Hitch Rating on 2014 Sunseeker DS 3170

[Chuck814]

I just bought a new 2014 Sunseeker DS 3170. The brochures say that if it is on a Ford Chassis the hitch should be rated 7500 lbs with 500 lb torque and on a Chevy chassis 5000 lbs and 500 lb torque. I have a Ford chassis but the sticker on the hitch says 5000 and 500. Anyone else have this problem? I need to pull a 7000 lb trailer full of quads.


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[funfinder5]

Welcome and great choice in rig!

It was a mid year change, you must have an older 2014 built in 2013. Good news first is it's just a hitch change out...nothing more. You can simply buy and install the 7,500lbs (500lbs ball weight) hitch and put it on.

Now the bad news... It's more intended to flat or dolly tow a car/truck behind you. There is very little hitch weight added to the chassis/ rear axle when a car tow dolly is used and almost none when you flat tow.

I'm not saying you won't be able to tow a 7,000lbs utility trailer. You'll just have to not load anything or anyone into the motorhome to keep the rear axle from being overloaded.

Our 2011 3170DS weighed 14,300lbs loaded with our family of 5, 2 dogs, and 5 days worth of stuff. The rear axle weighed in at 9,680lbs (180lbs over rating). This is without a trailer or the bikes we normally have on the back rack for shorter mileage trips.