Tow rating decoding

[Bobbo]

The manual for my Chevy 1500 Silverado has the following tow limits:

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. 5000 lbs 5000.0 min 5000.0 max
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. 600 lbs 600.0 min 600.0 max
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. 9500, 5000 lbs 5000.0 min 9500.0 max
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. 1000, 500 lbs 500.0 min 1000.0 max

I can understand the dead weight data, but what does the wt distributing hitch data mean?

9500, 5000 lbs 5000.0 min 9500.0 max

and

1000, 500 lbs 500.0 min 1000.0 max

[handye9]

The truck has ratings for what it can tow and for what it can carry. These ratings were calculated without aftermarket accessories, passengers, or cargo. Any added weight from these items / people reduces both the available payload and max tow rating, pound for pound.

The numbers below, are ratings for the hitch receiver, itself. Not the truck. The truck itself, may or may not have a 9500 lb tow rating.

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. 5000 lbs 5000.0 min 5000.0 max

Max trailer weight 5,000 lbs, without a weight distributing hitch.

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. 600 lbs 600.0 min 600.0 max

Max tongue weight 600 lbs, without a weight distributing hitch.

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. 9500, 5000 lbs 5000.0 min 9500.0 max

Max trailer weight 9,500 lbs, with a weight distributing hitch.

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. 1000, 500 lbs 500.0 min 1000.0 max

Minimum tongue weight 500 lbs and max tongue weight 1,000 lbs, with a weight distributing hitch.


Check your drivers door post for a tire / loading stickeer. It will show a number for max occupant / cargo weight. That number is what the truck was rated to carry, at the time it left the factory. From that number, subtract the weight of added accessories, people, and cargo that would normally get loaded for a camping trip. The remaining capacity, is what the truck has available to carry a weight distributing hitch (WDH) and the trailer tongue weight.

If you know your available payload, subtract for the WDH (about 100 lbs), and divide the remaining number by .13. That will give you a ball park figure for what loaded trailer weight you can tow. It's probably not going to be in the 9000 lb range.

[MitchF150]

Well, nothing about the "hitch" really determines your trucks "tow rating", so not really sure what you are looking at in the "manual"??

I've never seen "hitch" ratings in the manual?

The hitch ratings should be on a little sticker on the hitch itself?

Dunno what to tell you, other than what you quoted above on the WD part makes no sense to me either...

Good luck!

Mitch

[Bobbo]

Thank you, but I am asking how to decode the numbers. For example, for the dead weight hitch, I have a 5000 pound limit.

The WD limit says "9500, 5000 lbs 5000.0 min 9500.0 max" so I don't know if the limit is 5000, 9500, or something between.

[4x4ord]

A weight distributing hitch is a special hitch that goes into the hitch receiver on on your truck. When properly used it transfers some of the tongue weight of your trailer hitch to the front wheels of the tow vehicle. When using a weight distributing hitch you are permitted to tow a heavier trailer with a heavier tongue weight.


info on weight distributing hitches