WD hitch TW maxed out?

[TheGerman]

Originally Posted by Shamrockthecasbah

Not true on 2" receivers. My class five 2" Curt receiver for my Suburban is rated at 2400/17,000.

From the Curt website: "CURT class 5 Xtra Duty hitches begin a class of their own, beyond class 4 and beyond anything the standards dictate." So yeah they made up their own definition, doesn't change the fact a regular class 4 hitch with a 2" receiver has the stated limits. Google it, you'll find plenty of documentation from reputable sources on it.

[Shamrockthecasbah]

Originally Posted by TheGerman

From the Curt website: "CURT class 5 Xtra Duty hitches begin a class of their own, beyond class 4 and beyond anything the standards dictate." So yeah they made up their own definition, doesn't change the fact a regular class 4 hitch with a 2" receiver has the stated limits. Google it, you'll find plenty of documentation from reputable sources on it.

In your original answer you never specified class 4 receiver: you said 2" receivers aren't rated beyond 1400/14,000. There are 2 inch class five receivers as well. If you don't accept Curt's numbers, then what standard would you accept? Is there a universally accepted certifying authority for receivers?

[TheGerman]

Originally Posted by Shamrockthecasbah

In your original answer you never specified class 4 receiver: you said 2" receivers aren't rated beyond 1400/14,000. There are 2 inch class five receivers as well. If you don't accept Curt's numbers, then what standard would you accept? Is there a universally accepted certifying authority for receivers?

My apologies, but I can't make the difference between accepted automotive engineering standards and (by the manufacturer's own admission) decidedly non-standard design any clearer. You win !

[kandl]

Originally Posted by wildcatter

I think you have your #s wrong, for a TT the TW is usually 10 to 12% of the TT, for a TT at 9k that would be just shy of 1100 lbs, you should be good to go. here is a link to a TW calculator https://www.doubledtrailers.com/scri...alculator.html

Typical travel trailers require 11-15 percent of the loaded trailer weight on the ball to trail smoothly. Application specific trailers will differ as is evident in your link, which is applicable to horse trailers.

[Shamrockthecasbah]

Originally Posted by TheGerman

It's the highest capacity WDH made by Equalizer, but there are higher rated ones for 2.5" receivers from other manufacturers. 2" receivers are only rated for 14k/1400 lbs so as a CYA Equalizer doesn't offer one above that.

The dealer probably doesn't carry anything but Equalizer so that's their goto WDH. Might require some arm twisting to get them to provide a different and more expensive one.

Originally Posted by TheGerman

From the Curt website: "CURT class 5 Xtra Duty hitches begin a class of their own, beyond class 4 and beyond anything the standards dictate." So yeah they made up their own definition, doesn't change the fact a regular class 4 hitch with a 2" receiver has the stated limits. Google it, you'll find plenty of documentation from reputable sources on it.

Originally Posted by TheGerman

My apologies, but I can't make the difference between accepted automotive engineering standards and (by the manufacturer's own admission) decidedly non-standard design any clearer. You win !

Gee, If i didn't know better, I would think that your last quote was a highbrow way of calling me stupid.

I'm not sure what your beef is with Curt manufacturing saying that they are building beyond what the standard dictates. SAE J684 Trailer Couplings, Hitches and Safety Chains is the hitch standard for towed vehicles of UP TO 10,000 lb GVW. As near as I can tell, there is NO SAE standard for hitches rated to tow over 10,000 lb. This would mean that any receiver rated over 10,000 lb is "non-standard"; this includes the 14K/14000 receiver rating that you cited.

Since Class V hitches are not covered at all by SAE J684 should we discount class V as a "made up" definition and disparage whatever weight rating are given by the manufacturer?

It would be nice if J684 covered higher weights but the reality is, that it doesn't. The point is, there is a need for heavy duty class IV and V hitches that exceed what's covered by J684. As a result, Curt and other manufacturers build heavy duty hitches rated to higher levels. I can tell you that my 2" Curt XD receiver which is rated to 2400/17,000 is VERY robust and is a huge improvement over my factory hitch which was dubiously rated for 1500 lbs of TW.

