Trailer towing advice needed

[loggskidder2]

Any thought on these mirrors listed on ebay.

eBay Motors: 07 08 CHEVY GMC TRUCK MANUAL TOW TOWING MIRROR PAIR R/L (item 130268996352 end time Jan-12-09 17:36:15 PST)

 

[Diamondpilot]

Says they are aftermarket and if the price Builder listed is still correct I would get the OEM mirrors from the dealer for the $20 more.

Chris

 

[Builder]

I like the 2.5" receiver, can handle up to 15K with the 2.5 draw bar and appropriate ball. You are limited usually to 12k with the 2" bar and sleeve. My Ford came with the sleeve and the long pin you need to use it. I am wondering if they tried to pull one over on you and not give them to you. Still funny it came with all the goodies except the tow mirrors.

I really like the color of that truck but GM needs to get bigger tire and wheel combo's to fill those big square wheel wells.

By the way its a 7 pin connector but we understood what you were saying.


Chris

It's the way GM does it. Trailer tow package is seperate from trailer tow mirrors package.

I could see some situations where a guy might tow a trailer but not want wide mirrors. Gives the customer more ways to customize a truck.

BTW: My receiver is a 2" made by Putnam rated at 15,000 lbs

 

[Builder]

Says they are aftermarket and if the price Builder listed is still correct I would get the OEM mirrors from the dealer for the $20 more.

Chris

That's what they cost as a package with a new truck. I'm sure they're more when ordered as a part from the parts department, that's the way it always is.

If you don't have an electric harness out to the mirrors, those ebay mirrors might be fine.

 

[Diamondpilot]

It's the way GM does it. Trailer tow package is seperate from trailer tow mirrors package.

I could see some situations where a guy might tow a trailer but not want wide mirrors. Gives the customer more ways to customize a truck.

BTW: My receiver is a 2" made by Putnam rated at 15,000 lbs

Yea, those Putnam hitches are top quality. I was talking about the factory ones. If I remember right GM did not have a 2.5" hitch when you got your truck so I guess that is why you upgraded your hitch. My 04 F-250 came with a 2" hitch also that I had to upgrade in less than a year after I bent it and cracked a few welds. I was way over on weight so that was my own fault.

Chris

 

[Builder]

Yea, those Putnam hitches are top quality. I was talking about the factory ones. If I remember right GM did not have a 2.5" hitch when you got your truck so I guess that is why you upgraded your hitch. My 04 F-250 came with a 2" hitch also that I had to upgrade in less than a year after I bent it and cracked a few welds. I was way over on weight so that was my own fault.

Chris

Mine was a pickup, then became a chassis to make room for my utility body. Reading gives you a 15K Putnam as standard equipment when they install your truck body.

 

[Diamondpilot]

That says a lot about the quality of Reading. I have always liked the boxes they make but have never had a use for one. Anyone that uses Putnam hitches is a class operation. We install a few hitches each year and I use the Putnam 5th Wheel Sliders for short bed trucks. For non slider 5th wheels and GN hitches I use B&W. For bumper pulls I usually go with the Titan 2.5" hitch. The reason I like the 2.5" hitch is for the bumper pull boats I am selling run 10K upto 25K but average about 15K and there is a good selection of bars and balls for these now on the market.

Off the subject but my local Ford Dealership has the best selection of 2.5" stuff and I have also gotten quite a few at the local RV dealership cheaper than I can get them off the net.

Chris

 

[em14]

When I ordered my new body style 2007 Chevolet 3500 dualie, I spec'd the tow mirrors but the bumper hitch came as a 2-1/2" with sleeve which works well.
Leo

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yea, I think he got taken for $30 or so for the sleeve and pin. It should have came with the truck. I know people who have new GM's and they all said it came with it and I know every Ford with the 2.5" hitch comes with it.

I am guessing some dealers snag them and then sale them for a few $$$$ to put in their pockets.

Chris

 

[Builder]

Yea, I think he got taken for $30 or so for the sleeve and pin. It should have came with the truck. I know people who have new GM's and they all said it came with it and I know every Ford with the 2.5" hitch comes with it.

I am guessing some dealers snag them and then sale them for a few $$$$ to put in their pockets.

Chris

Chris, I actually remember reading articles about quite a few mad Ford customers being sold trucks with 2.5" hitches and not given the inner sleeve. Lots of Ford guys were going back to their dealers demanding an explanation of what to do.

I think this happened because when they were first introduced as a factory 2.5" hitch, the "dumber" dealers probably didn't bother to give the customer the inner sleeve. They probably didn't even know what it was.