Class V Hitch?

[Melon_Seed]

I have a brand new F350 with a class V hitch. It's 2.5" square. I'm getting a sleeve to insert so I can use my existing weight distribution hitch, 2". Thoughts on "needing" the torsion bars for weight distribution....

[beermanjoe]

Ram,GM and Ford both have the 2.5"class V hitch. My new Ram came with the adapter. If you look around I`m sure your Ford did too. I towed my TT with the adapter sleeve for many years without issues. I did however order a new 2.5" shank for my WDH last spring. It did cut down on some noise. And you better have a good back,defiantly heavier.

[AH64ID]

Hannibal wrote:

AH64ID wrote:

Hannibal wrote:
The only reason I use a WDH with my F250 and 1,000~lb tongue weigh is to satisfy the weight rating of the receiver. The bars are set about as light as I can get them with upward torque on the receiver. When the day comes that I drop some coins on a new F250 with its 1300 lb dead weight capable 2.5” receiver, I will forego the WDH and employ a short solid ball mount. But that’s just me...

I’ve never had a receiver that needed a WDH to tow my trailer, and I’ve never wanted to ditch the WDH.

When I used to store it at a work lot I wouldn’t use the WDH for the 16 mile tow. It was ridiculously uncomfortable compared to with it. That’s all weight distribution and not sway control.

We even added WDH to our horse trailer. We don’t use it for highway trips but will for most gravel road towing.

I’m not sure what you think you gain by ditching a WDH

Convenience, less weight, less storage space, short drawbar. It does porpoise “a little” more but nowhere near ridiculous. I wonder what was wrong with your rig that it was ridiculously uncomfortable?

Nothing is wrong with it. Long trailer without WDH will porpoise more, physics at play. That also has an effect on steering as no-WDH will pull more weight off the front axle than the tongue weighs, and while you get a little porpoising that is even more weight off the front axle.

I also didn’t say it was ridiculously uncomfortable, I said it was ridiculously uncomfortable compared to with it. Big difference.

The convenience of not using it is why I wouldn’t use it around town, but it just showed me how much better towing is with it.

They are heavy, but that’s of little concern for me. My 5th wheel hitch is heavy too, but it’s built very well.

Also not concerned with storage as it lives under the trailer, plenty of room there camping or at home.

I actually went with the extended 18” shank and it’s great. I can fully open the tailgate at any truck/trailer angle.


I guess for those very small gains you give up a lot more, IME. YMMV.

[Hannibal]

AH64ID wrote:

Hannibal wrote:
The only reason I use a WDH with my F250 and 1,000~lb tongue weigh is to satisfy the weight rating of the receiver. The bars are set about as light as I can get them with upward torque on the receiver. When the day comes that I drop some coins on a new F250 with its 1300 lb dead weight capable 2.5” receiver, I will forego the WDH and employ a short solid ball mount. But that’s just me...

I’ve never had a receiver that needed a WDH to tow my trailer, and I’ve never wanted to ditch the WDH.

When I used to store it at a work lot I wouldn’t use the WDH for the 16 mile tow. It was ridiculously uncomfortable compared to with it. That’s all weight distribution and not sway control.

We even added WDH to our horse trailer. We don’t use it for highway trips but will for most gravel road towing.

I’m not sure what you think you gain by ditching a WDH

Convenience, less weight, less storage space, short drawbar. It does porpoise “a little” more but nowhere near ridiculous. I wonder what was wrong with your rig that it was ridiculously uncomfortable?

[DarkSkySeeker]

Wishin wrote:
Once it came in really handy back in 2015 when my vehicle needed a new fuel pump on a Friday night. My parents loaned me their 3/4 ton Silverado which had a 2" receiver and I was still able to hook up and go very easily. Had I had a 2.5" shank, I would have a lot more work to switch to another vehicle.

Good reason to have the sleeve!

[shum02]

AH64ID wrote:


I’m not sure what you think you gain by ditching a WDH

Saved money and time.

