WD Hitch; 2" vs. 2.5" receiver; Ford 250 issue

[outwestbound]

Greetings from a newbie. My plan is to full time out west/ mountains.

I'm evaluating a purchase of a new truck and travel trailer. My question relates to maximizing a new truck's tow rating capacity by the proper application of hitching methodology, rather than "will this pull a specific amount of weight" type question.

The TT will be large; around 36-38 all in, but not selected yet. Looking to buy 2014 F250, 6.7L turbo diesel, 4x4, crew cab, SRW, 3.55 rear end, 6.75' bed, 156.2 wheel base and rated in Ford's towing literature at 14,000 max load, 23,500 GCWR and comes with a 2.5" receiver class V hitch. (torn over 6.75' vs. 8' bed with crew cab, but that's for another post)

My goal is to, assuming proper weights in TV of course, get the max tow rating out of this 250. In Ford's 2014 super duty literature, page 3, there is a table "Hitch Receiver Weight Capacity" and my truck rates 14,000 trailer, 1,400 tongue, assuming a weight distribution hitch set up, which I want.

The issue is note 3, which says "2.5 receiver. If the provided 2.5 inch to 2.0 inch adapter is used, this reduces the Max. Trailer Capacity to 12,500 and the Max. Tongue Loan to 1,250 lbs." The reason it's an issue is because every trailer dealer says they only carry 2" WD hitches (used with the $15 adapter sleeve)and they say they've never heard of a WD hitch with a 2.5" receiver. As I am completely clueless myself, I feel that loosing this towing capacity on a $60+K truck because I have to use a $15 part seems ridiculous IF Ford's note 3 is to be taken seriously in the first place. I'm very, very concerned about safety and want lots of cushion and money isn't important when safety is the issue.

In my spreadsheet calculating all the weights and tolerances, capacities, etc., I'd very much like to use 14,000 because of the reserve/ cushion capacity.

Does it make sense to buy a class V 2.5" receiver WD rig for my travel trailer (they do exists but are about 3X the cost)so I avoid the adapter and capacity loss (per note 3)? Or, should I interpret Ford's note 3 as bull... and use the $15 adaptor AND keep using 14,000 in my calculations. Or, should I just use the adapter and live with the rating loss AND only use the lower ratings in my calculations?

Please forgive the length. I hope this made sense.

Thanks

[outwestbound]

ah64id wrote:
Equal-i-zer also makes a 2.5" shank for their 1,400/14,000 model.

These Equal-i-zer hitches look good; about $475 including shank.

I really appreciate the forum input.

[AH64ID]

The sleeves rattle, get a 2.5" shank. Last time I looked the 2.5" shank for an equal-I-zer was no more than the 2", at least not significant enough to remember.

[outwestbound]

bretm151 wrote:
The only catch is that the WDH limits are about 1500 pounds with a 2" receiver (you can get a 1700 Reese with the 2.5"), but that was enough for my use.

Thanks to all. This option is a fraction of going the $1500 2.5" route and I'm happy with whichever works best.

When you say 1500 pounds, do you mean max tongue 1500 and max towing 15000? I found a Reese WD RP66131 rated 1500/15000 for like.

Until you posted, I didn't know a class V 2" existed. If this options is as mechanically sound as the more expensive 2.5" WD rig, it seems the best option.

[bretm151]

I replaced the Ford receiver on my F250 with a Curt 15410 because I was worried I would be over 1250/12500 rating of the Ford receivier. With 17,000 pound max trailer weight, 2550 lb max tongue weight ratings, it pretty much make the receiver a non-issue...

It is a 2" receiver, which also got rid of adapter questions, etc. The only catch is that the WDH limits are about 1500 pounds with a 2" receiver (you can get a 1700 Reese with the 2.5"), but that was enough for my use.

It was about $400 installed.

Bret

[wandering1]

The rating for the hitch is how much weight the hitch will handle, has nothing to do with the tow rating for the truck.

[Drew_K]

I have basically the same truck you're considering and use a 2.5 inch shank with my Reese Strait Line weight WDH (1,700 pound model). The first question you have to resolve is whether you need the capacity of the 2.5 inch shank. The sticker on my 2013 F250 hitch says the 2 inch shank will support up to 600 lbs tongue weight w/o WDH and 1,250 lbs with WDH. If you don't need the extra capacity from the 2.5 inch shank, I wouldn't bother with it because, as you found, it's a lot more expensive.

My TT has a 1,500 pound tongue weight, so I had to go to the 2.5 inch shank.

If you do need the 2.5 inch shank, the Reese Strait Line does NOT come with a shank so you'll have to buy it separately. Measure you hitch height vs your TT ball height to make sure you order the right shank. I told etrailer my measurements and they sent me the wrong shank - it was either too high or too low (you can flip the shank). The correct height Reese shank wouldn't fit the F250, according to etrailer. However, I bought it locally and took a grinder to it for a few minutes to make it fit.

[AH64ID]

Equal-i-zer also makes a 2.5" shank for their 1,400/14,000 model.

[ChooChooMan74]

eTrailer.com 2½" WDH vs 2" WDH

[outwestbound]

forgot, here is the Ford literature with note 3:
2014>Trucks>2014-Super Duty