Tow hitch question

tinstartrvlr wrote:
Secondchance, it's 2015, and has about the same rating as yours. Guess that's just how it is. Makes me wonder how there can be other ordinary hitches out there (Curt, Reese, etc)with much higher numbers for my truck.

Example-
Shipping Weight 77.000
Weight Carrying Capacity(WC) 17,000 LB
Tongue Weight(TW) 2,550 LB
Weight Distribution(WD) 17,000 LB

The Tongue weight is 1300 lbs more than my hitch with 2" drawbar and 650 lbs more than my hitch with 2.5" drawbar.

Goes back to what I said about the factory hitch being lame.

"Lame" might be a bit strong. It's just my personal opinion, but if I were towing anything heavier than what our hitches are rated for (which I am), I would want to be pulling a fifth wheel. The hitch ratings we have are sufficient for almost any modern pull-behind travel trailer.

Rob

JBarca,
Thanks.
I wasn't aware EQ made the 2.5. Might consider an upgrade, although not really sure I need it.

tinstartrvlr wrote:
Grit,
I would prefer to use the 2.5" receiver, but I have yet to see an ordinary hitch head with anything more than 2". Then again, I really haven't been paying that much attention. My Equalizer hitch head is 2" so I have no choice.

This may help if you want to upgrade your EQ shank to a 2 1/2".

Equal-I-zer shanks

If you look close, they machine down the end that goes into the hitch head to 2" with the rest at 2 1/2". Call to confirm. I have heard they do this and found them on their parts store

I have the Reese, and they do the same thing. 2 1/2" shank tapers to 2" going into the hitch head


Hope this helps

John

^ Just keep an eye on the receiver pin hole as you get some miles on it and expect that it's possible to bend the hitch pin. I just dumped the adapters on several trucks due to bent pin on one.
Not the end of the world for sure though.
It's strange, not a lot of 2.5" stingers available yet. I just bought a few for some work trucks and had to get from a trailer sales place. Normal places with good trailer parts selection like farm stores don't seem to carry them. Now Ford has a 3" on the new trucks!
Online has a lot of 2.5" selection.

Grit,
I would prefer to use the 2.5" receiver, but I have yet to see an ordinary hitch head with anything more than 2". Then again, I really haven't been paying that much attention. My Equalizer hitch head is 2" so I have no choice.

That V-5 sticker on the receiver refers to a govenment document that specifies hitch testing and construction requirements. It does not indicate the class of the hitch. There are various limits that each manufacturer goes by to class their hitch. There are no "universal" agreements on hitch classes. Generally though, if you go above 1200/12,000 lbs then it is thought of as a class V hitch.
Barney

Tina, yes it's lame and no that hitch won't break off the back of your burly F350 without putting a whole lot more tongue weight on it than the ratings you stated.
It is a good idea to not use the adapter for more than occasional use/small trailers. They're trouble when you get into bigger trailers or regular use. Tend to bend hitch pins and or Waller out the pin holes on the receiver.

Thanks for the input.

x2 on a much better ride using the WD setup.

The whole thing is really pointless since my setup is just fine-I just got curious about the numbers and how the truck makers come up with this stuff, along with trying to figure out exactly what I have and/or what it's capable of.

This is not only a Ford thing, the other big 2 do it too.

My F350 is a 2005. Still an 11,000 GVWR with a 7,000# Rear GAWR.

This is what come on mine in 2005. Hey at least yours is 850# in weight carrying mode. But this receiver did work very well up to 1,250 in WD mode. Just I needed more


I needed to upgrade it to this to handle the 1,600# loaded TW of my camper. A Reese Towbeast 2.5" receiver


A number of years ago the big 3 got together at a conference and "again" agreed to create receiver ratings that lined up with a 10% loaded tongue weight with the full tow ratings. There thought process I'm guessing is that the rule of thumb that 10% is needed for a stable trailer. The issue is, on a TT, the loaded TW can far exceed the 10% and you run out of WD capacity on the receiver before you run out of pull rating.

Is it lame? it is the way it is unless we can convince the big 3 at their next conference we need more WC & WD capacity. GM "use" to give you more loaded TW in WD mode then the truck could handle even. Well that at least gave you a better receiver but if the truck cannot handle it, someone is gonna think they can do it and try. Not many people read and understand all the fine print.

Lets say this, at least be glad on the new 3/4 and 1 ton trucks we now have a 2.5" receiver as standard. They had to with all the towing torque wars going on. The truck can pull more so it has to be able to hold up more by the receiver. It use to be worse....

And I do agree, even with a 600# loaded TW on a trailer, I would use WD. The truck just rides better.

Hope this helps

John

And I do use a WDH, and wouldn't tow without it.