Receiver hitch size on newer Tow vehicles?

On my f350 it is 2.5 and they send a reducer with it.
I think all F250/f350's come with the 2.5 and the other 2500/3500s do also.

Some newer Ford and Chevy trucks come from the factory with 2-1/2" receivers




2" x 2" - Class III and Class IV Hitches
Typical weight ratings for Class III trailer hitches:
Maximum gross trailer weight: 3,500 lbs to 6,000 lbs
Maximum tongue weight: 300 lbs to 600 lbs
Typical weight ratings for Class IV trailer hitches:
Maximum gross trailer weight: 5,000 lbs to 12,000 lbs
Maximum tongue weight: 500 lbs to 1,200 lbs


2-1/2" x 2-1/2" - Class V Hitches
Typical weight ratings for Class V trailer hitches:
Maximum gross trailer weight: 10,000 lbs to 18,000 lbs
Maximum tongue weight: 1,000 lbs to 1,800 lbs

Hitch accessories designed for 2" trailer hitches will work on Class V 2-1/2" hitches with the use of a specialized hitch adapter. (Reducer)

Note: Heavy-Duty 2" x 2" Trailer Hitches - Class V Rating due to design/construction

My 2015 Ram 2500 came with a 2 ½ recevicer.

Farmerjon wrote:
On my f350 it is 2.5 and they send a reducer with it.
I think all F250/f350's come with the 2.5 and the other 2500/3500s do also.

If I'm reading Ford's 2015 Towing guide right:

- the F250 gasser only comes with a 2" receiver. The F250 diesel with 156" wheelbase or greater gets the 2.5" hitch receiver.

- all F350s get the 2.5" hitch receiver.

- All F150s get the 2" hitch receiver.

My understanding is that new GMs come with 2" for the 1500s and 2.5" for 2500/3500s.

My GMC 1500 came with a 2".

SouthpawHD wrote:
My understanding is that new GMs come with 2" for the 1500s and 2.5" for 2500/3500s.

This is the way Rams come these days. You get a reducer sleeve with it to take it down to 2".

We got the 2 1/2" sleeve with an adapter so I could use the old hitch on our 2012 GMC 2500HD. Don't really like the way it moves around in the sleeve, but the weight capability is great, not that I use it since I pull a FW. Certainly doesn't stress it pulling my 4,000 pound boat.

Mine also came with the 2.5" receiver with an adapter sleeve. I chose to purchase new 2.5" hitches so I didn't have to use the adapter. Didn't like the idea of no support for the end of the hitch past the adapter.

Then again, some trucks did not come with a factory hitch, as my 96 K3500, 2000 - C2500 and 2005 DW 3500. Kind of nice this way, as then you can choose a hitch that fits the needs you have, vs the engineers in Detroit etc, that do not know what you are going to do with the truck etc. I put higher rated hitches on ALL three trucks than came stock. The 96 and 2000 had 2" hitches, the 05 I went with a 2.5" hitch. The 2' were good to 10K with or with out wd bars. the 05 IIRC was around 15K with or with out bars.

Marty

blt2ski wrote:
Then again, some trucks did not come with a factory hitch, as my 96 K3500, 2000 - C2500 and 2005 DW 3500. Kind of nice this way, as then you can choose a hitch that fits the needs you have, vs the engineers in Detroit etc, that do not know what you are going to do with the truck etc. I put higher rated hitches on ALL three trucks than came stock. The 96 and 2000 had 2" hitches, the 05 I went with a 2.5" hitch. The 2' were good to 10K with or with out wd bars. the 05 IIRC was around 15K with or with out bars.

Marty

I wonder if the hitch receiver ratings on factory installed hitches have as much to do with the whole truck as with the mechanical design of the hitch receiver.

My truck's factory hitch receiver has a WDH rating of 11,500# (1150# TW) but only 5000# (500# TW) weight carrying. Perhaps Ford is afraid that when you put on over 500# of weight carrying tongue weight, you will move too much weight off the front axle onto the rear axle. So they derate the WC rating of the hitch receiver to 500#, even though mechanically it can probably carry a lot more.