I'm trying to stay as lightweight as possible because I think it keeps a lot of options open. I don't want to max it out, I just want to know what range I should be shopping in.

My hitch is the one it came with from Japan. A large angled plate bolts behind the loop and has the hole for the hitch ball - no receiver. But, then there is a piece of tube that connects this out to the frame. It looks strong, but looks to have been bent at some point.

Most of my travels at first will be to Saskatchewan and through Crowsnest Pass to Cranbrook, then South to the USA. There are some good hills there.