2 1/2" receiver on new trucks with extension?
I'm looking at a new Ram 3500 and it comes with a 2 1/2" receiver as does Ford and not sure on Chevy. I had the Reese Titan on my DRW and used a 4 ft extension when carrying a Lance. Are these stock...
Forum Discussion
The 2-1/2 inch hitch is a Class V receiver that is designed to handle the maximum tow load for a ball mounted trailer. With my GM that means a trailer weight up to 13,000 lbs., although generally speaking at a certain weight the use of a weight distributing hitch is recommended.
With the GM 1500 trucks the maximum tongue weight goes from 600 lbs. to 1000 lbs. with a WDH, and for the 2500/3500 trucks it increases from 1,100 lbs. to 1,500 lbs. with the WDH. The exception is the GM tow package which includes a Class V hitch rated for the maximum of 1500 lbs. tongue weight and a trailer load of 13,000 lbs. already.
As has been mentioned those load figures are for a ball mounted tongue less than a foot from the hitch. With an extension the load is leveraged and increases proportionately to the length of the extension. I would guesstimate that a 48" extension would result in 4x the load from the trailer on the hitch.
With a 13,000 lb. tow load limit without the extension the limit with a 24" extension would be around 6500 lbs. and with the 48" extension the trailer load limit would be around 3200 lbs.
The Draw-Tite 24" extension is rated for up to 8,000 lbs. with a WDH and the 36" extension is rated for up to 6,000 lbs. with a WDH. The Superhitch is designed for use in this situation with the lateral reinforcement provided by the chains and welded truss plates. I would trust the manufacturers load limits for the hitch which with a 48" extension is 12,000 lbs and 1,200 lbs tongue weight.
Torklift also has the Magnum series of hitch receivers rated for up to 30,000 lbs. but this is a fiction. It assumes that a trailer ball can handle this load, which it cannot, and it assumes that the truck frame can manage this load in this manner, and at least according to the truck's manufacturer, it cannot. With GM a tow load over 13,000 lbs. needs to be done with a fifth-wheel hitch which better distributes the load against the frame of the truck which is reinforced in the area where the hitch would be mounted.
One good aspect of the Superhitch is that it lowers the ball height. Using a drop hitch some caution should be exercised as these will have their own load rating and it will usually be less than that of a straight adapter in the receiver. And many are 2" x 2" and so further reduce the load capacity.
With the GM 1500 trucks the maximum tongue weight goes from 600 lbs. to 1000 lbs. with a WDH, and for the 2500/3500 trucks it increases from 1,100 lbs. to 1,500 lbs. with the WDH. The exception is the GM tow package which includes a Class V hitch rated for the maximum of 1500 lbs. tongue weight and a trailer load of 13,000 lbs. already.
As has been mentioned those load figures are for a ball mounted tongue less than a foot from the hitch. With an extension the load is leveraged and increases proportionately to the length of the extension. I would guesstimate that a 48" extension would result in 4x the load from the trailer on the hitch.
With a 13,000 lb. tow load limit without the extension the limit with a 24" extension would be around 6500 lbs. and with the 48" extension the trailer load limit would be around 3200 lbs.
The Draw-Tite 24" extension is rated for up to 8,000 lbs. with a WDH and the 36" extension is rated for up to 6,000 lbs. with a WDH. The Superhitch is designed for use in this situation with the lateral reinforcement provided by the chains and welded truss plates. I would trust the manufacturers load limits for the hitch which with a 48" extension is 12,000 lbs and 1,200 lbs tongue weight.
Torklift also has the Magnum series of hitch receivers rated for up to 30,000 lbs. but this is a fiction. It assumes that a trailer ball can handle this load, which it cannot, and it assumes that the truck frame can manage this load in this manner, and at least according to the truck's manufacturer, it cannot. With GM a tow load over 13,000 lbs. needs to be done with a fifth-wheel hitch which better distributes the load against the frame of the truck which is reinforced in the area where the hitch would be mounted.
One good aspect of the Superhitch is that it lowers the ball height. Using a drop hitch some caution should be exercised as these will have their own load rating and it will usually be less than that of a straight adapter in the receiver. And many are 2" x 2" and so further reduce the load capacity.
