Need help with purchase of weight distribution hitch

[dodge man]

How sure are you your 1500 Ram has a class V hitch? I ask because I had a Ram with a sticker that had a V on it but it turned out it meant something other than a class V hitch. Post up a pic of the sticker and unless you installed it it’s most likely not a class V.

 

[RandyT]

Wheres the news article on this? If this is true then in theory you could also not be towing anything and have 5psi under inflated tires and insurance would also deny you...and forget about it if you use 93octain and they spec 87.

The actual case involved a retired couple towing a trailer that happened to be like 400 pounds over the max rated towing capacity for the tow vehicle, and was T boned by a DUI driver in Indiana, and wife was killed in the accident, the case went all the way to the Indiana Supreme court, and was ruled in favor of the insurance company.

 

[dodge man]

This is a picture that might lead you to believe it’s a class V hitch. I don’t know what the V-5 means but not class V.
The last Chevy 3/4 ton I had appeared you didn’t need a WD hitch for something up to about 11,500 pounds, at least that’s what the hitch sticker said. I didn’t read the manual close enough to see if it said other wise.

 

[nisaacs]

Google search says this:

"The V-5 rating just means that it was manufactured to North American standards and relates in no way to the hitch capacity."

"I found at this web site: 4reese.com , they say that the V-5 rating is simply referring to the quality of steel used in the production of the hitch, not the weight rating."

 

[RandyT]

View attachment 759170

This is a picture that might lead you to believe it’s a class V hitch. I don’t know what the V-5 means but not class V.
The last Chevy 3/4 ton I had appeared you didn’t need a WD hitch for something up to about 11,500 pounds, at least that’s what the hitch sticker said. I didn’t read the manual close enough to see if it said other wise.

Looks like the V-5 may be related to the metal used not the rating. And from further research it appears that a true class V uses a 2-1/2 ball receiver whereas the class IV is 2 inch. So it appears that our Rams have class IV hitches. And some of the larger pickup trucks have the class V because of the 2-1/2 receiver.

 

[nisaacs]

Curt says this: Also, the receiver is not rated any higher than the ball mount/drawbar. There are also differences between OEM hitches and aftermarket. A lot of 2" are class 5.

"Class 5 hitches are a bit different from other hitch class ratings, as this class is not officially recognized by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). This means that the information on how much the hitch can safely tow should be verified by the manufacturer."

 

[dodge man]

I have a ball mount that was rated for a class V. It was solid steel instead of hollow.

 

[RandyT]

I have a ball mount that was rated for a class V. It was solid steel instead of hollow.

Same here. My solid ball hitch with 2-5/16 ball has a 17K rating.

 

[nisaacs]

Same here. My solid ball hitch with 2-5/16 ball has a 17K rating.

Thats what I have on my '01, 17k Curt. https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch-Ball-Mount/CURT/C45341.html What is your ball rated at? Everything is rated 20k on my '21.

 

[RandyT]

@nisaacs The hitch in the link is the one that I use. I can't see the ball rating right now since it is connected to the trailer as of yet. Mine came with the ball attached to the hitch as a package and was supposed to be torqued at purchase. First time I connected it to truck I checked and it wasn't the required 450 ft/lb