The best Harley trailer hitch is the one built for your exact model, not a universal bracket forced to fit. HitchDoc Outdoors makes bike-specific hitches in American steel for nearly the whole Harley-Davidson lineup: the Street Glide, Road Glide, Electra Glide and Ultra, Road King, Softail, Dyna, Sportster, and Trike. You can get most of them in a standard style or a receiver style with a removable tongue, so the bike looks stock when you are not towing.
Before you buy, the limits that matter are simple. Every HitchDoc motorcycle hitch is rated for a maximum of 40 pounds of tongue weight, tongue weight should stay at or under 10% of your loaded trailer, and you never load past the bike’s gross vehicle weight rating. Pick the hitch made for your model and you are most of the way there.
Key Takeaways
- A Harley hitch should be made for your exact model, not a universal kit you bend to fit.
- HitchDoc builds hitches in American steel for nearly the whole Harley lineup: Street Glide, Road Glide, Electra Glide and Ultra, Road King, Softail, Dyna, Sportster, and Trike.
- The receiver style takes a removable tongue, so the bike looks stock when the tongue is out.
- Every HitchDoc motorcycle hitch is rated for a maximum 40 pounds of tongue weight, no more than 10% of the loaded trailer, and you never exceed the bike’s GVWR.
- Touring baggers and trikes are the natural tow rigs, but lighter bikes can pull a small, balanced trailer within the limits.
Does HitchDoc make a Harley trailer hitch for your bike?
For most of the lineup, yes. HitchDoc builds Harley hitches by model family, so you get one designed for your specific bike rather than a one-size bracket. The current lineup covers the touring baggers, the Street Glide, Road Glide, Electra Glide and Ultra, and Road King, plus the Softail, Dyna and Super Glide, Sportster, Deuce and Fat Boy, and the Trike.
Two things to check before you order. These hitches are built for a stock bike, so if you have changed the rear suspension, shocks, or tire, confirm there is no clearance issue first. And because Harley runs model years and variations, pick your exact model and year on the listing so you get the right one. If you are not sure, call (800) 446-8222 or use the contact form and someone who knows the product will tell you straight whether they have a hitch for your bike.
Which Harleys are built to tow?
All of them can carry a hitch, but some are more natural tow rigs than others, and it is worth being honest about that.
The touring baggers, the Street Glide, Road Glide, Electra Glide, Ultra, and Road King, are the classic choice. They have the weight, the wheelbase, and the stability that make pulling a small cargo or camper trailer feel settled, which is why most riders towing to a rally or on a long trip are on one of these. Trikes are even more stable on three wheels and tow comfortably. Softails and Dynas can tow a light, balanced trailer just fine within the limits. A Sportster is the lightest of the bunch, so it can pull a small trailer, but keep it light and keep well under the bike’s ratings.
Whatever you ride, the limits are the same numbers, not the model. A bigger bagger does not raise the 40 pound tongue weight ceiling. It just carries the same small trailer with more composure.
Standard or receiver style: keeping the Harley look
Harley riders care how the bike looks, and HitchDoc gives you two ways to go. The standard style stays on the bike and is simple, with nothing to remove. The receiver style takes a removable tongue: pull one pin, slide the tongue out, and the bike goes back to looking stock, with just a small chrome receiver left behind.
If you only tow on trips and want your Harley clean the rest of the time, the receiver is the one to get. It is the reason riders on the forums tend to like these hitches, because when the tongue is out there is very little to see. Hitches come chrome plated or powder coated black, so the part that stays on the bike still looks finished either way.
How much can a Harley safely tow?
Less than people expect, and that is by design. A motorcycle trailer is for light, balanced cargo, not a load that fights the bike. Harley does not publish a tow rating, so the numbers that govern you are the bike’s gross vehicle weight rating and the hitch’s ratings.
The rule to plan around: a 40 pound maximum tongue weight, with tongue weight no more than 10% of the loaded trailer. Do the easy math and a trailer plus cargo around 400 pounds puts you right at the limit, so treat 400 pounds loaded as a sensible ceiling and lighter is better. Keep the load low and centered over the trailer axle, use crossed safety chains, and ride more conservatively than you would solo. For the full rundown on doing it safely, see our guide on towing a trailer with a motorcycle.
Wiring, the ball, and getting it on the bike
Two things are not in the box. The hitch ball is sold separately, so match one to your trailer coupler. And you will need trailer wiring so your lights and signals work, which on some bikes means an isolator or converter to power the trailer lights without overloading the motorcycle’s wiring. If you are not sure what your bike needs, ask before you order.
The install is straightforward because the hitch is built for your model. It bolts on with hand tools, with no filing, bending, or hammering to force a fit. Most riders can handle it in an afternoon, and the HitchDoc team can talk you through what your specific Harley involves if you want to know before you start.
The HitchDoc Harley hitch, and where to get it
If you want a hitch that fits your Harley right and comes from the company that builds it, the HitchDoc Harley lineup is the place to start. Each hitch is made in American steel for a specific Harley model, and it comes from the company that built its first motorcycle hitch for the 50th Anniversary Sturgis Rally, so the heritage here is real. You also get a phone line and people who know the product when you have a fitment question.
Find your bike in the Harley-Davidson hitch lineup, browse the full motorcycle hitch range if you ride more than one brand, or read the motorcycle hitch buyer’s guide for the wider picture on towing with a bike. Ride a Gold Wing too? See our Gold Wing hitch guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a trailer hitch void my Harley’s warranty?
No. Under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, installing an aftermarket part does not void your warranty on its own. A dealer can only deny a claim if they show the part actually caused the failure. The Federal Trade Commission lays out your rights. Keep the install clean and keep your records, and a properly fitted hitch is not a warranty problem. HitchDoc also backs its hitches with its own warranty and return policy.
Can you see the hitch when you’re not towing?
Barely, if you choose the receiver style. The tongue pulls out with one pin, and what stays on the bike is small and chrome plated. That is why a lot of Harley riders pick this style: tow when you want to, and the bike looks stock the rest of the time.
Does HitchDoc make a hitch for my Street Glide or Road Glide?
Yes. There are dedicated hitches for the Street Glide and Road Glide, along with the Electra Glide, Ultra, Road King, Softail, Dyna, Sportster, and Trike. Pick your exact model and year on the listing to get the right one, and call to confirm if your bike is modified.
How much does a Harley hitch cost?
HitchDoc’s Harley hitches generally run from about $329 to $448 depending on model and style. Prices change, so check the live Harley hitch listings for the current number on your bike.
Can a Sportster pull a trailer?
It can pull a small, light, balanced trailer, but the Sportster is the lightest bike in the lineup, so stay well within the bike’s gross vehicle weight rating and keep the trailer modest. Touring baggers and trikes handle a trailer with more composure if you tow often.
Ready to set your Harley up to tow? Find the hitch built for your model in the Harley-Davidson hitch lineup, or call (800) 446-8222 and we will make sure you get the right one.