dandybanana wrote:
I'm just wanting to understand what the benefit is of having a class 3 vs a class 2 or if it makes any difference in my situation. Thx :-)
In your particular situation, changing the hitch class, most likely changes nothing.
The max towing capacity of the vehicle, is limited to the weakest link in it's overall ratings. Those ratings include:
GVWR -- max weight on the vehicle
Payload -- max weight the vehicle is rated to carry
GCVWR -- max combined weight of trailer and tow vehicle
Axle weight ratings -- max weight on the vehicles axles
Tire load rating -- max weight on the tires
Hitch receiver rating -- max weight on the receiver, with or without WDH
Max tow rating -- max weight the vehilce is rated to tow.
Changing to a higher class of receiver, increases the weight of what you can pull, ONLY, if the rest of the ratings are high enough to support that load.
If your vehicle is rated to tow 3500 lb and you upgrade the hitch to a class III / IV, your tow rating is still 3500 lbs.
If your vehicle is rated to tow 10,000 lbs and you downgrade to a class II hitch, your tow ratings drops to 3500 lbs.
Another thing to keep in mind is, everything and everybody you put in or on the tow vehicle, reduces it's available payload, and it's tow capacity, pound for pound.
If your vehicle has 3500 lb tow capacity, and you put 700 lbs of people, pets, and cargo in it, your tow capacity drops to 2800 lbs.
