Overloaded vs Manufacturers recomendation.

[chambers1517]

Another post got me thinking, we see people on here all the time getting blasted for towing 3550# with a vehicle rated to tow 3500# but never see people blasted for towing over 5000# without a WD hitch. All the manufacturers recomend a WD hitch for 5000+ but hardly anyone here uses one. What is the difference. With that much weight on the rear of your tow vehicle the front tires are the weak link, not enough weight for proper traction. Is this not as unsafe as beind overloaded. My neighbor is a State Trooper and I asked if they give tickets for towing too much weight and the answer was no so that is not a legitimate reason. I bet a truck pulling a huge boat without a WD hitch is more dangerous than a slightly overloaded suv. Thoughts?

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Overloaded vs Manufacturers recomendation.

I use a WD hitch for convenience primarily on heavy loads and seldom test the limit. I like the way it does what it says.....distributes the weight and keeps it there. With the receiver hitch, swapping couplings is a no brainer.

Mark

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Overloaded vs Manufacturers recomendation.

The hitch on my truck is rated for 12,000 without a WDH and 18,000 with a WDH and with 1000 lbs of tongue weight I still have over 4000 lbs on my front axle so no not all all are equal.


Also we have informed (not blasted) lots of people on the common 5k limit of most trucks without WDH.
Thats one of the reasons I often (with much resistance from the naysayers) recommend a 3/4 ton truck for boats over 5k.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Overloaded vs Manufacturers recomendation.

FWIW - most modern 1/2 tons come with Class 4 receivers which are up to 10K before you need a WD hitch.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Overloaded vs Manufacturers recomendation.

FWIW - most modern 1/2 tons come with Class 4 receivers which are up to 10K before you need a WD hitch.

Not on Chevrolet. I don't know about the other brands.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Overloaded vs Manufacturers recomendation.

[ Not on Chevrolet. I don't know about the other brands

Right. My Silverado only came with a class 3. I have since upgraded to a class 4 and have added suspension air bags between the axle and frame. Made a world of difference in handling.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Overloaded vs Manufacturers recomendation.

I would be pretty surprised to see a standard class IV on any 1/2 ton

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Overloaded vs Manufacturers recomendation.

I would be pretty surprised to see a standard class IV on any 1/2 ton

Every Ram I saw when I was buying mine had one on it. But here in MN, everything comes with a hitch on it.

Edit - just looked up my window sticker and apparently the class 4 was a $335 option that they must have ordered on every truck

 

[KD4UPL]

Re: Overloaded vs Manufacturers recomendation.

Whoever set the "must have WDH for a 5,000 pound load" I doubt was thinking about boat trailers.Blanket statements like that are seldom very accurate in actual application. Boat trailers just don't have much tongue weight because all the heavy parts are in the back. Most hitches will say something like "5,000 pound limit without WD, make tongue weight 500 pounds without WD." You would have to have a very heavy boat, or one that's very heavy in the front, to get 500 pounds of tongue weight.
If you're towing a camper or something it will likely have 10% to 15% tongue weight. With a boat trailer you're lucky to have 5%. My boat and trailer weigh about 4,200 pounds. I only have 200 pounds of tongue weight. The trailer pulls fine with no sway. Interstate at 65, back roads over mountains, it doesn't matter.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Overloaded vs Manufacturers recomendation.

Boat trailers just don't have much tongue weight because all the heavy parts are in the back.

My Wellcraft in my signature is close to 700 lbs tongue weight. I use a WDH hitch. The total load is also above the 5000# limit for a deadweight application.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Overloaded vs Manufacturers recomendation.

My boat and trailer weigh about 4,200 pounds. I only have 200 pounds of tongue weight. The trailer pulls fine with no sway. Interstate at 65, back roads over mountains, it doesn't matter.

Sounds like an accident waiting to happen to me

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Overloaded vs Manufacturers recomendation.

My silverado came with a WD class 4

VR4 TRAILER HITCH(WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING PLATFORM) EQLZR HITCH(VR4)

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Overloaded vs Manufacturers recomendation.

My silverado came with a WD class 4

VR4 TRAILER HITCH(WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING PLATFORM) EQLZR HITCH(VR4)

That's just the RPO build code for a WD hitch. Does not mean it's a class 4. My Silverado also has a VR4 build code and it's a Class 3.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Overloaded vs Manufacturers recomendation.

