Can you upgrade a hitch

[Partyat33]

Can you upgrade the Class IV hitch that comes with the truck to a Class V hitch without a lot of fuss. May be easier just to by a new one.



Any thoughts.



Dennis



Not over the rating, just looking for some Margin

 

[BV]

Hitch Upgrade

Anything is possible if you know what your doing. Personally I think it would be a bigger hassle to modify the cheap factory hitch to meet a higher rating than it would be to buy a new one. You have to take the OEM off to weld more metal on it anyway.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Easier to buy a new one Dennis. I have a Class V Draw-tite on my truck and it's SIGNIFICANTLY beefier than the stock one. Cost was around $230 I think.

 

[Partyat33]

Yeah for that kind of money, you can't go wrong.



Anybody want to by a nice factory class IV hitch.



Dennis

 

[BK]

Dennis,



I upgraded to a Titan hitch, reese's biggest badest, strongest hitch on the market. It bolted right onto my 99 2500 QC.



Unbolted the TSB plagued factory POS and bolted the Titan right in.



http://www.reesehitch.com/cl_5titan.html



My factory POS was an accident waiting to happen, the recall only replaces the hitch if it's failed... too late when you've killed someone with a run away trailer.



I paid for a factory tow package... and got a POS hitch...



Sorry it's a sore point with me... I guess you can tell.



I'll calm down now...



Bob

 

[Lazy-Boy]

Factory wiring

Steve, BK

When you switched over to the Titan hitch was it easy to move the factory tow-package wiring over as well?

 

[SnoKing]

Check hitches at www.hitch-web.com. Really neat site. Snow King

 

[BK]

Re: Factory wiring

Originally posted by Lazy-Boy

Steve, BK

When you switched over to the Titan hitch was it easy to move the factory tow-package wiring over as well?

Just unscrew the connector from the factory mounting bkt, push the wiring keepers out from the holes in the hitch.

There are holes in the titan, a bit larger than were in the POS DQ hitch... but push the wire keepers into the hole and use a tie-wrap to keep it from coming through.



I used a plastic box that accepted the connector and mounted to the hitch tube with large hose clamps.



Here's some photos... .

http://tdr4x4.com/rigs/titan/



The flash at night makes a lot stand out. . but during the day you don't even notice it.



Once I remember who made the box (one of the big hitch makers which my local trailer shop stocks all their accessories. . ) I'll let you know. I tried to find it on line but couldnt... yet...



Found it. . Draw Tite makes the box. .

http://www.draw-tite.com/prodinfo/products/p03_s06.htm





Bob

 

[QRTRHRS]

Snow King



That site does have some good info. Prices can easily be beat though.



I have a Putnam Class V which while being well built is lighter and smaller than the Drawtite Class IV I replaced. The Titan is twice the price more or less then the Putnam. They are both rated the same. Is the Titan structurally better and just derated?



Just being curious here because most of my reciever pulling activeties are more light duty than not.

 

[BK]

QRTRHRS



Good question...

Don't know.

I selected the Titan since I tow a 6Klb (dry) trailer off road and the Titan is the meaty-est... the loads I put on the hitch are more than just normal straight pulling. Lots of side loading and twisting. I also see those type of loads when winching from the hitches. . so the I looked for the most steel I could get.



I paid about 265 + tax (no shipping) for my Titan, through my local dealer, where I bought my trailer from. The only other thing you need for the Titan is the reducer sleeve , since the Titan is a 2. 5" receiver tube, not 2"... the reducer sleeve is 10bucks... Or buy the Titan 2. 5" hitch bar and forget about the reducer sleeve .

I think the next towing accesory for my Titan will be the Adjustable Hitch Bar , and I'll do away with the reducer sleeve for most of my towing. I'll still need it for the sports car level third brake light though...



Bob