I was surprised to find today that my hitch is only rated for 7,500 pounds weight carrying. That sucks considering I have been regularly towing over 12,000 pounds with it and not using weight distributing gear. When I bought the truck I was told 12,000 pounds was the rating for bumper pull. No comment was made regarding you can only pull around half that much if you don't have a weight distributing set-up. I can buy a Putnam rated for 15,000 weight carrying and they're only about $150. But, if we buy a HD stickering at $40K we should get a hitch thats inline with the capability of the truck!

its rated for that much with only a regular hitch IIRC...with a weight distributing hitch (sway bars/torsion bars), its rated for 12,500 IIRC...

Ben

I agree what a disapointment in a hitch. I could see that hitch on a half ton truck but why even bother offering it with a one ton. I changed mine out to a Reese Titan in the second week of ownership of truck.

its rated for that much with only a regular hitch IIRC...with a weight distributing hitch (sway bars/torsion bars), its rated for 12,500 IIRC...

Ben

Uh.......my thoughts exactly. And 7,500 pounds capacity (weight carrying) is crap!

I agree with you about the hitches. Not only is it cheap it's dangerous. I'll be changing mine to a Putnam ASAP. Check out the following link at RV. NET and see what others have discovered.
http://www.woodalls.com/cforum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/15852601/page/1.cfm
It's a lot of reading but get a cup of coffee and enjoy.
SD

I just installed my reese towbeast. It's very heavy duty. Watch out if you have an aftermarket exhaust, because the hitch mounts further forward on the frame and the tailpipe gets in the way. I spent a few hours adjusting and relocating the exhaust hanger so that the tailpipe was not hanging too low.

I just ordered a Putnam XDR hitch 25182. This hitch is rated for 15,000 pounds trailer weight and 1,500 pounds tongue weight without weight distributing gear! Piece of mind is worth $150!

Does anybody know what the limiting factors are that led to the 12,000 pound rating for bumper pull trailer weight on these trucks? The gooseneck rating is over 16,000 is it not?

It probably has more to do with vehicle dynamics than load carrying ability. A GN basically puts its weight right over the rear axle. With a stock suspension, putting 15k on the bumper will bottom out the suspension because it's 3 feet behind the axle. I don't know about anyone else, but I kind of like having the front tires on the ground for steering.

It probably has more to do with vehicle dynamics than load carrying ability. A GN basically puts its weight right over the rear axle. With a stock suspension, putting 15k on the bumper will bottom out the suspension because it's 3 feet behind the axle. I don't know about anyone else, but I kind of like having the front tires on the ground for steering.
:exactly:

I ruined two stock recieivers on our last two trucks with my weight distribution set ups....they are cheesy. Aftermarket or bust...pun intended.):h

It probably has more to do with vehicle dynamics than load carrying ability. A GN basically puts its weight right over the rear axle. With a stock suspension, putting 15k on the bumper will bottom out the suspension because it's 3 feet behind the axle. I don't know about anyone else, but I kind of like having the front tires on the ground for steering.

Woaw PhD! What are you talking about? Nobody here said anything about putting that kind of weight on the hitch. There happens to be a significant difference between tongue weight and trailer weight. Those who use there trucks know this difference.

I agree with you about the hitches. Not only is it cheap it's dangerous. I'll be changing mine to a Putnam ASAP. Check out the following link at RV. NET and see what others have discovered.
http://www.woodalls.com/cforum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/15852601/page/1.cfm
It's a lot of reading but get a cup of coffee and enjoy.
SD
WOW, thats a lot of information! I am ordering the Putnam hitch. For $150 it is cheap insurance, thanks for the information. :ro)

Woaw PhD! What are you talking about? Nobody here said anything about putting that kind of weight on the hitch. There happens to be a significant difference between tongue weight and trailer weight. Those who use there trucks know this difference.
I didn't say a 16,000 lb GN has all of its weight on the pin weight either. Obviously the trailer axles carry most of the weight or there wouldn't be any point in having a trailer. Generally tongue weight is assumed to be 10% of trailer weight, which is 1,500 lbs in the case of your 15,000 lb example trailer. The chart on the back page of the sales brochure clearly says 1000 lbs max tongue weight for a reason. Just because you can bolt on a bigger and badder hitch receiver doesn't make it safe to exceed GM's specifications for towing. Sorry if I'm peeing in your bowl of Cheerios.

I didn't say a 16,000 lb GN has all of its weight on the pin weight either. Obviously the trailer axles carry most of the weight or there wouldn't be any point in having a trailer. Generally tongue weight is assumed to be 10% of trailer weight, which is 1,500 lbs in the case of your 15,000 lb example trailer. The chart on the back page of the sales brochure clearly says 1000 lbs max tongue weight for a reason. Just because you can bolt on a bigger and badder hitch receiver doesn't make it safe to exceed GM's specifications for towing. Sorry if I'm peeing in your bowl of Cheerios.

Again PhD, my factory hitch is rated for 7,500 pounds weight carrying, 10% of that is 750 pounds. A tongue load of that amount is peanuts. You think your frame rails are capable of supporting only 375 pounds each? Round tubular hitches on the market are only class 4 at best, most class 3. The factory hitch is a round bar with ratings that are consistent with those that are on the market. I haul a dump trailer with a rated capacity of 12,000, which I have fully utilized (and then some) many times, which again returns to my original concern: the hitch is the weak link. The reason to buy the hitch with the highest weight rating is for peace of mind in having a factor of safety rather than a liability back there.

The only people that are having issues with there stock hitch is the guys pulling huge A$$ campers with a load distributing setup. I've truck pulled with my stocker for a few years now with no issues, and there is no greater abuse on a hitch than pulling a 40,000 lb sled.

I was surprised to find today that my hitch is only rated for 7,500 pounds weight carrying.

The Ford factory hitch is even worse. Only 5,000 pouds weight carrying, I think. I'm glad mine did not come with one from the factory. Just looking at the factory one they look like junk. I put on a good aftermarked one.

you guy's should becareful with the putman hitch I bought one after everybody saying the stock setup sucks well the putman bent my frame http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b82/socal-lly/100_2194.jpg http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b82/socal-lly/100_2196.jpg http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b82/socal-lly/100_2193.jpg

SoCal LLY,
how much weight did you have to bend your frame like that?
It wasn't the hitch that bent your frame, wasn't it the load that you put on it?

SoCal,
The photo indicates steel that has deflected vertically due to a gravitational load. What was the tongue weight that lead to failure?