Whoever set the "must have WDH for a 5,000 pound load" I doubt was thinking about boat trailers.Blanket statements like that are seldom very accurate in actual application. Boat trailers just don't have much tongue weight because all the heavy parts are in the back. Most hitches will say something like "5,000 pound limit without WD, make tongue weight 500 pounds without WD." You would have to have a very heavy boat, or one that's very heavy in the front, to get 500 pounds of tongue weight.
If you're towing a camper or something it will likely have 10% to 15% tongue weight. With a boat trailer you're lucky to have 5%. My boat and trailer weigh about 4,200 pounds. I only have 200 pounds of tongue weight. The trailer pulls fine with no sway. Interstate at 65, back roads over mountains, it doesn't matter.

My tongue weight is 1000 lbs with a Class IV hitch.

Draw-Tite Ultra Frame Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class IV - 2" - Toyota Tundra, 2007
•Rating: Class IV◦Maximum gross trailer weight: 12,000 lbsMaximum GTW when used with weight distribution: 14,000 lbs

◦Maximum tongue weight: 1,200 lbs
Maximum TW when used with weight distribution: 1,400 lbs


Edit:
This is factory. not an add on

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Overloaded vs Manufacturers recomendation.

Boat trailers just don't have much tongue weight because all the heavy parts are in the back.

Blanket statements like that are seldom very accurate in actual application.

I fixed the ordering of these two sentences for you!

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: Overloaded vs Manufacturers recomendation.

I would be pretty surprised to see a standard class IV on any 1/2 ton

per Ford website, F150 STX, reg.cab

The Trailer Tow Package includes a Class IV trailer hitch receiver, a 7-pin wiring harness, an upgraded radiator, an auxiliary transmission oil cooler and SelectShift automatic transmission.

 

[lrak]

Re: Overloaded vs Manufacturers recomendation.

I would be pretty surprised to see a standard class IV on any 1/2 ton

Since my V6 midsize truck includes a class IV as part of the tow package so it can tow 6500lbs without weight distribution, I don't find it surprising at all for the 10k+ lbs tow rating 1/2 ton trucks.

Sounds like an accident waiting to happen to me

:noidea: some of us understand basic physics

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Overloaded vs Manufacturers recomendation.

Since my V6 midsize truck includes a class IV as part of the tow package so it can tow 6500lbs without weight distribution, I don't find it surprising at all for the 10k+ lbs tow rating 1/2 ton trucks.[/QUOTE]

Didn't say it couldn't happen.... SAID I would be surprised... the newest truck I have ever owned is my 99 F-350 dually.... I don't keep up much with the newest stuff but you haven't proved anything... I specifically said STANDARD.... adding a towing package isn't standard equipment.....

My 9000+lb diesel dually came STANDARD with a class III hitch and the Reese Titan hitch I put on it is WAY WAY more massive than anything else I've noticed from the factory on any pickup... Not saying there aren't hitches I haven't noticed.

:noidea: some of us understand basic physics

And others of us understand far more advanced physics...... What? We gonna have a chest pounding party?:lol:

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: Overloaded vs Manufacturers recomendation.

F150 XL,STX,XLT the trailer tow package is/part of, an option. FX2, Lariat, FX4, King Ranch, Platinum, and Limited all come standard with tow package but the 3.7L V6 is dropped.

Trailer Tow Package "standard" ???? It's an option or part of a bigger option, trim package, etc........

You're going to pay for trailer tow one way or another.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Overloaded vs Manufacturers recomendation.

Well I've never bought a new truck... Thought most came standard with some sort of hitch... Guess not.
Maybe there are different levels of tow packages. And maybe the newer trucks are getting better hitches than the old ones did....

Also I had it in my head that my Reese Titan was a class IV but it's a class V... Brain fart. It's the class V that would really surprise me if it was the basic hitch installed on a new half ton truck.... The receiver is 2 1/2 x 2 1/2.... It's a monster.

Either way there are STILL a LOT of trucks on the road with class III hitches and not everyone has a new truck.

As I said from the start we have told plenty of people to check the rating on their hitch and upgrade if needed....
Sadly tho I think most ignore that advice.