Equal-i-zer - shank and ball height questions

Baja Man wrote:
John, did you notice that the Curt 2" I referenced would have been overkill even for the 1700# TW you mentioned? Amazing they can achieve those weights in a 2" receiver....I assumed you needed to go 2.5" receiver for those higher weights. What's all the fuss over the 2.5"?

Hi,

Years ago Putnam came out with their XDR rated 2" receiver. I bought one for my K2500 Suburban. It too had very high rating on a 2" receiver with a 1,700# WD rating. The first on the scene of the higher rated receivers. They ended up going out of business though.

Back then, the largest WD hitch was 1,200#. Then some inched up to 1,400#. Now we can get 1,700# and even 2,000# WD hitches.

The issue with the higher WD shanks is it's rating verses shank size. When I started looking for a 1,700# WD hitch the only shank I could find with a rating that high was in 2 1/2". This was back in 2007. Even today I do not know if you can find a WD shank above 1,500# in 2". That seems to be the limit. After 1,500 they jump to 2 1/2"

So Curt has a 2" receiver rated that high just like Putnam did but I'm not sure you can yet buy a WD hitch shank above 1,500# that will work in it. At least as of today. Maybe someday you can.

They do make dead weight carrying draw bars in 2" that go up to 2,400#. Reese has them Reese draw bars.

And even Curt make draw bars in 2" up to 2,550# TW, but again in weight carrying mode Curt draw bars

So if one wanted to they can use that Curt in weight carrying mode above 1,500# but that is a heck of a dead load back there. That will be one real light front end on the truck.

Curt also makes WD hitches. On their web site the largest WD hitch they make is 1,500# TW in WD mode and on 2". Curt WD hitches

Hope this helps

John