2013 receiver tow ratings

[Kirwin]

I am researching the tow ratings for the class V factory receiver hitch on my 2013 dually. After extensive searching, I found on page 577 in the owners manual trailer table, a 17,000# rating for the max trailer weight limit. I can't find the tounge weight limit listed. It states that trailers should have 10-15% of the trailer weight on the tongue, but I'm going to get weighed by RVSEEF tomorow and I can't find a specification for tounge weight limit. The body builders guide was not any better for the receiver ratings. Has anyone found any documentation on the maximum tongue weight for the receiver?

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Tongue weight max is 1800 lb.

 

[jelag]

When I bought my last 2 trucks I found that the hitch was not factory installed, but dealer installed... as the dealer could profit more on a dealer installed tow package than a factory installed tow package... than as we'd see trucks in to have exhaust brakes installed... that sometimes the dealers hadn't installed class V. . I can't tell you if that process is still going on... I can see this on a 1500 or lighter vehicle but not on something that might tow 17,000 lbs. .

I'd hope by now... like you with your 2013 truck, this policy has changed... but you might just check...

 

[AH64ID]

Note 6 states that the maximum tongue weight is 1700 lbs.

Note 8 states that for trailers over 17K lbs a 5th wheel or gooseneck is required, and for trailers over 25K a gooseneck is required.

http://www.rambodybuilder.com/2013/docs/ram/rammlup3500.pdf

So based on that I would say it's 1700lbs tongue, and 17,000 trailer.

Now the 2013 Towing Basic's guide says that it's limited to 1045lbs tongue and 12,000 trailer on the class IV. The '13 is supposed to be a Class V, but I don't see any specs in the towing basics.

http://www.rambodybuilder.com/2013/docs/intro/towingbasics.pdf

 

[Kirwin]

Thanks AH64ID thats what I was looking for, some sort of documentaion that I can show the RVSEEF folks. I trust Joe Donnelly myself, but it's difficult to get some one else to believe you on that. I also found in Rams PR stuff for the 2013 HD Ram an 18,000 receiver rating but it doesn't say what max tougue weight is. It is a 2. 5" "class V" receiver hitch although there is no real standard for a class V hitches that I can find. I really don't underestand why Ram can't just put a hitch rating sticker on the hitch like everyone else does. The hitch obviously has some ratings so why not put it out there for those of us that need it.

jelag my reciever has the Dodge part number on it and was ordered with the reciever (the receiver is listed on the build sheet for my truck) but I think it is a Curt brand product that Ram is getting from them as a vendor/supplier. I'm still trying to confirm that. Thank Ken Irwin

 

[Kirwin]

I wanted to post what the RVSEEF weights showed me. The 2013 weights (with the trailer attached) were as follows front axle 5,300#, rear axle 7,550#, total 12,850#. For comparision the 2003, with the same set up, weights were front axle 4700#, rear axle 7400#, total 12,100#.

Additionally RVSEEF showed that my tongue weight is 1825# on the 2013, it was 1575# on the 2003. I'm not really sure why the trailer tongue weight is different. I'm still thinking about why it changed.

 

[NIsaacs]

I'm not really sure why the trailer tongue weight is different. I'm still thinking about why it changed.

What kind of trailer is it? Is it loaded different or if you are using a w/d hitch was the setting different?



Nick

 

[jelag]

since you bought your new truck your wife has found 20 cubby holes to put 500 # of stuff you'll need in the next 5 years... . whoops. . did I say that... at least that's what keeps happening to me... ...

 

[Kirwin]

What kind of trailer is it? Is it loaded different or if you are using a w/d hitch was the setting different?

Nick

Its a 2008 Holiday Rambler Presidential 32 FKD travel trailer. We have owned it since it was new. I think that difference may be just variance in the weighing set up. Not likely that the tounge was that much heavier on this trip. When we weighed last time in 2012 with the 03, we were on a month long trip out west. I'm pretty sure that the trailer was loaded heavier then than now. May have to due more with the WD tension on the hitch. I've got to look more into it.

 

[LocoPilot750]

The limiting factor might actually be the ball. Some have a lower rating than others. It's usually stamped in the top someplace. Get one with the largest shank that will fit the hitch.

 

[Kirwin]

LocoPilot750, it's a 14K ball. You make an excellent point though! I had to order it special to find one >10K. They didn't have one on the shelf at my local RV dealer even though they sold travel trailers that exceeded that in GVWR! Thanks for reminding me.

 

[AH64ID]

I recently went with a 1" rise ball, it has 25K stamped in it.

 

[Kirwin]

As an update to this thread, I had a difficult time finding a locking hitch pin for the receiver that was long enough to go all the way through the class V receiver and not bind up while towing. I finally came across the Diversi-Tech DT-31005. On etrailer's website it states that the pin is 3. 25" long but it's closer to 3. 5". The reciever hitch is about 3. 100" outside edge to outside edge. Most pins are right at 3" and will not lock. My last one was 3. 125" but when the hitch moves while towing, as they all do, it would put the locking mechanism in a bind due to side load and make unlocking and removal difficult. I was also worried that the lock would fail due to this loading. Unfortunately, the Diversi-Tech is made in China but seems to be very well made and has a positive locking mechanism that is quite robust. It works for me. Ken Irwin

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

For years I have used a long 5/8" allen head bolt with smooth shank long enough to go through, and then cut the thread end shorter, drill a hole for a small padlock outside the nut. I like the extra security of the high grade steel.

 

[JR]

It is a 2. 5" "class V" receiver hitch although there is no real standard for a class V hitches that I can find. I really don't underestand why Ram can't just put a hitch rating sticker on the hitch like everyone else does. The hitch obviously has some ratings so why not put it out there for those of us that need it.

You are correct there is no standard for Class V. SAEJ684 is the standard for couplings, hitches, and safety chains and is what manufacturers are required to go by. Where it gets sticky is the SAE cert has not been updated beyond a ClassIV yet, so any ratings beyond Class IV technically dont exist. Truck and hitch manufacturers legally can't put their own ratings on a hitch.