Towing capacity

[JimVan]

Will a weight distributing hitch increase the towing capacity of a van if the Van has a 6800-pound rating, could you tow a 7000-pound trailer?


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[atreis]

NO. It may increase the permitted tongue weight though.

[mkirsch]

In the real world, there is no immediate consequence for exceeding the "tow rating" by 200lbs. There is no "tow police" waiting in the bushes to shoot out your tires and drag your family off to the gulag the second you go one pound over.

More than likely you won't even be able to tell the difference between 6800 and 7000.

That said, in real world terms, 6800lbs behind a van rated to tow 6800 is going to be a big load. On passenger vehicles, those ratings are definitely on the limit of driver comfort. Performance and handling, while not "unsafe" on a well-maintained vehicle, may try your patience.

Over time with frequent enough use, you may notice accelerated wear and tear in your tow vehicle. If you don't keep up with maintenance, THAT can become an unsafe condition on the road (i.e. running worn/fatigued tires loaded to capacity increases the chance of a failure).

[Grit_dog]

Grit dog wrote:

bikendan wrote:
NO

YES

I’m kidding

[APT]

Many vehicles and receivers have two sets of limits, one as weight carrying and another with weight distributing. In that case, towing limits are increased as long as the vehicle limits are also higher. Here is mine for example:



GM rates my Suburban tow rating at 9400 pounds. The receiver does not mean I should tow 10,000 pounds. You need to take the lowest limit of all your ratings.

Also, if your tow rating is 6800 pounds, you will want to stay closer to 5000 pounds dry or lower. People add weight from dry/empty ratings. Typically, 500-1500 pounds for long weekends.

[Grit_dog]

bikendan wrote:
NO

YES

[1320Fastback]

No it does not work like that. A hitch capacity will not replace the weight rating from vechile manufacturer.

[JIMNLIN]

6800 lbs to 7000 lbs....not enough to worry about. 200 lbs is just another passenger.
Your biggest concern is the hitch weight over loading the vehicle's RAWR = tires/wheels rear spring pack.

[bikendan]

NO

[1492]

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