[AH64ID]

Hannibal wrote:
The only reason I use a WDH with my F250 and 1,000~lb tongue weigh is to satisfy the weight rating of the receiver. The bars are set about as light as I can get them with upward torque on the receiver. When the day comes that I drop some coins on a new F250 with its 1300 lb dead weight capable 2.5” receiver, I will forego the WDH and employ a short solid ball mount. But that’s just me...

I’ve never had a receiver that needed a WDH to tow my trailer, and I’ve never wanted to ditch the WDH.

When I used to store it at a work lot I wouldn’t use the WDH for the 16 mile tow. It was ridiculously uncomfortable compared to with it. That’s all weight distribution and not sway control.

We even added WDH to our horse trailer. We don’t use it for highway trips but will for most gravel road towing.

I’m not sure what you think you gain by ditching a WDH

[Wishin]

I have an aftermarket 2.5" receiver on my Suburban I've been using since 2014 when I bought my current trailer. I tow about 8k lbs with 1200-1300 lbs of tongue weight. I need the weight distribution bars, my vehicle is not comparable to yours, but I agree you might prefer the ride.

As for using an insert vs. getting a larger 2.5" shank, I've been using the insert all this time with no issues. I have no issues with the pin, shank, or sleeve wearing at all. I know some people have had issues with pins getting bent using a sleeve, I have not had that problem. Once it came in really handy back in 2015 when my vehicle needed a new fuel pump on a Friday night. My parents loaned me their 3/4 ton Silverado which had a 2" receiver and I was still able to hook up and go very easily. Had I had a 2.5" shank, I would have a lot more work to switch to another vehicle. It only happened once however. I can see the reasoning behind getting the larger 2.5" shank, but feel free to try it with the sleeve if you don't want to spend the money. You can always buy it later if you want.

[Hannibal]

The only reason I use a WDH with my F250 and 1,000~lb tongue weigh is to satisfy the weight rating of the receiver. The bars are set about as light as I can get them with upward torque on the receiver. When the day comes that I drop some coins on a new F250 with its 1300 lb dead weight capable 2.5” receiver, I will forego the WDH and employ a short solid ball mount. But that’s just me...

[Grit_dog]

mich800 wrote:

Melon Seed wrote:
I have a brand new F350 with a class V hitch. It's 2.5" square. I'm getting a sleeve to insert so I can use my existing weight distribution hitch, 2". Thoughts on "needing" the torsion bars for weight distribution....

I think your truck should have come with the reducer sleeve.

Maybe they did him a favor and tossed it in the recycling barrel....

[Grit_dog]

Lynnmor wrote:
Time for you guys to get caught up, 3" receivers have been out for a few years now.

If you have a 2-1/2" receiver, get the proper shank, use the 2" adapter for small utility trailers.

Caught up? Only Ford offers them OE that I'm aware of and the aftermarket extra duty Class V receivers are almost entirely 2.5" save for a few select "weld on" type units for straight rail trucks. Not certain you can get an aftermarket 3" for a pickup. I looked recently with no luck.

And FWIW, the 3" Frod (pun intended) hitches are mostly marketing gimmick. They're not rated any higher than other 2.5" hitches, actually a bit lower than some. Not that they're bad, just not a real step up from the heavy 2.5" receivers.

[Grit_dog]

rwess wrote:
2500/250 trucks have always had 2.5 inch shank receivers, I think. My 2010 2500HD Chevy does. I changed out the 2 inch shank on my Equalizer hitch to a 2.5 inch shank. I figured it would give me an added degree of safety and hopefully less wobble. It is really heavy now, and I did not notice much of an improvement in wobble. I later added an heavy duty anti wobble clamp device to completely eliminate wobble.

By "always", you mean the last 10-15 years. Maybe that's always in your experience?

[mich800]

Melon Seed wrote:
I have a brand new F350 with a class V hitch. It's 2.5" square. I'm getting a sleeve to insert so I can use my existing weight distribution hitch, 2". Thoughts on "needing" the torsion bars for weight distribution....

I think your truck should have come with the reducer sleeve.

[Melon_Seed]

Thanks all for your thoughts and info.

[Lynnmor]

Time for you guys to get caught up, 3" receivers have been out for a few years now.

If you have a 2-1/2" receiver, get the proper shank, use the 2" adapter for small utility trailers.