The XD hitch is more that what I need, but I was able to transfer an additional 150 lbs to the front axle when my WD bars are engaged just by replacing the factory hitch. I could see the factory hitch deforming when the bars were engaged which resulted in poor transfer of weight.

[TheGerman]

No I was hoping to cut the discussion short as the OP has a 2.5" hitch and the question was about the WDH rating anyways. SAE J684 is way behind the times, there was an effort to revise or replace it but it appears to have not produced anything yet. (SAE switches gears in hitch tests | Trailer/Body Builders) So you're right, all current higher capacity hitches are outside the standard definitions. The "big three" have been pushing tow capacities higher and higher, and universally have switched to 2.5" receivers once they crossed the 15k mark. Back in 2010 the F-350 SRW was rated at 12.500 lbs towing and came with a 2" receiver, the F-350 DRW was rated at 15k and came with 2.5". Go figure.

[m2kamp]

Originally Posted by emm-dee

X1. My 2” receiver on my Ram 1500 is rated at 1,600/16,000. The identical hitch installed on a Ram 2500 is rated at 2500/17000.

The hitch is not identical. I own both trucks and the 2500 hitch is significantly more substantial. 1500 is Class IV 2", 2500+ is Class 5 2.5"

EDIT: Comparing factory hitches, not aftermarket, sorry.

[Vladivar]

Thanks for all the replies. I spoke to my dealer and they can supply and install the Blue Ox 2000 hitch (2.5”) so that’s what I am going with. On the question of payload, the door sticker on my truck quotes 2100#. So I figure I will be pretty close to that when set up to camp (trailer loaded, propane, battery, gas me n the wife etc). Such a shame that the payload is so much lower than the weight rating for the rear axle - but I guess the CYA lawyers get involved.

[tx333]

Just an added note. Don’t count on the dealer setting up the hitch correctly. Been there done that. Had the dealer set up the hitch on our first TT, figured they should have the experience setting up WDH and sway control. What should have been pretty decent set up towing a 6500Lb TT with an F250 resulted in a 150 mile white knuckle drive home.
Safe travels

[270S]

WDH set up check is actually easy.

If properly sized wdh and installed professionally (company or yourself), the TV wheel well or bumper will not be more than 1/2" lower than without the TT attached.

Skipping parts & tools inventory and warning notes - LOL, The first step of the professional installation instructions will be to measure that distance!

[dbledan]

Originally Posted by 270S

WDH set up check is actually easy.

If properly sized wdh and installed professionally (company or yourself), the TV wheel well or bumper will not be more than 1/2" lower than without the TT attached.

Skipping parts & tools inventory and warning notes - LOL, The first step of the professional installation instructions will be to measure that distance!

Do this...learn to do it yourself.

I had a white knuckle drive first time until I fixed it with a seperate trailer shop that showed me how to tune. I would have been better off just reading the instructions from WDH than letting dealer do anything. I had to redo all the bolts as well.

[270S]

Originally Posted by dbledan

Do this...learn to do it yourself.

I had a white knuckle drive first time until I fixed it with a seperate trailer shop that showed me how to tune. I would have been better off just reading the instructions from WDH than letting dealer do anything. I had to redo all the bolts as well.

FYI, That is what I posted politely.

[Vladivar]

So the upshot of all this is that I actually have some more wiggle room than I thought. As mentioned, I have the dealer installing the Blue Ox Sway-pro 2000 hitch and having swapped a couple of emails with FR I got them to send me a copy of the build sheet for my specific unit (based on VIN#) and a confirmation of the dry hitch weight. Turns out it’s actually 1290lbs - not 1401. Not a huge difference but enough to put me safely inside the specs for my truck when towing loaded. Thanks for all the comments and advice.