Am I reading this right? (Receiver capacity)

[JoeTampa]

I just saw this sticker on my new (to me) tow vehicle. Am I correct in assuming that with a weight distribution hitch, I can have a tongue weight of up to 1500lbs?


Weights:


TV:

GVWR 9200 lbs
GAWR FRT 4670 lbs
GAWR RR 6084 lbs

I'm confused about this since the Frt and RR numbers don't add up to the GVWR.


The TT:

Unloaded Vehicle Weight (lbs) 7600
Dry Hitch Weight (lbs) 910
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (lbs) 9975
Cargo Carrying Capacity (lbs) 2375

[carpetguy2]

See if this might help you.


RV Tow Check | Towing Guide Eliminator
http://rvtowcheck.com/rvtc_calculator.html

[LIKE2BUILD]

JoeTampa wrote:
Here's the old receiver and the new one. Does it make sense that the new one is rated for only 100lbs more when using a WD hitch? It looks much more substantial.

Not really any sense. GM gave it a rating, but it wasn't realistic. If you look at the pathetic welds on the OEM you'll be left wondering how on earth that receiver held any weight. The new hitch has a real rating and will definitely work within those limits.

Oh, and you may be wondering what to do with your 7-way connector now that the OEM bracket is gone? On mine I used a 2" hole saw and cut an opening in the bumper to the left of the license plate. Don't worry, there's plenty of room there to work. Then I installed a socket like this Hopkins Replacement 7-way connector. It works really well and keeps your connections up high where they won't get snagged or drag.

KJ

[BenK]

Look at it as one with a good amount of design margin and the other with just
enough design margin...AKA Safety Margin...

Both can do it...one will do it much better and much longer...

Did you pick them both up?

Which one weighed about 2-3 times more than the other?

[JoeTampa]

Here's the old receiver and the new one. Does it make sense that the new one is rated for only 100lbs more when using a WD hitch? It looks much more substantial.

[LIKE2BUILD]

JoeTampa wrote:
So I guess I need to get a Class V installed - like this?

https://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2006_Chevrolet_Silverado.htm?style=2500+HD,+6-1%2F2+Foot+Bed&furl=-pt...

Yes, and exactly for the reasons others have stated regarding OEM GM hitch failures. The design of receiver on your '06 2500HD is very poor. I used to have an '04 and I frequently felt a lot of bucking when towing my 34'TT. Even when I had the trailer set up perfectly it just never felt like a solid connection. After a couple years of towing I switched to a Curt magnum V receiver and immediately noticed a more solid feel and excellent weight distribution.

If you look at the OEM design you'll see the bumper is your primary means of transmitting weight to the frame. There are several bolts and brackets in that food chain, each of which allows for slop and flexing. In other words, you can never really get good weight transfer through the OEM hitch.

KJ

[Wishin]

On my Suburban which has a pretty much identical hitch to the one on your truck, I was debating between the Curt and a Reese Titan with the 2.5" receiver. I ended up going with the Reese because the side brackets of the hitch on the Reese are much longer and cover a much larger area of the vehicle frame. The Suburban frame is not as beefy as the trucks and it seemed like the better way to go for me. The situation with the pick up hitches may be slightly different as they may use different hitch models.

FYI, my somewhat smaller/lighter trailer (Wildwood 26TBSS), 7815 GVWR and 815 dry tongue weight ends up with about a 1300 lb hitch weight when loaded per my Sherline scale. We do fill the trailer full however.

[JoeTampa]

Well, I suppose that if I ever get the tongue weight over 1600lbs, then I am likely doing something wrong. Thus far, I have been told that this should be sufficient for this trailer. Given the history of failures with the OEM hitch, this is really making me feel better. Plus, I really wanted this done before it was time to pick up the new trailer later today.

[Need-A-Vacation]

Just looked it up on Draw Tites website.... It states the same????

What about going to a 2-1/2" receiver? Yes a new shank is needed, but the receiver will have an even higher rating.

[BenK]

If you feel uneasy with this brand...why not go with the Curt?

[JoeTampa]

Barney,

If it's a misprint, then it is misprinted on the hitch itself, in their catalog, and on their web site. I can't explain it.

Since it is much thicker steel than the OEM one, I'm trusting that it's going to be safer than the OEM. And thinking about it turned into "done" a little while ago - I didn't feel safe with the OEM and they were open and available to install it. T-minus 3 hours and counting until I pick up the new one.

[BarneyS]

I suspect that 1950 tongue weight rating is a misprint on their part. Should probably be 950lbs weight carrying not 1950lbs.

If you are thinking of that hitch as a replacement it should be about right for your application in my opinion.
Barney

[JoeTampa]

Can anyone explain why the max tongue weight would go DOWN with a WD hitch? I'm apparently not grasping something here, since in almost every other case, that figure is HIGHER. 1950 without WD, 1600 with?


Towing Capacity:
1950 Pound Tongue Weight
13000 Pound Towing

Weight Distribution Towing Capacity:
1600 lbs WD TW Pound Tongue Weight
16000 lbs WD GTW Pound Towing

[mkirsch]

JoeTampa wrote:
Here's what it says on the door jamb label:

GVWR 9200 lbs
GAWR FRT 4670 lbs
GAWR RR 6084 lbs

I'm confused about this since the Frt and RR numbers don't add up to the GVWR.

They never do.

This is to account for uneven loading of the truck, such as if you put a very heavy trailer tongue far behind the rear axle, or a very heavy snow plow out front. This is to account for the truck going up and down very steep hills, where the weight will be transmitted to the other axle. This is to account for the truck starting and stopping, where weight will momentarily shift from one axle to the other.

[JoeTampa]

FireGuard wrote:
I think he meant his tongue weight was 910 lbs, not the trailer.

Correct; I edited the OP to clarify that.

[FireGuard]

I think he meant his tongue weight was 910 lbs, not the trailer.