Third Generation Hitch Capacity?

[Loren]

My second generation trucks had a warning stamped onto the factory receiver hitch that stated something to the effect of, “5000 pound capacity without weight-distributing hitch. 10,000 pound capacity with weight-distributing hitch. ”



My new third generation truck doesn’t have anything about hitch capacity, either on the hitch or in the manual, except for the owner’s manual note that a class IV hitch is rated for 10,000 pounds. The build data from my dealer says that the factory tow package includes a class IV hitch.



When I was at the dealer’s today, I asked about the hitch capacity at the service desk and the manager couldn’t tell me anything more.



I assume from this that the third generation hitches are rated for the full 10,000 pounds whether you use a weight-distributing hitch or not. Is this correct? Does anyone know of any official documentation of the hitch capacity?



I use a weight-distributing hitch for most of my trailers, but the portable sawmill weighs about 8500 pounds and won’t take a weight-distributing hitch easily.



Thanks for any help.



Loren

 

[jelag]

On third generation trucks some of the dealers have found they can install their own trailer tow package for less money than the cost of the kit on a truck that comes down the assembly line... and all the trucks have the same wiring harness...

I know of 2 dealers who do this... . so if they order a truck w/o a tow package and the customer wants one they can add it... .

But the key here is that sometimes the hitch they install is not rated the same as the factory hitch... . based on what the buyer is looking for it might be lighter than a factory hitch or heavier... .

In almost all cases the hitches will have a tag that is welded to the hitch... or stamped into the hitch giving the rating on the hitch and either its tongue weight or load capacity.....

That said... we have a 2 axle dump trailer with 2 6K lb axles and we've had it at 14K lbs with a partial load of gravel in it... any more and the dump wouldn't work... . We know that we have hitches rated at 10K on our dually trucks... . we've overloaded them... . but are care full about this.....

As a side note I saw a nice Tahoe on the side of the road this week... towing a TT that was destroyed... . the trailer had rolled on its side and was spread over at least 1,000 ft of free way... I had to go around this mess and was surprised to see the Tahoe in one piece without a scratch and the hitch in good shape with the tongue of the trailer twisted around... . in short the trailer was trashed and the vehicle was left there without a scratch. . I personally believe that a hitch rated at 10 K must have at least a 50% safety factor built in... . But these are my personal thoughts... . I have no science to support it... . I do know that the 30K lb goose neck in 2 of my trucks don't look a lot stronger than the trailer hitch... .

I don't think I'd worry about a 8500 lb trailer using common sense when I towed... . dry roads, safe speeds and good highways...

 

[Loren]

Jim,



Thanks for the info.



My hitch was installed at the factory. I have a copy of the build data that I got from the dealer. My hitch doesn't have a tag or stamping indicating the capacity.



I agree about the safety factor and pulling 8500 pounds. In fact, I pulled that sawmill home from the factory, about 600 miles, with my Y2K, second generation truck (now wrecked). That truck had the hitch that said I needed a weight distributing hitch to tow over 5000 pounds and I didn't use one. I didn't worry about it then either, but I would have felt better if I knew I was within the design specifications.



I'm a bit frustrated that Dodge doesn't provide the hitch data in big, bold type somewhere. You'd think that they would be concerned about liability issues. (The third gen. trucks sure nag you if you don't fasten your seat belt. )



Loren

 

[steved]

As noted, there are two 3rd gen hitches...

The dealer installed hitch is a class 3... it is just a receiver box bolted to the existing cross member.

The factory installed hitch is a mix... it has 12k pull and 800 tongue weight ratings. It is categorized a Class 4 and is a welded unit bolted to the frame.

The most I've had on mine was around 7500... for a short distance.

