Bumper ball

Every component from front axle to rear hitch has a rating. I have seen people with small motorhomes who think they can tow a five thousand pound vehicle, because "The hitch is rated for that". I have seen F-150's rated at half what others are because they are not equipped for towing at all. Show us the ratings on what you are looking at if you want some help.

What were you shopping for?

If you went in with a 1/2ton or bigger truck shopping for popup campers, it's probably partially true in the sense that with a reciever hitch you are unlikely to be anywhere close to the limits regardless of the which popup you are looking at.

Once you get into full hard sided TT's, it's absolutely false.

You all are confirming what we've always been told. We're wishing it were true because it would solve a lot of problems for us if it were! But I've read too much here to believe it. So the search continues. Thanks for sharing your expertise and experience.

But we're still puzzled by why so many big hunky trucks with factory tow packages and hitches still have a hitch weight limit of 600#. I know the WD hitch can increase that, but it seems pretty low.

Obviously the person who told you that was trying to sell you something. They lied. I recommend not believing a single word they say until you've checked it out thoroughly. If they'll lie that blatantly on a safety issue like this, they'll lie about anything.

I suppose they might just be totally ignorant (but innocent) fools. You be the judge.

Ok so you are talking to the dealer. Tell us what your tow vehicle specs are or at least the basics like 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton etc. What trailer are you trying to pull? Weight?

You will get good help if you give numbers.

BS! The hitch weight still has to be considered when estimating the available payload of the tow vehicle.(TV)
Having said that, a correctly set up Weight Distributing hitch can usually handle double the rating of the ball only. But it still has to be within the capabilities of the TV.

That's not correct.

You are doing well to dismiss it. All hitches have a weight rating for tongue weight and trailer weight. Actual trailer hitches generally have higher ratings than a ball on a bumper, but have their limits none the less.

Also, just because a hitch has a certain rating on it, doesn't mean your tow vehicle has the same ratings. Some half tons (mainly from pre 2010) had the same hitches as a 1 ton truck. Also, hitches have 2 sets of weight ratings. One rating is for a weight distributing hitch (higher rating), and the other is weight carrying.

Also, if your dealer is telling you that malarkey, I would find a new dealer.