I just purchased a 33ft TT this weekend that weighs in at 7400lbs and my truck and trailer weigh 14,500. Im now concerned about the factory hitch after reading about the failures people have had. I found a putnam class v hitch for about 130.00 is this worth the investment? I also woder if anyone has had any experience with the equal-i-zer 4 way sway control set up. My truck seems like it fishtails and road walks real bad. The wind was blowing at about 25-30 mph this weekend also. This system is the only one that will fit my TT. (31bhs VR-1 by keystone). Any help with setting up the hitch properly would be appreciated.
Thanks again in advance.
Justin

I personally haven't read about any failures, although I would be willing to bet that the hitches that did fail were over loaded. The hitch on your truck should be fine. The dealer who sold you the trailer should help you with the proper set up. If not, do a search on the web, possibly on RV.net for proper settings. Or go to one of the hitch company sites, they have instructions as well. Just my 2bits.

I have a 26" Toy Hauler TT I have pulled with my 03 CCSB D/A and my current truck with no problems and use an equilizer hitch with 1000 lbs bars and have never had any problems with sway, I had the hitch reciver box tubing replaced on the 03' because the pin hole was getting elongated after a trip around MT and WY, after that no problems, with the trailer loaded down it weighs in at 10,000 ):h

Go with the Putnam XDR. The stock hitch has a long history of being weak although some are satisfied with it, I'm not. If anybody's stock hitch gets worn out, I've got a new one for sale at a reasonable price:D

anythings better then the stock hitch

10,000 miles on my truck and the hitch was bent and the slot for the pin was oval. and that was towing 12,000

I have installed the Putnam XDR on my truck, since the total length of my enclosed Classic Dominator XT is 36 feet. I feel better while towing.

Id replace the hitch sp if you get near the factory hitches rating.

my stock hitch is bent down from towing so much. then i bent it back up when i pulled some one out of a mud hole. now i am looking for a new one.

ive pulled 15000 plus with mine over mountains and not even a crack or bend.i think most of the failures are from using chains to pull people out and getting up a little speed.

Local guy here bent his stock hitch pretty bad (04 LB7) towing a 28' tag. When I asked him how much tongue weight he had he had no idea, I let him borrow my sherline scale and he 1800lbs of tongue weight w/o an equalizer hitch. Big surprise it failed lol.

It amazes me how many poeple will spend 20K on a trailer and wont spend the 100.00 on a tongue weight scale or bother rigging something up to check it..

Have to ask, were did you find the Putnam for $130?

my stock hitch is bent down from towing so much. then i bent it back up when i pulled some one out of a mud hole. now i am looking for a new one.

Want my stock one? PM me if you do.

I found the hitch at performancecenter.com and it is on sale right now for 130 bucks. I looked up my hitch weight and it is 780lbs from the brochure.

There is a thread on RV.net wher the NTSB is looking into these hitch failuers.
They want to hear from any one who has had a failure.

I'd get the Putnam XDR (actually I did!) and I'd recommend getting the heavy duty Putnam hitch mount and ball of the same or higher rating. Find those on the Putnam web site then use those numbers to search the site where you've found the hitch itself and you'll pull up the parts you want. Then take advantage of the cheap shipping and save some serious money.
One caveat, realize the Putnam locates the receiver a little higher than stock so you might want a different drop height to keep your trailer level.
You'll be happy.
Good luck.

If anyone has the pitnam hitch installed did you have trouble with aftermarket exhaust or bigger tires being a factor? There is a review online that says the had problems with the hitch due to oversized exhaust and tires.

Does anyone have a picture of one of these hitches installed?

I have a 03 3500 pulling a 17 ft trailer, 5500# loaded, hitch wt approx 200# I can move it by hand. In the spring of 05 I was out Griz hunting in Alberta, setting up camp I was backing up my trailer and my partner noticed my hitch seemed low. On futher exam we found both hitch tubes cracked by the square reciever. I could have lost the trailer on the highway at speeds. Took the hitch to CMP in Calgary, they told me I could have a new one, I didn't want another pic of sh made in china I wanted them to make out a problem report for GM . Never got done,I guess that dealership dosn't care about safety. I built a hitch with 6 points of attachment.

Thanks for everyone responces and keep them coming. It sounds like I may be ordering one of these hitches if I can find that it doesnt interfere with my aftermarket add-ons.
Thanks
Justin

I don't know about the exhaust, but I do know that if your spare is bigger than 31.5 dia. it won't fit.

Beware, performancecenter.com's application guide didn't show the xdr hitch when I looked up my truck. I went to Putnam's website and then called to verify the #. The correct #for the class 5 xdr hitch for 2500/3500 trucks is 25189.

The part # 25182 is for the short beds and 25189 is for long beds. according to shawn at putnam.

Stock hitch is rated at 7500#. I can't believe the loads some guys are hauling with them. My brand new one is on the shop floor and a Draw-Tite Class V is now in it's place.

Well as of right now my new class V putnam hitch and 7 way connector bracket is on its way for 143.00. BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY..
Thanks for all of your guys help and opions. For some it may seem like we are going overkill but when you are pulling a trailer that is a scary thought to have in your head.

What is the connector bracket? I only ordered the hitch...I guess I needed the bracket?

I have the bracket I didnt use. I used the bracket that came with my new hoppy connector. Didint hang down as far.

Oh good so the hoppy comes with the bracket then. So I think I am good to go.

Now if I can only get lucky and it arrives on Friday instead of next week, I can tow my car Saturday.

Will the stock hitch off of the 2500HD/3500 also fit a 1500? It seems to me like it should, but I've read mention of the HD hitch having some extra gusseting that isn't on the hitch for the 1500 trucks. Thanks, Mike

http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51092&highlight=Putnam

read that before u get a putnam

Go with the Putnam XDR. The stock hitch has a long history of being weak although some are satisfied with it, I'm not. If anybody's stock hitch gets worn out, I've got a new one for sale at a reasonable price:D

Still have the hitch?
Mine is getting the elongated reciever pin hole.