WD Hitch; 2" vs. 2.5" receiver; Ford 250 issue
Greetings from a newbie. My plan is to full time out west/ mountains.
I'm evaluating a purchase of a new truck and travel trailer. My question relates to maximizing a new truck's tow rating capacity by the proper application of hitching methodology, rather than "will this pull a specific amount of weight" type question.
The TT will be large; around 36-38 all in, but not selected yet. Looking to buy 2014 F250, 6.7L turbo diesel, 4x4, crew cab, SRW, 3.55 rear end, 6.75' bed, 156.2 wheel base and rated in Ford's towing literature at 14,000 max load, 23,500 GCWR and comes with a 2.5" receiver class V hitch. (torn over 6.75' vs. 8' bed with crew cab, but that's for another post)
My goal is to, assuming proper weights in TV of course, get the max tow rating out of this 250. In Ford's 2014 super duty literature, page 3, there is a table "Hitch Receiver Weight Capacity" and my truck rates 14,000 trailer, 1,400 tongue, assuming a weight distribution hitch set up, which I want.
The issue is note 3, which says "2.5 receiver. If the provided 2.5 inch to 2.0 inch adapter is used, this reduces the Max. Trailer Capacity to 12,500 and the Max. Tongue Loan to 1,250 lbs." The reason it's an issue is because every trailer dealer says they only carry 2" WD hitches (used with the $15 adapter sleeve)and they say they've never heard of a WD hitch with a 2.5" receiver. As I am completely clueless myself, I feel that loosing this towing capacity on a $60+K truck because I have to use a $15 part seems ridiculous IF Ford's note 3 is to be taken seriously in the first place. I'm very, very concerned about safety and want lots of cushion and money isn't important when safety is the issue.
In my spreadsheet calculating all the weights and tolerances, capacities, etc., I'd very much like to use 14,000 because of the reserve/ cushion capacity.
Does it make sense to buy a class V 2.5" receiver WD rig for my travel trailer (they do exists but are about 3X the cost)so I avoid the adapter and capacity loss (per note 3)? Or, should I interpret Ford's note 3 as bull... and use the $15 adaptor AND keep using 14,000 in my calculations. Or, should I just use the adapter and live with the rating loss AND only use the lower ratings in my calculations?
Please forgive the length. I hope this made sense.
Thanks
I'm evaluating a purchase of a new truck and travel trailer. My question relates to maximizing a new truck's tow rating capacity by the proper application of hitching methodology, rather than "will this pull a specific amount of weight" type question.
The TT will be large; around 36-38 all in, but not selected yet. Looking to buy 2014 F250, 6.7L turbo diesel, 4x4, crew cab, SRW, 3.55 rear end, 6.75' bed, 156.2 wheel base and rated in Ford's towing literature at 14,000 max load, 23,500 GCWR and comes with a 2.5" receiver class V hitch. (torn over 6.75' vs. 8' bed with crew cab, but that's for another post)
My goal is to, assuming proper weights in TV of course, get the max tow rating out of this 250. In Ford's 2014 super duty literature, page 3, there is a table "Hitch Receiver Weight Capacity" and my truck rates 14,000 trailer, 1,400 tongue, assuming a weight distribution hitch set up, which I want.
The issue is note 3, which says "2.5 receiver. If the provided 2.5 inch to 2.0 inch adapter is used, this reduces the Max. Trailer Capacity to 12,500 and the Max. Tongue Loan to 1,250 lbs." The reason it's an issue is because every trailer dealer says they only carry 2" WD hitches (used with the $15 adapter sleeve)and they say they've never heard of a WD hitch with a 2.5" receiver. As I am completely clueless myself, I feel that loosing this towing capacity on a $60+K truck because I have to use a $15 part seems ridiculous IF Ford's note 3 is to be taken seriously in the first place. I'm very, very concerned about safety and want lots of cushion and money isn't important when safety is the issue.
In my spreadsheet calculating all the weights and tolerances, capacities, etc., I'd very much like to use 14,000 because of the reserve/ cushion capacity.
Does it make sense to buy a class V 2.5" receiver WD rig for my travel trailer (they do exists but are about 3X the cost)so I avoid the adapter and capacity loss (per note 3)? Or, should I interpret Ford's note 3 as bull... and use the $15 adaptor AND keep using 14,000 in my calculations. Or, should I just use the adapter and live with the rating loss AND only use the lower ratings in my calculations?
Please forgive the length. I hope this made sense.
Thanks
