Hitch Mnt. Rating?

[KellyP]

Factory Hitch Rating?

What is the max towing weight the factory hitch? I have a 05' Ram 3500. Also is there any way to make it stronger? Thanks you.

 

[MSalvatore]

So what your asking is how big of load can your rear handle? :-laf

 

[Cryotek]

It is a class IV hitch(the one under the bumper). Not sure of the weight numbers but I'm almost positive it is a class IV.

 

[KWinterborne]

I don't have the specific numbers. But this is one way to increase your hitch limitation. Factory hitch is class IV; Superhitch makes it a class V.

Ken
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[Spooled-up]

KellyP,



Welcome to the TDR!



Your owner's manual should provide that information for your truck based on it's configuration. I think there's a sticker on the hitch there somewhere too. I do know that the highest weight rating you'll find in all the literature and the stickers is based on a "properly equipped" hitch setup. This means a weight distributing setup, or a 5th wheel or gooseneck hitch. Just putting a receiver you can get at Wal-Mart in there and hooking up chains will limit you to about 6000 lbs of towing capacity.

 

[jwilliams3]

KWinterborne,

Where did you buy your superhitch class 5?

 

[Lorenz]

I've just priced all of these out lately.



The super hitch is running around $500. The 14" extention that I need for my camper is another $450.



Putnam requires you to torch off the old reciever but leave the round tube that dodge uses as a frame support in place. @ $200-$300



Reese is the option I think I'm going with. $300 and it's a 2. 5" reciever that bolts up like the super hitch, Right below the factory one just like the pic above. OEM and most recievers are 2", the tow beast is a gnarly 2. 5".



Reese and super hitch is rated at 15k-17k#.

Putnam is a little less but above 10K#



I think I'll make my own "Doubled up" stinger/extension for the Reese, I'll post pics once it's done. You don't have a couple close ups of the extension for that superhitch do you?

 

[BK]

What is the max towing weight the factory hitch? I have a 05' Ram 3500. Also is there any way to make it stronger? Thanks you.

Do you have one that's mounted to the frame? if sooo...

The stock hitches are generally class III or class IV.

As others say, should be a class IV on the oilburners.

Class IV is generally about 8Klb - 10Klb towing and 800 - 1,000 lbs tongue weight.



Some where in your manual it should be stated, or even on the hitch.



Or are you talking about the step bumper... they aren't worth much if that's what you asking about.



In either case... . there's really no way to make it stronger. Just have to replace.



My 99 stock hitch was a POS and subject to a recall. Turns out it was barely a Class III.



I went for the Reese Titan class V... no worries now.

2 1/2" receiver!

Rated upto 14,000 lbs, 1,400 lbs tongue weight

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One solid piece.

I don't tow anything near it's rating, but I tow on and off road and wanted something that would handle the stress. The stock hitches had a habit of cracking at the "L" corner , where the bend was for the mounting flange. The Reese has added triangular braces along that bend to help reinforce it.

If you look closely you can see them in the picture.

All very thick metal, one heavy mother.

 

[GAllen]

Has anyone done an upgrade, like a Titan, but removed the original hitch. Some of this Dodge stuff is just lame, like having two receivers under the truck. Does anyone care what these things look like! That would just be plain embarrassing around here.

 

[JXP]

reese TOW BEAST

hi, i just installed the tow beast from reese under my 06 3500 srw. its a hell of a hitch, i too needed a stronger than factory hitch, i tow a 328 four winns boat that weighs in at 17000lbs plus. i also had one on my 03 3500. it is a real consversation piece to have two hitches on your rig, also having two receivers may come in handy when towing different trailers, but i really think the reese class 5 tow beast is the best hitch you can buy, good luck ,joe

 

[BK]

Has anyone done an upgrade, like a Titan, but removed the original hitch. Some of this Dodge stuff is just lame, like having two receivers under the truck. Does anyone care what these things look like! That would just be plain embarrassing around here.

?????



I took out my stock POS and installed the Titan V in.

So yes I removed the original hitch.

Since it's frame mounted, I don't under stand how you can keep the stock classIII-IV /2" frame mounted hitch receiver on there. ???



Do you mean the step bumper???

I have kept my step bumper on there. I also have a ball on there.

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The height works out great for towing this

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So I don't have to deal with putting the drop hitch in.

 

[jwilliams3]

I just ordered a Putnam Level 5 for my truck from anythingtruck.com



It lets you keep the stock curly bar in the back and you cut off the existing receiver and then Bolts to it to re-enforce further.

