how much weight can our trucks pull from the ball?

[tobaccogrower]

i picked up a 16 foot tri-axel utility trailer. it's GVRW is 22,500. just wondering if it's safe to load it up and go? the most i'd probally have on it was 6 tons of fertlizer. i have a 15000lb pintle hitch i'm using. i think as long as i keep my tongue weight to a minimum my 2500 shouldnt have any problem. what do you guys think?

 

[Morse]

I've run into the same problem. . The largest hitches I found are the putnam and the tow beast by Reese. I bought the tow beast with the load leveling system. Even with that, I'm only rated to pull a max weight of 14,000 pounds. I've pulled around 12,000 with the factory hitch and no load levelers, but it just didn't feel great driving on rough roads. The load leveling syestem made that weight feel much better. . I just ordered a gooseneck with a 40' deck, I'm hoping that feels a little better. . I have a new pintle trailer that I now have over 14 grand in, and can't even load it up because the trailer weighs so much to start with. .

 

[Hoefler]

I wouldn't do it. You would be over loaded with that setup. Not enough tongue weight will get you in trouble for sure. You need 10% - 15% on your load on the truck to have it safe. That would be around 1,500 - 2,100 pounds including the trailer on the truck. Your hitch is not rated for that kind of weight. In order to tow that kind of a load, you would have to have an equalizer set up, fifth wheel, or a goose neck to get the load properly distributed on your truck.

 

[Jeepstang]

i would not pull more than the hitch is rated

I was able to locate a 22,000 lbs rated 2 5/8 ball and a 10,000 lbs rated solid receiver. I towed 9k-10k once on a ball mount it was not fun I had white knuckles 8k and lower feels safe to me

 

[steved]

Just some numbers...



The factory installed (read: welded) hitch is 1200/12000 based on my 2004. 5 owner's manual. The OE add-on hitch (read: bolted on) is rated 1000/10000 (someone posted a picture of this not long ago).



The GCVW of a 2500 is 20k for my 2004. 5... considering the truck itself weighs 7k... doesn't leave you much at 13k...



Just some numbers...



steved

 

[AMink]

I believe that 10,000 is the max on the hitch on the 2006 Mega. That's with weight distribution. Over that, they say gooseneck or 5er. Probably another "yes it will pull more but do you need the liability should something go wrong" situations.

 

[y-knot]

Look everyone knows that a Class IV hitch (which is what the factory hitch is) is only good for 1000LBs tongue and 10,000lbs trailer WITH a Weight Distributing Hitch set-up, other wise you are limited to 800lbs tongue and 8,000 trailer. This is just how the people that rate hitches classify them. You can step up to a class V hitch (I have one) and then you would be able to pull 12,000lbs of trailer and have 1,200lbs of tongue weight WITH a weight distributing hitch set-up, other wise it would be 1000lbs tongue and 10,000lbs trailer. After that there is a 2-1/2" receiver hitch available (the standard factory hitch is 2") and they are advertised as 15,ooolbs trailer and 1,500lbs tongue, but I do believe they must be welded to the frame to get the maximum weight allowance.

 

[steved]

Look everyone knows that a Class IV hitch (which is what the factory hitch is) is only good for 1000LBs tongue and 10,000lbs trailer WITH a Weight Distributing Hitch set-up, other wise you are limited to 800lbs tongue and 8,000 trailer. This is just how the people that rate hitches classify them. You can step up to a class V hitch (I have one) and then you would be able to pull 12,000lbs of trailer and have 1,200lbs of tongue weight WITH a weight distributing hitch set-up, other wise it would be 1000lbs tongue and 10,000lbs trailer. After that there is a 2-1/2" receiver hitch available (the standard factory hitch is 2") and they are advertised as 15,ooolbs trailer and 1,500lbs tongue, but I do believe they must be welded to the frame to get the maximum weight allowance.

I am going by what's in print... my owner's manual states 12000 trailer.



I don't believe there is a "class" on the hitch mentioned in the manual, just the statement the factory supplied hitch is suitable for towing a trailer weighing 12000 pounds. It makes no mention of needing special equipment, such as a weight distributing hitch.



Again, I am only stating what is printed in the 2004. 5 owner's manual... I just looked at it a couple days ago to verify that number for my tow this summer. If you are so sure this is wrong, you had better call DCX and tell them... don't shoot the messenger...



steved

 

[Morse]

Just so you know what you're working with, you should take a look at how the factory hitch is bolted to the back of the frame. It's bolted on the tail end of the frame just behind a weld. . I have pulled more than the hitch is rated, though I'm a little more cautious now. .

 

[Prairie Dog]

Mine says 12K also.

