New receiver to avoid WDH setup?

[56FordGuy]

Most of the times I have seen the pin hole elongate its due to the pin design. The standard pin with a bend in the last 3rd are the biggest culprit.

I guess I'm just a bit lost. How do the pins differ? The portion of both the top link pin and standard hitch pin that goes through the receiver is round metal. Unless the standard hitch pin is a slightly smaller diameter, but one would think that hitch manufacturers would build their products to work with standard pins.

 

[Diamondpilot]

The diameter does not differ. Its just after I started using top link pins I stopped seeing the elongating issue. I think its where the pin is deformed at the bend they put in standard hitch pins that does the damage. Noting scientific, just my observation.

I also cut mine down and drill a new hole so there is only maybe 3/16" or less of slop side to side when the lynch pin is in.

Chris

 

[Highbeam]

I would not feel confident that the small shoulder on the fixed end of that pin would keep the pin in place. Too much bad can happen if that pin decides to fall out.

I have never liked the simple hairpin style of retainer clip on the standard issue bent pins so I exclusively use the locking style that have a big head on one end and a big locking head on the other.

 

[Highbeam]

So the switch was made. I tossed the factory 500/5000 lb receiver from my F350 and installed a curt classV receiver with 2" hole rated for 1500/15000 without a WDH. The new hitch cost 211$ and lined up perfectly with existing holes, the same holes that the OEM hitch used. Yes, the new receiver is built tougher with much thicker steel and more of it.

This is a safety upgrade even if all you plan to do is tow within the OEM hitch's ratings. That much more margin.

We'll see how it does towing the tractor without a WDH.

 

[Diamondpilot]

So the switch was made. I tossed the factory 500/5000 lb receiver from my F350 and installed a curt classV receiver with 2" hole rated for 1500/15000 without a WDH. The new hitch cost 211$ and lined up perfectly with existing holes, the same holes that the OEM hitch used. Yes, the new receiver is built tougher with much thicker steel and more of it.

This is a safety upgrade even if all you plan to do is tow within the OEM hitch's ratings. That much more margin.

We'll see how it does towing the tractor without a WDH.

They make good stuff and the paint is first rate compared to Reese and some of the other big names. Just make sure your balls and draw bars are rated for the task.

Chris

 

[sandman2234]

This is just an observation, and I will TRY to keep it to things I know, and hopefully everybody will be NICE when they shove these observations down my throat...
My 2000 F350 has a tow rating of 20K, but in the fine print it says that is 5th wheel rated, all other is limited to 10K, so apparently I can tow 10k from the bumper or the 2" receiver. Now since the truck manufactor limits the bumper to XX pounds, that only makes sense to use the receiver hitch which is limited to 10K. Now if I want to haul 10001 pounds using the receiver, all I have to do is upgrade to a higher rated receiver, make sure the ball and pin are rated to that amount and start hauling, RIGHT?
The problem I see with that idea is simple. The D.O.T, law enforcement, and especially the ATTORNEY'S will still see the truck as a 10K max receiver truck, with some added safety capacity, but it is still a 10K rated truck. As long as the manufacturer rated it as that, and right up to when somebody upgrades the truck (not just one piece it) and pays to have it certified, which includes all of the parts, that it is now capable of hauling more, the lawyers and law enforcement will still nail you when stuff hits the fan. They will argue that nothing changes the manufacturer's rating except either the manufacturer or some engineering firm with way too much time and money on their hands. All I am saying, is that changing the hitch to a higher rated hitch isn't going to increase what the manufacturer rated the truck at, even if the component manufacturer says their hitch is rated at XXX more than the manufacturer.
David from jax

 

[timswi]

This is just an observation, and I will TRY to keep it to things I know, and hopefully everybody will be NICE when they shove these observations down my throat...
My 2000 F350 has a tow rating of 20K, but in the fine print it says that is 5th wheel rated, all other is limited to 10K, so apparently I can tow 10k from the bumper or the 2" receiver. Now since the truck manufactor limits the bumper to XX pounds, that only makes sense to use the receiver hitch which is limited to 10K. Now if I want to haul 10001 pounds using the receiver, all I have to do is upgrade to a higher rated receiver, make sure the ball and pin are rated to that amount and start hauling, RIGHT?
The problem I see with that idea is simple. The D.O.T, law enforcement, and especially the ATTORNEY'S will still see the truck as a 10K max receiver truck, with some added safety capacity, but it is still a 10K rated truck. As long as the manufacturer rated it as that, and right up to when somebody upgrades the truck (not just one piece it) and pays to have it certified, which includes all of the parts, that it is now capable of hauling more, the lawyers and law enforcement will still nail you when stuff hits the fan. They will argue that nothing changes the manufacturer's rating except either the manufacturer or some engineering firm with way too much time and money on their hands. All I am saying, is that changing the hitch to a higher rated hitch isn't going to increase what the manufacturer rated the truck at, even if the component manufacturer says their hitch is rated at XXX more than the manufacturer.
David from jax

I would have to agree with that from a legal/liability perspective.

 

[sandman2234]

I would have to agree with that from a legal/liability perspective.

Not quite the arguementitive post I was expecting, but thanks for the support!!!
David from jax

 

[timswi]

Not quite the arguementitive post I was expecting, but thanks for the support!!!
David from jax

I'm not sure what there is to argue about based on your post, I think you're spot on...You can turn a Tacoma into a Kenworth capacity wise I suppose, but it's still a Tacoma.

I used to pull a BP TT that weighed around 8500# with a 91 and 97 reg cab Chevy 4x4 SB 5.7...Not sure what the OEM tow rating was (I was in my 20's and didn't care, I do now) but I'm certain that I was way over limit...If something would have happened, and I was over, I would have been in deep doo-doo I'm sure...The State Police checked the rig over in a "safety" checkpoint once and didn't say a word though.

 

[Diamondpilot]

The issue here is the manufacture put a hitch that was well below the trucks BP capacity. I see it all the time and broke a hitch in a F250.

I agree putting a bigger hitch on is not all its about. He is just getting a hitch that is capable of taking advantage of the trucks capacity.

Chris