How are the Dodge hitches??
09-25-2011, 08:55 AM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How are the Dodge hitches??
Have a 07 with the tow package. going to a 8500 lb trailer. have read about some OEM hitches being weak. Is the Dodge hitch okay or should I take it off and get a Reese?
09-25-2011, 05:34 PM
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: MS coast
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bill,I tow 8500lbs with mine and has been OK.
However, the factory hitch is only rated for 5000lbs(check the tag on your hitch)
Do not know if tow rating on hitch was established by lawyers or engineers.
My trailers are load balanced, so no problems ,yet.
If you are an experienced at towing ,common sense will prevail.
good luck.....Boudreaux
However, the factory hitch is only rated for 5000lbs(check the tag on your hitch)
Do not know if tow rating on hitch was established by lawyers or engineers.
My trailers are load balanced, so no problems ,yet.
If you are an experienced at towing ,common sense will prevail.
good luck.....Boudreaux
09-25-2011, 06:05 PM
#3
Registered User
The factory hitch is rated for 1,200/12,000. I have no clue what a dealer installed hitch may be rated for, but the OEM hitch doesn't even have a tag on it you have to read the owners manual for ratings.
The OEM hitch is pretty good, some have had issues with them bending.
Mine wore out with towing on dirt roads. By the time I removed it this spring it was 2.25" vertically and 2.1" horizontally and SUPER sloppy and noisy.
If you do decide to replace your OEM hitch I highly suggest the Reese Tow beast, nothing else out there is even close to as stout. Part 45299
The OEM hitch is pretty good, some have had issues with them bending.
Mine wore out with towing on dirt roads. By the time I removed it this spring it was 2.25" vertically and 2.1" horizontally and SUPER sloppy and noisy.
If you do decide to replace your OEM hitch I highly suggest the Reese Tow beast, nothing else out there is even close to as stout. Part 45299
09-25-2011, 08:00 PM
#4
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: MS coast
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The tow ratings in the Manual and what came OEM are 2 different animals.
Yes my manual came with the 12k tow capacity.
I received a OEM, not dealer installed 5k hitch, clearly labeled. Much to my dismay! Orderer factory towing package, truck purchased new.
Yes Reese class 5 hitches are good!
I'm tired of re-engineering this truck,so I'm going to tow with it until it turns into a triangle.
Boudreaux
Yes my manual came with the 12k tow capacity.
I received a OEM, not dealer installed 5k hitch, clearly labeled. Much to my dismay! Orderer factory towing package, truck purchased new.
Yes Reese class 5 hitches are good!
I'm tired of re-engineering this truck,so I'm going to tow with it until it turns into a triangle.
Boudreaux
09-25-2011, 08:20 PM
#5
Registered User
Do you have a pic of the tag? The OEM hitch isn't labeled, at least not any of the 3 in my family.
There is only one OEM hitch, 1,200/12K. There are dealer installed ones may have varied, but I haven't paid too much attention to them. The OEM tow package comes with a Class IV, if yours says 5,000 its a Class III and you got screwed.
Does your OEM look like this?
There is only one OEM hitch, 1,200/12K. There are dealer installed ones may have varied, but I haven't paid too much attention to them. The OEM tow package comes with a Class IV, if yours says 5,000 its a Class III and you got screwed.
TOWING CLASSES
These are the five classifications for trailer weights and
hitches:
Class I – Light Duty
2,000-pound maximum
Includes folding camping trailers and trailers for small
boats, motorcycles and snowmobiles
Class II – Medium Duty
3,500-pound maximum
Single-axle, small to medium length (up to 18 feet)
trailers
Class III – Heavy Duty
5,000-pound maximum
Dual-axle or large single-axle trailers
Weight-distributing hitch not required, unless specified
for the particular vehicle
Class IV – Extra Heavy Duty
12,000-pound maximum
Largest travel trailers made for recreation
Weight-distributing hitch is required; as indicated by
each weight classification
12,000-pound and over
Must be a fifth-wheel or gooseneck, or pintle hitch
These are the five classifications for trailer weights and
hitches:
Class I – Light Duty
2,000-pound maximum
Includes folding camping trailers and trailers for small
boats, motorcycles and snowmobiles
Class II – Medium Duty
3,500-pound maximum
Single-axle, small to medium length (up to 18 feet)
trailers
Class III – Heavy Duty
5,000-pound maximum
Dual-axle or large single-axle trailers
Weight-distributing hitch not required, unless specified
for the particular vehicle
Class IV – Extra Heavy Duty
12,000-pound maximum
Largest travel trailers made for recreation
Weight-distributing hitch is required; as indicated by
each weight classification
12,000-pound and over
Must be a fifth-wheel or gooseneck, or pintle hitch
09-25-2011, 08:27 PM
#6
Registered User
So I just found this.. Looks like a weight tag on the dealer installed option.
http://www.torklift.com/dodgeoem.html
http://www.torklift.com/dodgeoem.html
09-25-2011, 09:39 PM
#7
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: MS coast
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
AH,I stand corrected, looks like I got the class 3 (Dealer) hitch.
Thanks for the info!
Boudreaux
I'm going to still continue towing,til the truck gets 2 ft longer,It will be a Mega cab by then.
Thanks for the info!
Boudreaux
I'm going to still continue towing,til the truck gets 2 ft longer,It will be a Mega cab by then.
Trending Topics
09-25-2011, 09:43 PM
#8
Advocate of getting the ban button used on him...
So I just found this.. Looks like a weight tag on the dealer installed option.
http://www.torklift.com/dodgeoem.html
http://www.torklift.com/dodgeoem.html
Thanks for the link
09-30-2011, 12:40 PM
#11
Registered User
I DO have the factory hitch and I have loaded in excess of 2000 pounds tongue weight on it using the hillbilly weight measuring method (measuring with a tape measure. A pallet of cement is 2500 pounds and that on the bed drops the rear bumper 2.5"... I've had the trailer tongue drop the rear bumper 4", but now figure where the center of gravity is on each load, do some rough moment calcs... like I said, hillbilly weighing
) and I haven't had any problems. Pulled thousands of miles loaded heavy.
09-30-2011, 07:16 PM
#12
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: MS coast
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lost Lake, dealers closed.I'll take my lumps for not checking it myself when it arrived.
I"ve towed alot more than 5k with the hitch, but now that I'm aware of it
going to change it out.
Ordered the Reese, be in Teusday and will do the swap.
It would be unfair to a bunch of people behind me to have an 8k trailer come at them like a bowling ball.
Thanks Boudreaux
I"ve towed alot more than 5k with the hitch, but now that I'm aware of it
going to change it out.
Ordered the Reese, be in Teusday and will do the swap.
It would be unfair to a bunch of people behind me to have an 8k trailer come at them like a bowling ball.
Thanks Boudreaux
09-30-2011, 08:40 PM
#14
Registered User
That is the setup my dad has. I never liked how low the 2nd receiver sits, which is why I shopped for one that would replace the OEM hitch and keep the new one up high.
10-01-2011, 08:11 AM
#15
Registered User
do not worry about the stock. i pulled this 25 ton bridge with decking and guard rails still attached to a city yard, i got the axles a little further back than what i wanted and had about 6,000 lbs down on the pintle hitch.