 

[DMcGalliard]

Hello Sawmill man

Hello Loren,

I have a Woodmiser portable, I got tired of hauling it to and setting up on bad sites#@$%!, so I took the wheels off it and have in a covered building. People bring there logs to me or I will haul them for a fee. Keeps my mill out of the weather and I still have more business than I want. On the hitch issue I have hauled some really big loads of logs on my 18' tagalong, probable 15k, the hitch will handle it, I don't like to do it and only do it for special friends, but stay off main roads, keep speed down and it works for me. Would like to have a goose neck for the log hauling, but I am trying to get out of that part of the business.



I am located in Western NC, would like to know what part of the country you are located.



Dave Mc

 

[Loren]

Dave,



Rising Sun, Indiana, is in the southeastern corner of the state, near Cincinnati, Ohio.



I'm not worried about overloading the hitch, because I agree with everyone that I can pull any reasonable load as long as I use some common sense. What I am really trying to find is some Dodge source stating what the capacity of the hitch is, and if there are any restrictions (like a weight-distributing hitch) for certain weights.



Loren

 

[MA2LA]

You shouldn't have any problems. I have had over 12k hooked many times between the bobcat on a very heavy trailer and a 14ft dump loaded to the point where it didn't want to dump. I was under the truck the other day to see if there is any visable stressing or cracking and there wasn't a thing unlike my 99 that had actually cracked.

 

[CDonaldson]

The factory hitch is a class IV but it gets its rating by using weight distributing. This has been a topic on several occasions, it is fully explained on the Dodge website. My manual for my 2006 does state that weight distributing must be employed using this hitch, has a sticker added into the manual explaining this.



CD

 

[PLevesque]

In my opinion, the factory should mount a hitch good for at least 10k and 2k tounge without use of a distributing system. Everyone does it anyway. I have never seen anyone use weight distribution except for campers to keep the butt off the ground for light vehicles.

 

[AABEN]

I have a 22 foot flat bead. I use a weight distributimg hitch when having a large load. It gives me a lot better ride and it gives me more control over my load. You can adj the weight so your load is equal. this will be safer for every one.

 

[Loren]

CD,



I am unable to find any documentation from Dodge that says I need to use a weight distributing hitch to use my hitch to its full capacity. The only thing I found on Dodge's web site regarding the factory class IV hitch is that the maximum tongue weight is 1200 pounds. Even that limit is not specified on the hitch nor do I find it in my owner's manual. I wonder if Dodge has changed the hitch for 2008.



This is different from my 1995 and 2000 second-generation trucks. Those trucks had the hitch limits stamped right on the hitch.



I was hoping to find some documentation regarding limitations on the factory class IV hitch. So far, all I've seen from Dodge is the 1200 pound tongue weight limit.



There is contradictory information on the web site compared to my owner's manual. The web site says my truck can tow 12,750 pounds, but the owner's manual states that a class IV hitch is rated for 10,000 pounds.



I'm still trying to find some authority that tells me what (if any) are the weight limits on the hitch itself. If you can direct me to the page where you found it, I would be grateful.



Thanks for everyone's help.

Loren

 

[seafish]

Any recommendations on a good weight distribution hitch system, good for at least 12,000#. ??

 

[Loren]

Any recommendations on a good weight distribution hitch system, good for at least 12,000#. ??

CFish,



I have tried an old Reese hitch (bought new in 1970), a Pulliam Pull-Rite, and am now using an Equal-i-zer brand. Of the three, I much prefer the Equal-i-zer.



The Pull-Rite didn't improve the sway issue as much as I had hoped, and as it turns out, the Equal-i-zer does just as good as job and is a much simpler and cheaper hitch.



Equal-i-zer hitches come with different weight ratings, including a 12,000 pound one, which is the one I have. I use it to tow a 9800 pound Airstream as well as a flatbed trailer that sometimes weighs as much as 12,000 pounds and sometimes weighs only a couple thousand. The Equal-i-zer does a good job with all of those.



Here's their web site: Equal-i-zer® Hitch - The “American Original” with 4-Point Sway Control™ and Weight Distribution



If you call them, they will send you a DVD about the hitch. The number is 800-478-5578.



