reese Steadi-Flex hitch kit offers a 10,000 lb. capacity and features integrated friction sway control for a stable tow. Its redesigned hitch head simplifies bar connections, fitting trailers with 4-7 inch frames.
When your flatbed load gets heavy or has a large surface area, you’ve entered the world of Weight Distribution Hitches (WDH). The Reese Steadi-Flex is a classic, trusted design that tackles both weight distribution and sway control head-on. It’s a complete system, not just a ball mount. It uses heavy-duty spring bars that run from the hitch head back to brackets on the trailer frame.
These bars act like levers, transferring a portion of the heavy tongue weight from your RV’s rear axle back to the trailer’s axles and forward to the RV’s front axle. This levels out the entire rig, preventing rear-end sag and restoring proper weight to the steering wheels for better control. The "Steadi-Flex" part comes from automotive-grade friction material in the hitch head that actively resists side-to-side movement, fighting sway before it can start.
This is the kind of system you need when towing a flatbed with a car on it behind your Class C. The combined weight and wind profile demand more than a simple connection. The Reese system turns the RV and trailer into a single, cohesive unit that’s far more stable in crosswinds and when being passed by semi-trucks. It’s a serious tool for a serious towing job.
Blue Ox SwayPro Weight Distribution System
Easily adjust your trailer's height with this 9-hole, 9-inch shank, designed for 2-1/2 inch receivers. It supports up to 2,000 lbs tongue weight and 20,000 lbs trailer weight, fitting universally in raised or dropped positions.
The Blue Ox SwayPro is another top-tier WDH that seasoned RVers swear by, known for its unique design and ease of use. Like other WDH systems, it uses spring bars to redistribute tongue weight, but the way it does so is brilliantly simple. The spring bars are held under tension by rotating latches on the trailer frame, which makes hooking up and disconnecting surprisingly straightforward.
What sets the SwayPro apart is that sway control is inherent to its design. The tension on the spring bars constantly works to keep the trailer perfectly in line with the RV. There are no separate friction pads to adjust or wear out. This geometry provides a smooth, predictable, and highly effective resistance to sway under all conditions.
Choosing between the Blue Ox and the Reese often comes down to personal preference on the hookup mechanism. Both are exceptional at making a heavy tow feel secure and under control. The SwayPro is a fantastic choice for anyone who wants a no-fuss, highly effective system for managing the challenges of a heavy flatbed trailer.
Andersen Hitches Weight Distribution Hitch
Experience superior sway control and a smoother ride with the Andersen Weight Distribution Hitch. Its grease-free, self-adjusting system simplifies backing up and installation, offering a quiet and effective towing solution for up to 10,000 lbs GTWR.
Andersen threw out the old WDH playbook and came up with something completely different. Instead of massive, heavy steel spring bars, their system uses a set of anti-sway cones, a ball housing, and a pair of heavy-duty urethane springs connected by chains. It’s significantly lighter, cleaner, and quieter than traditional WDH systems.
The system works by combining weight distribution and sway control into one motion. As you tighten the chains, the springs compress, lifting the rear of the RV to distribute weight. Simultaneously, the tapered ball housing and brake-material cone system create a rigid connection that dampens sway with incredible force. It’s a modern, elegant solution to the same old physics problems.
Many vets love the Andersen for its silence—no more loud groaning from steel bars during tight turns. It’s also exceptionally easy to hook up and allows for backing up without disconnecting anything. For those looking for the benefits of a full WDH without the weight and noise of traditional designs, the Andersen is a top contender.
Ultimately, the best adapter is the one that correctly matches your specific Class C, your flatbed trailer, and the loads you plan to carry. For light, local tows, an adjustable mount like a CURT or B&W might be perfect. But as your weights and distances increase, the safety and control offered by a system from Weigh Safe, Gen-Y, Reese, Blue Ox, or Andersen become non-negotiable. Don’t just connect your trailer—control it.