Also, the new putnam receiver is set back in the original position.

 

[BK]

I just ordered a Putnam Level 5 for my truck from anythingtruck.com



It lets you keep the stock curly bar in the back and you cut off the existing receiver and then Bolts to it to re-enforce further.

Also, the new putnam receiver is set back in the original position.

Lost me?? Curly bar? What's a Curly bar?

Cutting off existing receiver? The stock one just unbolts.

Bolt to it???



All the hitches I've ever put in, just unbolt the factory POS frame mount hitch that's there. And install , by bolting to the frame, the new one.



Here's the pix they show of the class V Putnam. Different than a "Level 5"?



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I hope that's not the actual pix of it. I hope it's a class III pix.

Those mounting tabs aren't going to be happy as such a rated load.

And it's half the price of the Titan????

(typing while browsing , discovering. . )



Ah, I see now.....

"XDR Class 5 trailer hitch for all 94-98 Dodge Ram pickups and 99-02 Dodge Ram short bed pickup requires factory bumper"

"XDR Class 5 trailer hitch for all 2003 - Current Dodge Ram pickups requires factory bumper"



Interesting...

So It's bolting to the step bumper. Ah. . I understand now. Shouldn't be any cutting involved. I guess that adds more structure to it, hence the frame mounting tabs (if that's the real picture of it) being the size they are.

But the step bumber hitches aren't soo sturdy by themselves.



Reminds me if just what Dodge was going todo with my stock factory, frame mounted hitch/receiver. For the recall, all sorts of brackets to secure it up to the bumper. And then if it fell off, then and only then replace the hitch.

The frame mount tabs were cracking at the bend on the hitch frame.



I've towed 3K on my step bumper ball, and I've heard that bumper moan.



I've installed all sorts of Class I - V Reese and Draw Tite hitches one of two Hidden Hitches and Warn front hitches.



So just sorta use to what they look like for certain loads.



When I got under my new truck and saw the factory hitch... . I cried. . I couldn't see how it would handle the load. Then the recall. I thought I'd get money back, but @#$@#2 DC, I was SOL. I had already been looking for hitches.



I've not seen the Putnam hitches in person. So the pix they have on the site could be all wrong. So I don't mean to knock it. It would be cool to see pix of it when you get it and install it.

 

[jwilliams3]

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/displayimage.php?&photoid=20523&width=0



I spent about 3 hours last night going reading different hitch threads and comparing prices and where they mount up.



I decided that for price, position/location, no one compared to the Putnam and has the 2" reciever opening.



SuperHitch is really nice, but is really expensive.

I don't pull trailers at all. But I do sledpull and I like how the Putnam is reenforced by the factory unit.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136033

 

[BK]

Price ways, yea , much less expensive.



When you say "factory unit" (this is where I'm getting lost, so I think the pix is helping), that tube I think I see, that has a flat spot in it (by the X on XDR). .

Is that the "factory" hitch/recievier structure that you cut the 2" receiver box from?



And it seems that factory tube is welded to / part of the step bumper plate too?

 

[jwilliams3]

YES... You basically shave off the factory receiver assembly and then mount to whats left of the assembly and factory cross member bar.



This creates some what of a super structure.

 

[BK]

Now I get the picture.

I'll have to look under an 04/05 next time I see one.

See where those tubes go up to and such.

I haven't been under a 3rd gen.

 

[Lorenz]

I was worried about the look of 2 hitches as well. I didn't like the idea of limiting my depature angle by having another, giant 2. 5" hitch hanging off the back of my truck.



I gave into the look after I saw another truck w/the two hitch set up and a reciever in the OEM position. You can't see the second hitch from the rear until you really look because the reciever and ball drops down in front of it... I usually have the reciever mounted all the time. My departure angle is limited more by the standard reciever and ball in place, than it would be with two hitches.



Dodge uses the OEM hitch as a frame crossmember, that's the reason behind leaving OEM in place, and adding another hitch underneath it.

 

[JohnArnold]

TorkLift makes (3) hitches for my '05, a "same as stock" 5k lb, a 10k lb "drill-less" and a honkin superhitch double-trouble 12k lber.



I didn't like the superhitch price, or the doubled-up hitch hanging below my bumper. I installed the 10k lb jobber in an evening with minimal pain. I think it was like $200. It's freakin' beefy and I can't see pulling over 10k lbs on a bumper pull, ever.



If I ever need to do the extension thing, I'll probably just build a second hitch and some beefy mounts. I've got a welder so whatever.



-John