Actual Gooseneck Hitch ratings (not ball rating)

[DHayden]

I previously assumed that gooseneck hitches (for the most part) were rated at 30,000lbs. The new trucks have tow ratings of over 35,000lbs which got me thinking. I looked up several gooseneck hitch manufacturers and most say 30,000lbs. Are they basing this on the 2 5/16 ball? B&W also says 30,000lbs but on another page it states "if you are towing over 30,000lbs, use our 3" ball". What is the 3" ball rated at? What is the B&W hitch actually rated at? Why would they be so vague on something that takes them into a much more dangerous area of towing?
There was only one other company I saw that had any rating stated over 30,000 and that was rated at 38,000lbs. Please enlighten me.

 

[DHayden]

Anyone?

 

[TFucili]

I could be wrong, but my understanding is when you get to 30K trailer the 3" hitch/ball is required. Lighter trailers, naturally, will come with 2 5/16" hitch. So to pull at the hitch's rated capacity requires the 3" hitch/ball. Maybe there is a DOT regulation to dig up?

 

[DHayden]

Yes, if you go over 30k you need the 3" ball. What im asking is, what are the actual hitches rated for? They all say 30k but I presume thats because of the 2 5/16 ball. Though they say "if towing over 30k use our 3" ball" they dont say what the 3 inch ball is rated for. Even if a 3" ball is rated to 40k-45k, what is the hitch itself actually rated for?

 

[AH64ID]

Looking at B&W's page I don't see a 30K limit, just the over 30K requires the 3" ball. They have a link that shows the tow ratings and many are over 35000 on a properly equipped truck.

Unlike the instructions for my RVK3600 the GNRK1320 instructions don't have any weight ratings on it.

Ram's 2020 towing guide states that all trailers over 30K lbs must use a gooseneck. Ram does offer 2 5/16" and 3" GN balls for the OEM prep kit.

The 2020 owners manual states that the max weight for a GN is 35,250/5287. Funny this is that on a 2500 it's limited to 20,000/3,000. It's the same hitch.

So it doesn't really answer your question thou, but it appears that the OEM hitch and B&W are rated to tow whatever the GCWR will allow.

 

[dieselshadow]

So it doesn't really answer your question thou, but it appears that the OEM hitch and B&W are rated to tow whatever the GCWR will allow.

I had called B&W last year and asked this very thing. They said their hitched are rated for at least whatever the tow rating of the truck was and wouldn’t give a solid number. Basically it’ll do what the truck will.

 

[HPSimpson]

The hitch is rated by FCA ( Ram) B & W will not give answer due to being in legal trouble, so good luck getting anyone to exceed manufacture rating.

 

[gsbrockman]

From the “what it’s worth department”.....GatorMade sells a gooseneck trailer called the Goliath. It has 15,000 lb electric over hydraulic axles, a heavier neck, and utilizes the 3” ball. It is rated at 37,500 lbs GWR with two axles (15,000*2) + 25%.

I know this doesn’t answer @DHayden ‘s question.....but it’s just a little info.

Since I’ve pulled a few of those Goliaths, both as a delivery to a direct retail customer and as the “mule” trailer when other trailers were stacked on it, I’m glad I chose my CM SK bed with B&W turnover ball option. I can go from the 2&5/16” ball to the 3” ball in about 1 minute or less.