 

[CodySanders]

i am not saying it is a good idea but i tow a 30 ft tag that is 15k to 25k actual trailer weight i use the factory hitch and a equalizer set up i have not had any problems since i used this setup on my 03 to my new 06. my tongue weight is high i broke a 5000 lb scale under my trailer tongue one time. it pulls better than my goose 42 ft. but i think it is because my tag is 3 axle and my 42 is just 2. i wouldn't recommend it but i have over 65,000 miles towing on the setup. just my experience only

 

[Chris and Sam]

Look everyone knows that a Class IV hitch (which is what the factory hitch is) is only good for 1000LBs tongue and 10,000lbs trailer WITH a Weight Distributing Hitch set-up, other wise you are limited to 800lbs tongue and 8,000 trailer. This is just how the people that rate hitches classify them. You can step up to a class V hitch (I have one) and then you would be able to pull 12,000lbs of trailer and have 1,200lbs of tongue weight WITH a weight distributing hitch set-up, other wise it would be 1000lbs tongue and 10,000lbs trailer. After that there is a 2-1/2" receiver hitch available (the standard factory hitch is 2") and they are advertised as 15,ooolbs trailer and 1,500lbs tongue, but I do believe they must be welded to the frame to get the maximum weight allowance.

I have an older Reese Titan hitch on my older crew cab in my sig, and it is rated 15,000 lbs, and 1500 lbs tound weight. It also has the 2 1/2 inch reciever. It is a bit of an overkill for my older truck..... but I am going to be looking for something like that for the mega cab though.....

 

[BHaden]

I believe that 10,000 is the max on the hitch on the 2006 Mega. That's with weight distribution. Over that, they say gooseneck or 5er. Probably another "yes it will pull more but do you need the liability should something go wrong" situations.

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that 10k is also the max allowed bumper pull weight with a regular drivers license. 15k with a GN or 5th wheel. This has been cussed/discussed elsewhere as a separate topic

 

[Cattletrkr]

With a 2500 you are limited to what the truck is rated to pull by DC. You also need to have a hitch and ball that are rated to pull the trailer. MNDOT has been known to unhook trailers and look at the rating on the ball. I assume other states do as well.

 

[bmoeller]

Plenty of good ol boy sled pullers using a factory receiver hitch.

Not a sled, but I've pulled nearly 40K# with my OEM hitch. Do use a Schuck Cushion Hitch to dampen the loads.

 

[abdiver]

I am thinking about using my old 9 ton 3 axle single wheel Pintle hitch trailer I use to pull behind my dump truck. I want to be able to move my 10,600# small dozer.

I am looking a going with a Reunel rear bumper, towing hitch capacity is rated to tow 20,000 pounds and delivers a 6,000 pound tongue weight.

It appears bumper is more that enough for me

But the highest rated Pintle Hook with Shank, 10K
# Tongue Weight: 2,000 lbs.
# Pintle Capacity: 10,000 lbs.

Anyone know of a higher rated Pintle Hook with Shank

Thanks Bill

 

[betterthanstock]

i picked up a 16 foot tri-axel utility trailer. it's GVRW is 22,500. just wondering if it's safe to load it up and go? the most i'd probally have on it was 6 tons of fertlizer. i have a 15000lb pintle hitch i'm using. i think as long as i keep my tongue weight to a minimum my 2500 shouldnt have any problem. what do you guys think?

The minimum tongue weight is 10% of trailer weight, to prevent trailer sway and to give your wheels traction. If you go with lower tongue weight (than 10%), keep speed below 45 mph, or you can start to sway, and if your trailer is 3x the truck's weight, imagine how easily you'd lose control. I've also seen a guy test driving an RV, with his rear wheels hopping off the ground, on a downhill stop. Fortunately, it was at low speed.

 

[Crunch]

This was a good thread on the subject from a couple of years ago:



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...-haul-manager-6000lb-tow-capacity-2500-a.html



A lot of good stuff about the legalities and safety issues.

 

[BHolm]

With a 2500 you are limited to what the truck is rated to pull by DC. You also need to have a hitch and ball that are rated to pull the trailer. MNDOT has been known to unhook trailers and look at the rating on the ball. I assume other states do as well.

Come on now! Right or wrong, LOTS of guys have pulled WAY over what the factory rating is. If the question is "can the truck pull it?" I have to say, sure it will, it will probably pull a whole heck of a lot more than you ever will try without hurting itself. I'll leave the call on whether or not to actually try it to the truck owner. Personally I despise big tag trailers, goosenecks with way more wieght work better for me.



I ran pick-ups up and down Hwy 10 and I-94 in MN with overloaded goosenecks for ten years and never had the DOT check a hitch ball or the trucks "rated" GCVWR, just tires

 

[BHolm]

I am thinking about using my old 9 ton 3 axle single wheel Pintle hitch trailer I use to pull behind my dump truck. I want to be able to move my 10,600# small dozer.



I am looking a going with a Reunel rear bumper, towing hitch capacity is rated to tow 20,000 pounds and delivers a 6,000 pound tongue weight.



It appears bumper is more that enough for me



But the highest rated Pintle Hook with Shank, 10K

# Tongue Weight: 2,000 lbs.

# Pintle Capacity: 10,000 lbs.



Anyone know of a higher rated Pintle Hook with Shank



Thanks Bill

Tires again! If you put 6000lbs of tongue wieght on the back of a srw truck, you will be way over the tires rating. That one will get you in trouble with the man, and likely with fate in the form of a blowout at speed You probably wont actually have that much on the rear tires, but I would check.