Recall states 98-00 trucks.

 

There is probably a separate recall # for 94-97. They used the exact same 6 bolt receiver and the guideline for the repair is the same.

 

So I checked mine today 6 bolts no cracks to be seen even considering the grossly exceeded weight limit on it several times. Maybe its miles of towing and not just weight. Don't know

 

What do you expect when you double the rated capacity of the hitch ! Recall or not, Class III is only rated for 5000# !

 

Discovered the same cracks on my 95 several years ago. Just dropped the hitch, welded the cracks and added reinforcement. No problems since, and the old truck works hard when it's working, hay trailers, fertilize buggies, you name it.

 

While the OEM 2nd gen receiver is listed AND advertised as a class 4, not a class 3, it is a moot point.

The point is, why is a 5000 LB weight carrying receiver installed on 3/4 ton and 1 ton diesel trucks? That is a major slip up by Dodge.

By reading between the lines, what they have implied is: "Here is your new 1 ton CTD that we have rated to tow 12K (arbitrary # for the purpose of this arguement) and we have included a tow package option that will allow you to tow 5K." To that I say: "HUH????"

And nobody cares about the weight distributing option save for some RVers. There are all sorts of trailers out there over 5K that should not be subjected to a WD hitch when being towed by one of these trucks. If the appropriate receiver was installed in the first place, that too, would be a moot point.

 

There are not many hitches that are rated 10,000 w/o a w/d hitch. My 97 was clearly labeled as 10,000 with w/d, 5000 w/o. I ignored the label and it failed the same as the OP's. My bad. I bought a heavier duty hitch and went on down the road. BTW, there is no standard for class 3,4,5 etc hitches so just making a blanket statement about what class hitch was stock, or what to buy won't fly. The hitch I installed is rated to 15,000. Some would say it is a class 5, but others say it is a class 4 because it is a 2". If you look at the major hitch makers websites you will see their class ratings do not come close to matching.

 

your absoulutely right GAmes. marketing and ratings of hitches are all over the board.

but i will say once you use a w/d with antisway bars going across the desert you sure do appreciate the system, wouldn't pull my enclosed 10k without it. see a lot of trailers without the w/d and anti sway bars all swerving all over the road.

 

I had a similar problem. Dropped a 10K trailer onto my hitch on my '01 dually and saw it flex about 4 inches! Checked it out and it was the stock clss 3 hitch!! Checked my sister 2001 1/2ton truck and it had the EXACT same hitch on it!

I replaced the factory hitch on the '01 right away with a Putnam 14K.

 

I pulled my old receiver off and put on a Putnam Class V receiver. As far as I know its rated for 10k non WD and 14k WD. I got it off ebay for $53 shipped. Its brand new and came with all the hardware, so I'm not gonna complain. The description said it was made specifically for a 1994-1997 Dodge Ram 1-ton. Its 2", not 2 1/2" like some are.

Here is a picture of it that the seller took.



I looked up the serial number and can't find anything about it, but theres a sticker on it stating that its rated for 10k/14k. Weird. Maybe its an older model because it looks just like the curret XDR thats rated for 15k/16k.

It installed really easy and seems like it will work great.

 

Gooseneck .

 

A GN???

A GN hitch isn't going to help much when you have to tow a tag.

 

I'm like others here on this board. I didn't want to have problems with my trailer hitch so I just purchased a Curt 12,000 WC / 15,000 WD Class 4-5 hitch even though it has a 2 in. receiver.

I did allot of homework and the welding and placement of the welds and supports are pretty good on the Curt hitch. Instead of the receiver welded to the bottom of the hitch, it is welded into the hitch for added strength along with other support welds.

Listed below are the hitches I was comparing:


Curt Magnum #15012 12,000 WC / 15,000 WD, 2 in receiver, Class 4-5

Reese/Draw-Tite "Titan" #45010 12,000 WC / 14,000 WD, 2.5 in receiver, Class 5

Valley #V82522 12,000 WC / 15,000 WD, 2.5 in receiver, Class 5

Reese "Tow Beast" #45288 12,000 WC / 14,000 WD (only for 2003 and up so use #45010 Titan Series), Class 5

Reese #41923 12,000 WC / 14,000 WD Class 4 with 2 in. receiver


The reasons why I went with the Curt hitch is I can still use my many 2in receiver bars (5) with 2 5/16", 2", & 1 7/8" *****. Also, I paid less than $250 for the hitch. I've seen prices in excess of $700.00 for the hitch and WD setup.

I also have a 12K receiver ball and 12K receiver bar which is also sometimes overlooked when a HD hitch is purchased.

Hope this info. helps.

 

This is what I found on my 98 1200 mi from home (notice the rust on the first inch os so) & it would of took 7+ days to get a class 5 so I had to buy a standard one.
So where can I get a Curt hitch at?

 

Ordered mine from National Trailer Supply 888-544-3229 and can be contacted between the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST, Monday thru Friday. They are in Ohio.

Mine is being shipped and on its way. Hope to install it next weekend.

They are also on eBay with a seller name of HITCHBIZ and they sell on eBay and the trailer hitch details are listed below:

Mdl. No: 15012
Class No: 5
Receiver Size: 2 in
Weight Carrying: 1,200 / 12,000
Weight Distribution: 1,400 / 14,000

Hope this helps !