Towing heavy w/ stock hitch...

[Pete Peterson]

Good question Steve, I know that some will post not to go over the rated limit but then sometimes we go over the limit on alot of things. I have to tow my son's tractor every once in a while and its 12 to 14 thousand on the factory hitch and I have no idea the tongue weight is, its a tandum axle trailer which the tractor barely fits on. Should I be looking for a heavier hitch? Probably, will I any time soon? Probably not!! Pete

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01. 5 Loooaded up!!!!!

 

[zman]

I'm curious how heavy of a trailer some of you guys regularly tow with your stock hitch. Trying to decide whether to upgrade my hitch for some occasional 10-12k pulls. Thanks.

Steve

 

[pwr2tow]

I have seen what an overloaded hitch can do to an oncomeing car when it breaks, you can bet the farm if you want but you will not be farming anymore. Not from personal experience, just seen it.
Ron,

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1999, 3500, 6x6, slt, auto, 3. 54, Qd cab, ISB cummins, towing 2001 26RKSS Tahoe 5th wheel, 1999 120hp 1800 bayliner.

 

[RAPID RICK]

Steve,
I towed with my stock hitch overloaded all
the time. Worked fine,untill it broke!
Installed a Putnam class "5" hitch & now I don't Worry any more. Bottom line is factory
Dodge hitchs are not very good. We replace
4 or 5 stock hitchs a month with EZ lift or
Putnam hitchs. Hope this helps,Rick

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99 3500 4x4 QC,5spd,3. 55 posi,turn over ball goose neck hitch,Putnam class V reciever hitch,Alcoa alum. wheels,275 hp inj. home built boost module,4 in. straight exhaust(built it in my shop)Pac brake,4 leaf overload springs,all options execpt leather & keyless entry,2000 Artic Fox 10 ft. camper,with slide out 2horse tongue pull trlr. ,24 ft flat bed that I haul my 6200# modified alcohol burning Ford 4x4
pull truck on.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I know several people that tow regularly (up to about 8,000 lbs) with their stock hitches and haven't had a problem so far. 10-12k is getting pretty heavy for the stock hitch though (it's only rated to 10,000 with a weight distributing hitch). When I received my hitch recall I replaced mine with a Draw-tite Class V. When at the hitch dealer that had a STACK broken stock Dodge hitches. I sleep much better with the Class V on the truck.



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-Steve St. Laurent - President of the Great Lakes TDR
'98 QC LB (CMNSPWR), 4x4, ISB, 5sp, 4. 10 LSD, TST Powermax, 275hp RV injectors, SW fuel pressure gauge, BD exhaust brake, Isspro turbo temp monitor, front Draw-Tite receiver, rear Draw-Tite class V receiver, BFG 285/75R16 AT KO's, (all the common stuff clipped)

 

[zman]

Thanks for the responses guys! I think I'll replace the hitch. Now to find one that can handle 10-12k without using a weight distribution setup.

Steve

 

[BV]

Zman - You can have my BENT stock hitch that was removed after the recall. Not sure if the 6000# trailer bent it or it was bent from day one. Since I didn't like the idea of drilling/repairing the OEM hitch I upgraded to a Draw-Tite Ultra. Other hitches to consider are the Reese or Super Hitch by Torklift. http://www.draw-tite.com/ http://www.reesehitch.com/ http://www.torklift.com/

 

[rickhans]

I replaced mine with a class V draw tite. I got reimbursed for the new hitch and labor to install it, around $260. 00. I turned the old hitch in to the dealer that I bought the truck from then sent the receipt in to Chrysler.

My hitch was splitting when I learned about the problem. I understand that if your hitch has not started breaking, they will only put a modification on the hitch at the dealer but not replace it.

I believe, after going through this and learning more about the DC hitches, that the problem was more due to over rating the tow capacity of the truck for the hitch size installed. I did not know that the original hitch was only a class 3 hitch. All of the tow literature that came with the truck stated a much higher tow capacity than what I understand that hitch is actually rated for.

I learned from DC's recall department that they do not sell anthing above a class 3 and will not install anything but a replacement for the class 3, and advised me to purchase a class 5 if that was what I wanted then they would reimburse me for it.

 

[BV]

Rick - All my paperwork (order form/window sticker) shows a class 4 hitch.

BTW - I have been to 2 dealers and called the 800 number and have been told tuff turds because I didn't have it inspected first and it's not cracked. Maybe I should put it back on and tow until it breaks off and kills someone.

 

[NVR FNSH]

zman,
do the job right and get a weight distributing hitch set-up.

Brian

 

[Paul]

All the literature states Class 4. But if you check the load rating I believe it is only a Class 3. I think DC lied a little.

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Paul A. Schmidt
95, 4X4, SLT 2500, 5 spd. , 4. 10, 270 hp. ,675ft. lb. TST, AFC spring kit,215hp. injectors,16cm2 turbo housing, Pacbrake, Walker muffler,
GearVendor O. D. , CenterForce Dual Friction clutch.
Eastern PA.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

I replaced the stock hitch on both my 2500 and 3500 with a class 5 V. I tow about 8000# behind a 10' camper and the extra legnth hitch puts two much torque on the standard hitch.

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1995 2500 5 spd bombed. 2001 ETH 3500 stock. 1972 1066 International Harvester 414 ci diesel pulling tractor.
GONZO

 

[zman]

Brian -

I need it for an existing heavy duty pintle hitch flatbed. I haven't seen a weight distribution setup that would work well with this particular trailer.

Steve

[This message has been edited by zman (edited 12-29-2000). ]

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

zman, the draw-tite ultra frame is rated to 10,000 GTW and 1,000 TW without a weight distributing hitch, 12,000 and 1,200 with. It also tucks up under the bumper much nicer than the stock hitch as well.

-Steve

 

[zman]

Steve & BV - thanks for the tips. Went to the Reese site and found their Titan V hitch. Looks like it is good for 12K GTW and 1. 2K TW. Only $270. Also waiting on pricing for the Torklift Super Hitch - good for 15K GTW and 1. 2K TW.

Steve

 

[NVR FNSH]

zman,
After I posted my reply it dawned on me that you might be using a pintle.....

Brian

 

[Diesel Dually]

Believe it or not, I didn't know there was any problems with the stock hitch. Was it on certain model years? I inspect mine regularly, because I do overload it ALOT,ie a 4700 lb. trailer (empty) with a 14000 lb. dozer on it. No weight distribution, other than careful placement of dozer on the trailer, because it is a pintle setup. I have always been uncomfortable with overloading it that much and after reading this thread I'm going to get a class 5 real soon! Before I tow that much weight again. What I would really like to do is buy a new goose neck equipment trailer and sell my pintle trailer. Oh well so many wants and so little money hehe .

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

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`96 3500 4x4, JRE Stage 3 kit, JRE 4" exhaust from turbo back, low stall speed torque converter, shift kit, K&N air filter. Fisher EZ V snowplow. Towing Jackson 3 horse gooseneck w/ dressing and tack rm. , or 9 ton equipment trailer w/pintle.