I bought mine here: RVWholesalers.com , Towing , Equal-i-zer Hitches and Accessories , Equal-i-zer Hitch



The 12,000 pound hitch is their part #14-2928.



My truck is a 4-wheel-drive so I had to buy the extended shank in order to get the ball to the proper height. You will probably need it too. You can buy the hitch package with the correct shank from other sellers, but the deal I got from RVWholesalers.com was so good that I could afford to buy the shank separately and still came out cheaper than getting the exact setup from someone else.



The shank I got was RVWholesalers.com part #14-2931. This is Equal-i-zer part #90-02-4300. It works perfectly. It is here on their web site: RVWholesalers.com , Towing , Equal-i-zer Hitches and Accessories , Equal-i-zer Shanks



I have had trouble finding a 2-5/16" hitch ball that is rated for over 10,000 pounds. I finally found a ball at Tractor Supply that is rated for about 20,000 pounds. A ball that is made for a gooseneck hitch will have a higher rating than one for a regular trailer hitch. If you don't have a Tractor Supply near you, check other farm stores.



Good luck.

Loren

 

[seafish]

Loren, thanks for all the useful info. I will check out the Tractor Supply in Ukioah and look into Equalizer.

 

[PaulWatkins]

Any recommendations on a good weight distribution hitch system, good for at least 12,000#. ??

The Reese Dual Cam is another option besides the Equalizer. Trailer hitch, hitches and bike rack (800)298-8924 has those.

 

[AABEN]

Dodge dealer says that hitch weigh should be 10% not more than 15% of the weight. That is where equalizer hitches work out very good

 

[Coalsmoke]

Loren, I'm in the same boat as you. My 08 with the factory tow prep option does not have any listing in the manual saying what the capacity of the hitch is, nor is the hitch itself stamped with a weight rating or classification. I'd like to believe that its a 10,000lb hitch but I want to know for sure. Please let me know if you find anything out.

thanks.

 

[Drewhenry]

One in Every Crowd

Well I hate to be a smart*****, but... ... Why not go ahead and install a gooseneck and forget all the rest of the bs???

 

[Loren]

Well I hate to be a smart*****, but... ... Why not go ahead and install a gooseneck and forget all the rest of the bs???

Drewhenry,



That's not being a smart***. That's a reasonable suggestion.



The reason is that I already own three trailers that are not goosenecks. Also, it appears now that the factory hitch is rated to tow 12,000 pounds (more later), so for my truck a gooseneck would gain me only an additional 750 pounds of towing capacity, since my truck is rated to tow only 12,750 pounds. Last, I like to use the bed of my truck for something other than a trailer hitch. I have dogs and don't always want them in the cab with me. I also like to carry tools that I don't want stolen, so I install a cap on the bed of the truck.



I consider a gooseneck, or a fifth-wheel hitch, to be more bs than I am willing to deal with.



Loren

 

[Loren]

I was hoping that someone else on this forum had already done the work of getting an authoritative source regarding the hitch capacity for our third generation trucks. Since we were having trouble finding the data in some manual, I e-mailed Dodge.



Dodge referred me to my dealer, but I have already asked the folks at the service desk, and they couldn't tell me anything more than what was in my owner's manual. After a couple of e-mails back and forth, Dodge referred me to this page:

http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/2008/docs/intro/towingbasics.pdf



That document states that a class IV hitch is rated for 12,000 pounds. This contradicts the owner's manual that came with my truck, which states 10,000 pounds as the limit for a class IV hitch. I intend to ask Dodge about this. (More e-mails)



In the meantime, I am going to use the higher rating, 12,000 pounds. And, since the 2008 Towing Basics document doesn't mention a requirement for a weight distributing hitch, (nor does anything else I've found for third generation trucks) I will assume that one is not required.



I still will use my weight distributing hitch with the flatbed and travel trailer, but probably not with the sawmill. It looks like I will be within Dodge's specifications.



Thanks for all the comments. If I get anything more from Dodge, I'll post it.



Loren