2" or 2.5" hitch?

[56FordGuy]

I'm looking to upgrade the receiver hitch on my truck. I'm looking at the Curt 15501 and the Curt 15600. The 501 is rated for 16,000 pounds and the 600 is rated for 18,000. The only difference I can see is that the 600 is a 2.5" hitch, where the 501 is a 2".

Is there any reason to opt for the 2.5" hitch? All my current drawbars are for the 2", and my current trailer is only rated at 14,000 lbs. Either one should be sufficient for my current needs. The cost difference between the two receivers is only about $10.00, the real holdup is whether or not the difference is worth buying new drawbar mounts. Are most weight distributing hitches 2.5"?

Opinions?

 

[Rancher Ed]

Most weight distributing hitches are 2". Most 2.5" hitches come with a sleeve so you can also use 2" drawbars. It is hard to say but more than likely I would get the 2.5" and a sleeve so you have the higher options but you can still use your drawbars.

Ed

 

[hawkeye08]

If you are sure you won't need the 2 1/2" receiver, stick with the 2". Using a sleeve to reduce from 2 1/2" to 2" just adds more play that you don't need.

 

[two_bit_score]

If you are sure you won't need the 2 1/2" receiver, stick with the 2". Using a sleeve to reduce from 2 1/2" to 2" just adds more play that you don't need.

All the new trucks I'm seeing these days have the 2.5 and a sleeve. I've been wondering about the slack that you mention.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have had 2.5" hitches on both my Fords since 2004, no way I would go back to a 2" Just so much stronger and you can not tell the difference when using the sleeve.

I can not believe you are even considering the smaller hitch. Think of it this way, a 3/4" pipe compared to a 1/2" pipe.

Chris

 

[slowzuki]

I've got the 2.5" on my F350, its got a sleeve in it but its kinda a pain when swapping hitches and it was a pain to find one. Dealers wanted 40$ for the darned sleeve. I made one but that was a pain too.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I've got the 2.5" on my F350, its got a sleeve in it but its kinda a pain when swapping hitches and it was a pain to find one. Dealers wanted 40$ for the darned sleeve. I made one but that was a pain too.

Mine both came with the sleeve and I see them all the time at the RV dealer for $12 or $16, cannot remember which.

End result is 2.5" hitches are now needed because the new trucks are so much stronger and slowly everything will change over. Time to bite the bullet.

I use the sleeve and my 2" stuff for anything less than 10,000# still but use only the HD 2.5" stuff for my heavier loads like many of the boats I pull.

Chris

 

[Qapla]

... All my current draw-bars are for the 2"...

How many draw-bars do you have? I have 4.

If you buy the 2.5 and a sleeve, you could then buy a new draw bar every other month until you have replaced them.

Or, just buy a new one for the most often used trailer and buy the other ones new as you need them.

That way you can spread the cost of the draw-bars out over time.

When you have all new draw-bars, quit using the sleeve.

 

[downslope]

All things being equal (same metal thickness and tensile strength), a 2.5" will be stronger. I'm sure they could build a 2" stronger by using thicker steel on the receiver. I'm not a mechanical engineer but I have a feeling it's cheaper to build a 2.5" when you get up into the higher ratings than going with a heftier 2" job. I think I might have even seen some 3" receivers for chassis cab trucks.

I would go with the 2.5" not only for the strength but because it's the trend.

 

[capt_met]

I have a custom 3" receiver on my truck. I do tend to tow heavy at times and use a pintle and as well as smaller hitches. when it was being built we ran through an engineer at the fab shop it was built at. what we found was the limiting factor on the hitches was the pin thickness. so to go with a larger pin we had to go bigger because the sidewall wasn't wide enough to accomodate the larger pin without loosing strength. so far very good. i sleeve it for the smaller hitches rarely. my vote is for the 2 1/2" no such thing as overkill.