Stock receiver hitch only rated 10,000?

[MojaveJoe]

OK guys... tell me Im wrong... Please.



Is it true the stock receiver hitch is only rated at 10,000 for the towed vehicle?



If Im going to tow an 11,400 max wt TT will I need to upgrade to a better hitch? If so, who makes one rated 12,000 or more?



Can I just order the TT wiring on the truck and buy an after market hitch?



Sorry for all the questions guys, but I know more than a few of you experienced CTD owners know this stuff ... . and probably have a solution that will save me alot of stress when it comes ordering time.



Almost sold on the Hensley hitch, especially since it's now rated at 1400/14000. And I won't have to give up my spare or move the exhaust.



Thanx,

Joe

 

[jrollins]

10000 sounds right i think for a stock truck, its probably a class 3 hitch. Class 5 hitches go up to like 13000 if i remember correctly. . i have a class 5 on my 3500 but i didn't get the towing package on my truck and bought a after market hitch. i believe its a Pullman.

 

[hammersley]

Yep - 10,000

I think over 10,000 they want you to go 5th wheel. This is a clean description of classes.



http://www.diynet.com/DIY/mmo/CCR-101/hitch_guide.pdf

 

[Casey Balvert]

While the 03 owner's manual says the stock hitch is rated for 10,000 I received an addendum saying it is rated 12,000. The information on the website has been amended to show a fiver hitch is needed for over12,000 pounds. Under the Terms and Conditions they also add that an exhaust brake is required for towing over 10,000 pounds with a manual transmission equipped 3500. Some days I think DC is as confused as the customers.



Casey

 

[Sled Puller]

I wouldn't sweat it- look what the truck pullers have been doing to these factory hitches.

 

[rfcom]

Actually, it's rated for 10K if you use a weight distributing hitch, otherwise it's only good for 5K.

Jim

 

[BV]

Just remember the recall Dodge had on the 98-99 Factory hitches that couldn't even carry 5000# without cracking.



I highly doudt that any OEM hitch is going to be rated over 5,000# without weight distribution and 10,000 with it.



Draw-Tite and Reese both made higher capacity hitches for the 2nd gens.



BTW - 10,000# off the end of the frame in an emergency brake and turn is going to bend something and I doubt it's the hitch and that is why they (DC) limit tag-alongs to that capacity.

 

[Sawbones]

Got the dealer to pull the spec sheet for the 3500 this afternoon. OEM is a class 4 hitch rated for 10,000 lbs, no mention if this is GTW or WD??



According to the hitch description referenced above, I would assume this is GTW (1000 lbs TW) with no weight distributing hardware required.

 

[SLOMO]

Class IV weights

When you look at the label on the hitch itself you will see that the class IV receivers on our truck will carry 500 lbs tongue weight and 5000 lbs trailer weight w/o weight distributing bars. If you use the bars, then you can have 1000 lbs tongue weight and 10,000 lbs of trailer weight. I haul trailers for a living and while crossing Oklahoma with another transporter, he broke his receiver on his Dodge while pulling a 33' travel trailer w/o the weight distributing bars. He doesn't do that anymore. $$$$$ The Class V hitch will carry 14,000 lbs. , but half that w/o the bars

 

[Blu-meanie]

Hidden Hitch handles 14,000 weight distributing, 10,000 weight carrying, and tongue weights to 12,000.

 

[cwienenga]

hitch capacity

also, the ball mount shank needs to be solid, (not box tube).

 

[MojaveJoe]

Will a Class V receiver void my warranty?

Holy Moly Guys... .



I had no idea how much I didn't know about this subject.



So which manufacturer is making a Class V receiver hitch that will not void the DC warranty for either frame welding & drilling, or for allowing too much Gross Trailer Weight?



I'll be darn'd if Im going to tow a tent trailer behind my 3500. It would be pretty funny though on second thought Oo.



Sure I could give up the bed to a 5er hitch to get the extra 2000 gross capacity, but Id rather not. Too many toys to take along when I hit the road. Besides, moving them from the trailer to the bed just to go play for a day, isn't a pleasant option to ponder. :{



Seems to me, if this 10,000 GTW barrier was a real obstacle the TT manufacturers wouldn't be building those darn long luxury rigs, like the little lady wants.



Yah Buddy!... . When I come down the road with my 3500 LB Quad Cab towing 33 ft of TT, Im gonna have my own CONVOY... and all I will be seeing as we drive down Main Street will be... . :--) :--) :--) ... . *LMAO*



(Just gotta laugh at yourself once in a while )

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

You mean kinda like this?



#ad




That's my 35' TT with my bike (86 Nighthawk 700s) in the back of the truck. With my new front bumper (isn't in that pic) my rig is nearly 61 feet long from nose to tail . Yes, I do get lots of looks - especially at the fuel pumps where I'm longer than some of the semi's there! My trailer weighs 8,500 lbs and has a tongue weight around 900. I am using a Draw-tite class V hitch on my 98 with a draw-tite solid shank drop hitch with an added swap bar ball - no weight distributing hitch. Everything on my hitch setup is rated for 1,000 lb tongue weight/10,000 lb trailer weight carrying. If I went to a weight distributing hitch I could go to 1,200/12,000. Mine has a 2" receiver tube which I went with because I have lots of 2" plugs. Reese makes the Titan Class V which is a 2. 5" receiver tube and is rated for 1,000/10,000 weight carrying and 1,400/14,000 weight distributing. I don't know if anyone has them for the '03's yet but I'm sure they will soon if they don't already.

 

[Casey Balvert]

Joe,



PM me your email address and I will send you the DC addendum on the stock receiver hitch. The factory Class IV is good for 12,000 pounds of trailer. Check the trailer tow info on the Dodge website as the ratings for 2003 are listed there as well.



Casey

 

[Sawbones]

Casey, could I get a copy as well?

 

[wcjp]

I recently upgraded to the Super Hitch by www.torklift.com. It's very beefy compared to stock. After using the Super Hitch I won't go back to stock. Anything has to better than stock.