Forum Discussion

oxygen's avatar
oxygen
Explorer II
Oct 04, 2014

weigh listed on hitch ball

Wondering if the weight limite listed on hitch ball represents the weight that the tt should not exceed?

6 Replies

  • Actually, it is the weight that the ball attaching bolt is rated for. That's why some 1 7/8 inch balls are rated for 3500 lbs, and some are rated for 5000 lbs. The higher rated ones have bigger bolts.
    The same applies to 2 inch balls. Bigger bolts = higher ratings.
  • Yep the others are right. I like to use a very high capacity ball on my hitches. Not the 5,000 lb balls at Harbor Freight... I like to use the 14k plus balls on my 2 5/16 balls and 10,000 lb plus rated 2 inch balls.

    I find that there is a lot less scoring on the balls when I use the higher rated balls.

    Thanks

    Jeremiah
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    oxygen wrote:
    Wondering if the weight limite listed on hitch ball represents the weight that the tt should not exceed?


    Nope has nothing to do with the capacity of the ball, just a random weight number some one stamped on it! :S

    As stated before YES that is the Max for the ball!!

    It should exceed the weight on the trailer!

    The Trailer should not exceed the the ratings of the hitch assembly.

    The trailer should not cause the TV to exceed and of the listed ratings for TV.
  • oxygen wrote:
    Wondering if the weight limite listed on hitch ball represents the weight that the tt should not exceed?


    Yep, that weight is the max the ball can handle. Has nothing to do with the truck, or the reciever
  • That is the max weight to be applied to the ball. But you are also limited by the lower of the GVWr and GCWR of the truck.

    Ken