Hitch reducer

[samhain7]

Hi all. Has anyone used a hitch reducer? Looking at a truck with a larger hitch. I think class 5. I have a class 4 wd hitch. Dealership said they sell a sleeve to reduce it. Is it safe? Any issues or recommendations.

[s1214]

Etrailer has a selection. That's where I got mine and the hitch extension.

[garry_owen]

DanAndJamie wrote:

garry owen wrote:

DanAndJamie wrote:
I use one also. I have the 2.5" Titan receiver but my WD is a 2". It seems to work but there is a lot of slop and play with the WD hitch when not connected to the camper. I haven't noticed any issues or loud noises when towing.

same here. you have double the slop as the adapter has to slide into the receiver, and the hitch in to the adapter.

i don't care for this and have found 2.5 inch hitches to fit all my towing needs.

don't have to, or like to, use the adapter.

other than that it's a fact of life on the higher GVW units

I will get through this summer then I am buying the 2.5" shank for my Equalizer.

i might get flamed for telling you this but here goes


went to the iron and steel wear house and got a 2" id 2.5" od square tube.
drilled the 5/8" pin hole to match the hitch.

welded appropriate length to hitch and this took care of problem. had to do a bit of grinding to as tube would slide into receiver, but was a bit to tight to slide in and out. mostly just remove mill scale.

this worked well for me and don't see strength being any issue. i did price a new 2.5" shank for my equalizer and was about to purchase one. though i might try welding original adapter but wanted to keep that just in case. did this and have't looked back< so to speak:)

[skyhammer]

DutchmenSport wrote:
My Silverado came with one. No problems using it. Funny though, "they" put a larger receiver on the truck, but I've never seen anything that you can put in it without the sleeve.

If you ever needed to use a hitch extension(I use a 40"), you will need the 2.5" hitch.

[DanAndJamie]

garry owen wrote:

DanAndJamie wrote:
I use one also. I have the 2.5" Titan receiver but my WD is a 2". It seems to work but there is a lot of slop and play with the WD hitch when not connected to the camper. I haven't noticed any issues or loud noises when towing.

same here. you have double the slop as the adapter has to slide into the receiver, and the hitch in to the adapter.

i don't care for this and have found 2.5 inch hitches to fit all my towing needs.

don't have to, or like to, use the adapter.

other than that it's a fact of life on the higher GVW units

I will get through this summer then I am buying the 2.5" shank for my Equalizer.

[garry_owen]

DanAndJamie wrote:
I use one also. I have the 2.5" Titan receiver but my WD is a 2". It seems to work but there is a lot of slop and play with the WD hitch when not connected to the camper. I haven't noticed any issues or loud noises when towing.

same here. you have double the slop as the adapter has to slide into the receiver, and the hitch in to the adapter.

i don't care for this and have found 2.5 inch hitches to fit all my towing needs.

don't have to, or like to, use the adapter.

other than that it's a fact of life on the higher GVW units

[DanAndJamie]

The only thing that would concern me about the sleeve is the wear that I have noticed on the pin. Mind you, the pin is pretty stout and it would take a lot of wear to weaken it but I have noticed the wear none the less.

[Ram4Sam]

Don't overpay at the dealership, Pep Boys and others have them.

Sam

[prfssr]

DutchmenSport wrote:
My Silverado came with one. No problems using it. Funny though, "they" put a larger receiver on the truck, but I've never seen anything that you can put in it without the sleeve.

Yup, my 2013 Ram 3500 came with a class 5 hitch with a 3" receiver and a 2 1/2" sleeve. Does not make sense but at least they give you the sleeve. No problems on mine.

[DutchmenSport]

My Silverado came with one. No problems using it. Funny though, "they" put a larger receiver on the truck, but I've never seen anything that you can put in it without the sleeve.

[DanAndJamie]

I use one also. I have the 2.5" Titan receiver but my WD is a 2". It seems to work but there is a lot of slop and play with the WD hitch when not connected to the camper. I haven't noticed any issues or loud noises when towing.

[cbwallace]

My TV has a Class 5 and I use a hitch reducer with my Equalizer WDH. Have towed using it several times and the only time I came close to an issue was when I removed the hitch but left the reducer in the receiver which was still there when I realized it!

[e-light]

I use one on my RAM. The truck came with it and it works perfect. No issues...

[ChooChooMan74]

A lot of the trucks come with a hitch reducer. Check into it before purchasing one.