[patrick_g]

Martin, You need a class V receiver hitch (probably stouter than and maybe much stouter than OEM) if you want a "standard" bumper pull style hitch arrangement. These are available for up to about 12,000 lbs or so trailer weight and 1200 lbs tongue weight. With equalizing hitch arrangement the class V will take you up to 14-14,500 lbs trailer weight.

Class V is available for 2 1/2 inch drawbar and I believe in standard 2 inch too. If you get a 2 1/2 inch you can put an adapter in it which is just a piece of square steel tubing that is 2 1/2 on the outside and 2 on the inside and use all standard 2 inch drawbars.

Drawbars in 2 inch size that are rated for 15,000 lbs are available without much searching if you look to professional sources and not Wal*Mart. Sure they cost more but will not be a point of failure. Likewise you can get a 2 5/16 inch ball rated for 30,000 lbs and it will not be a source of concern. I bought both from a trailer sales place in a town of only 400 population. You DO NOT WANT a ball smaller than 2 5/16 so be sure the trailer has a 2 5/16 coupler. Bulldog type are superior to a lot of the other designs. They are very stout, easy to use, and last a long time.

You want electric brakes on all wheels of the trailer not just on one axle. You want a break away switch system and battery. Double check to see that the vehicle supplies a pin on the trailer socket that is the "charge line" for the breakaway battery and that the mating position on the trailer's plug is wired to the breakaway battery. It wouldn't be the first time one or the other was not done correctly or the mating connections were on different pins and so the battery did not get charged.

If the tow vehicle does not come equipped with an OEM brake controller built in then check to see if it is prewired for a controller. Don't skimp on a controller. The savings between a PepBoys/Wallmart cheap Chinese controller and a really good controller is not enough to warrant taking a chance with substandard equipment that has to help you stop a heavy load.

Tekonsha, Hayes, or Tap are good brands. I personally prefer Tekonsha and have excellent service going on 12 years with one on my 1997 one ton dually diesel Dodge/Cumins. I bought on the recommendation of a friend with mucho experience and have never regretteed it. My 2008 F-250 PS Diesel came with a built in controller which is very easy to use and has worked well. Not all controllers are the same. There is more than one design philosophy and various assumptions and shortcuts so do yourself a favor and get a good recognized brand. I recommend NOT to buy the cheapest of anyones controllers.

So often guys are interested in how much of a load they can carry with a trailer but it is also very important to be able to safely stop that load, especially when some airhead cuts in front of you and hits the brakes.

Pat