brulaz wrote:
Bedlam wrote:
It's not whether the truck can handle the hitch weight, it's whether the receiver was designed for that much hitch weight without using weight distribution. The rear axle is rated for over 9000 lbs and the rear wheel capacity is over 7000 lbs on the SRW F350's.
I wonder. My suspicion is that Ford rates the hitch receiver based on how much weight you may lift off the front axle by *not* using a WDH.
F150's are limited to 500# in 2" hitch receiver.
F250's and 350's Gas SRW 600# in 2" hitch receiver.
All others, diesel 250 and 350's and DRW 350's get 850# and the 2.5" hitch receiver.
850#s on the receiver hitch without WD will remove about 320 lbs off the front axle. I don't see that as a limiting value when the front axle weight of the F350 CC 4x4 standard bed is about 4900 lbs. You could triple that 850 lb tongue weight and still have almost 4000 lbs on the front axle without overloading the rear axle. I really doubt that the 850# limit has anything at all to do with the strength of the hitch either. It is likely that the 850 # limit has more to do with the idea that larger trailers should have weight distribution hitches for better towing characteristics and a trailer with a tongue weight over 850 lbs is becoming a larger trailer. You don't want the tail wagging the dog.
