hitch weight

scooterpuller wrote:
im getting ready to buy a freedom express 301blds but found out that the hitch weight is 950#'s and my truck,f-250 diesel srw,is only rated for 850#'s...is it too much over or will it be ok

That 950# hitch weight will probably be around 1250-1300lbs when the trailer is ready to go camping in.

I agree with the others here that the rating you gave for the trucks receiver is probably a weight carrying amount. The amount for using weight distribution will most likely be around 1250 or more pounds.
You many need to upgrade the receiver to a Class V to accommodate the tongue weight of that trailer. I had to upgrade mine as my tongue weight is just shy of 1300lbs.
Barney

Old Receiver


New Receiver

It's possible, you may need to upgrade the hitch. You need to check the stamp (or sticker) on your hitch.

There are some class IV hitches, with receiver ratings below the tongue weight of that trailer. Here is a link to one of them. It has 800 lb dead weight and 1000 lb WD rating.

That trailer is close to 1000 lb unloaded tongue weight. I saw one with 980 lb advertised hitch weight. That one will be over 1000, before it gets off the dealer lot.

Where did you get the 850 pound number from? What year truck do you have? Can you tell if it is OEM or aftermarket (U-Haul, Curt, Reese, etc? Is there a sticker like this one with possibly two sets of weights?



My guess is your truck is older, has an aftermarket class 3/4 receiver on it. You should be able to replace that for about $200 with something more capable, along the lines of what that TT needs maybe 1200 pounds with a WDH.

2 things going on here.

1. The hitch weight you posted (950 lbs) is probably the dry weight. It will be much higher.

2. The truck hitch rating you posted is most likely the number without weight distribution. It also will be higher with a weight distribution hitch.

Are you reading from a sticker on the hitch platform it self or is this number from something else? It is possible you might need a new hitch if yours is not a class IV.

Hitches usually have 2 rated weights, dead weight and distributed weight. The 850lbs sounds like the dead weight rating, just straight on the ball. The distributed rating is for use with a weight distributing hitch and should be much higher. Look for a stamp or sticker on the receiver. Either way the stock receiver on that truck should be fine for that trailer but you will need to use a WD hitch.

Check to see if you hitch weight increases with a weight distribution hitch.

That 850 pound payload doesn't sound right. I have 2 F150s no heavy payload option, just standard F150, and their payloads are about 1600LBS.
Did you get the payload info off your door jamb sticker?