Heavy hitch solution?

[MojaveJoe]

I will be towing a 10-12K utility trailer with a very heavy hitch. Maybe 1-2K.

Trailer will have a straight towbar connected to a stock Dodge trailer towing hitch.



I will be towing about 1000 mi this way on a fwy at night.



When I overload my hitch now the Timbrens settle down on the axle and everything seems fine. But I would like to get some of this excess load off the axle, and keep my head lights down on the road for this midnight run.



Considering getting some overload springs for my longbed 3500. Need a solution that requires no maintenance and never fails. Airbags are out of the question. Must ride smooth when unloaded.



What would you do?



Any and all advice and experiences welcome.

Joe

 

[Prairie Dog]

I'm curious why you don't like air bags since they seem to be the perfect answer?

 

[jhenderson]

Weight distribution hitch. Easy to mount. Maybe take an hour to set up. Makes a world of difference.

 

[KLauber]

Just a one time tow? DO the hitch, but if a regular tow, get a set of Super Springs installed. Makes riding empty very smooth. I had them on my 2500 short bed.

 

[MojaveJoe]

Airbags - IUve gpot this thing about using equipment that has numerous conenctiosn that need to remain air tight, working via a compressor, etc etc. I go into the wildnerness a lot and want to avoid any difficult situations doing field service.

WD Hitch -The trailer tongue is homemade, a single tube, and I do not think it could take the added stress. Can you even put a WDH on a single tube tongue?

Springs - A one time tow for this trailer. Never heard of Super Springs. Can I install them easily? I was thinking of some helper springs for the back side of rear leafs only.

Thanks for all your ideas, so far.

 

[jelag]

On my 3500 dually I installed a 2" x 2" tube 3" long between the bumper (rubber) and the frame. I installed the tube at each end of the overload spring and the effect was to get the over load spring engaged 2" sooner. This adds to the over all weight that the truck will haul as it now deflects the over loads farther... I don't know if this alone will solve your problem but it sure helped me when I had the truck overloaded.

 

[ColemanR]

I would airbag it mine have been problem free for 525K I would not be without them.

 

[NIsaacs]

There is a big difference between 1k and 2k with a bumper hitch. With 1k you will be fine as is, with 2k you will have issues that heavier springs won't fix on a SRW. Can you change weight placement on the trailer? I assume you can't.



Nick

 

[RPosey]

Check this site for hitch capacity
Dodge Ram Trailer Hitch and Accessories

 

[JJPage]

On my 3500 dually I installed a 2" x 2" tube 3" long between the bumper (rubber) and the frame. I installed the tube at each end of the overload spring and the effect was to get the over load spring engaged 2" sooner. This adds to the over all weight that the truck will haul as it now deflects the over loads farther... I don't know if this alone will solve your problem but it sure helped me when I had the truck overloaded.

This is a good idea, and exactly what I did.

 

[wcjp]

I thought the stock hitch was only good for an 18" extension. With the 18" extension the max load on the hitch is 5k lbs minus 1/3. It sounds like you're ready for the Torklift SuperHitch with Extension or Reese Titan V. The Torklift setup is rated for what you're doing and capable of Weight Distributing. Torklift also has an upgraded version called the Magnum. Torklift also sells the overload extensions for 2500 and 3500 trucks. I have the 2500 version. They work great.

 

[MAshley]

I agree the reciever in the truck wont handle high tonge "2k loads forever"... A one time deal sure Im sure you wont have any issues... but long term the stock hitch wont stand up to those kinds of loads and will bend down and eventually rip off... Been there done that... well not to the point of ripping off but bending. Super hitch can be added and will handle a heavy pin weight.

 

[Grizzly]

I wouldn't use airbags. If they leak, you don't have anything.



I like jelag's solution best.

 

[NIsaacs]

The way I understand the OP's original post, he don't have overloads, just the Timbrens. If that is the case, Jim's mod has nothing to work with.



Nick

 

[NIsaacs]

I will be towing a 10-12K utility trailer with a very heavy hitch. Maybe 1-2K. .



When I overload my hitch now the Timbrens settle down on the axle and everything seems fine. But I would like to get some of this excess load off the axle, and keep my head lights down on the road for this midnight run.





The only way to remove excess weight off the axle is to remove it off the hitch. If you could take it to a scale then you would know how much it is. It might be fine. If it is heavy, as in 2k, then keep in mind with the leverage of the 5 foot over hang of the hitch from axle center line, you now add about 750 lbs that is removed off the front axle for a total of 2750 lbs. I think that much weight will give you drivability and control issues.



Nick

 

[MojaveJoe]

Yes I have overloads as in the pic by jjpage above.



I hope to have a max 1000# Tongue Wt. The Dodge receiver hitch is rated at 500# w/o wt distribution (which I will not have).



Would it be safe for a 1000 mi fwy run, one time?



I recently weighed the tongue on my Toyhauler. It came in at 1200 lbs. The overload bumpers still had about 1/2" to go before contact with spring. The truck sits level with 1200# on the hitch (normally tail high w/o the wt).



Thoughts?

 

[NIsaacs]

With those weights you will be fine. I use the level stance loaded, for my weight maximums, and don't worry about my hitch capacity. When you said the hitch might weigh 2k I was concerned about drivability and control.



When you asked about overload springs I assumed you did not have any, my bad



Nick

 

[B.G. Smith]

Weight distribution hitch. Easy to mount. Maybe take an hour to set up. Makes a world of difference.

You can put some of the weight on the front axle and level the truck to prevent the headlights going to the sky. bg

 

[AH64ID]

All 3rd gen 3500's have overloads, I would just shim them if you don't want to use airbags.

I have had airbags on multiple rigs that all see a ton of back road use without a single issue.