Hitch Capacities... Just a "Suggestion"???

billboe · Jul 2, 2016

So... I just bought a Kioti DK45s with loader, backhoe, grapple, rake, forks, and box blade... I estimate that the total weight of equipment is about 8000lbs and it needs to be transported about 180 miles.

I have access to a trailer and I own a 2006 Chevy 1/2 ton that is supposed to have a 8700lbs capacity, but, the sticker on the hitch says max is 5000lbs (I assume it is an aftermarket hitch). I presume I shouldn't risk it... Thoughts?

Thanks!

Bill

ultrarunner · Jul 2, 2016

The problem is always the what if something goes wrong.

I own vehicles made before tow ratings and as a family we towed heavy stock trailers in the 50's and 60's that wouldn't fly today.

The first question is are you set up for brakes on all wheels?

Second is the route on 45 mph flat back roads or will you be crossing at cruising the Interstate?

I think many have pushed limits without issue... I drive my Model T's and A's with 20 and 40 hp respectively and often tow a small utility trailer with the Model A...

That said doubling up on the hitch capacity would seem to really be pushing it... plus a lightweight empty pickup box can be more trouble.

Anyway to put some of the load in the pickup or borrow a rig rated for the load?

motownbrowne · Jul 2, 2016

If your truck is rated for more than the hitch, which seems to be the case, it looks like your options for towing more would be a weight distributing hitch or replacing the hitch receiver with a heavier duty model.

wolfpack2 · Jul 2, 2016

The hitch is rated for up to 12,000 lbs. You just need a weight distribution hitch to use it all. However, by the time you add the weight of the trailer to the 8,000 lbs of equipment, you will be over the rating for the truck. You need a bigger truck and likely a weight distribution hitch setup. Even My F-350 is limited on the weight carrying capacity of the hitch which is why I use a weight distribution setup on my 14,000 lbs trailer. I see most people just ignore those ratings, but as an engineer, I know what goes into them and I will not overload it.

ultrarunner · Jul 2, 2016

I like to overbuild... My Service Van has a 12k hitch but a tow rating of 7500 lbs.

In reality it couldn't tow 7,500 on the streets of San Francisco... simple not enough power in the 305 V8 vintage 1985

bdog · Jul 3, 2016

I have never used a WD hitch but don't they just slide into the receiver on the truck and then they have the levers and chains to transfer the tongue weight? I get how they reduce the tongue weight felt by the truck but wouldn't the hitch on the truck see the same gross trailer load either way? As long as your tongue weight wasn't too much for the hitch on the truck I don't see how the hitch assembly itself would be overloaded with a trailer over the weight carrying capacity but under the WD capacity. You could easy put too much tongue weight with a heavy trailer and no WD so I can't say I would recommend it but it seems to me if the tongue weight was light enough a heavy trailer wouldn't break it.

wolfpack2 · Jul 3, 2016

Yes, the same gross weight, but the moment created by the springs helps to transfer the weight across all of the bolts that hold the hitch to the frame and across the entire frame instead of just hanging 2 feet behind the truck. Think of it as effectively moving the load forward in the truck. Much more complex than that, but it as simple of an explanation as I can go into without breaking out the diagrams and engineering books. It is all about the moments that the trailer creates when hitched to the back of the truck. The weight distribution hitch helps to offset some of the moment and alleviate the stresses on the components. For more you can lookup SAE J684.

bdog · Jul 3, 2016

In the vertical component for the tongue weight yes I agree but the actual weight of the trailer is acting perpendicular the bars on the WD hitch. I am no expert on them I have never used one I just think if a truck hitch is rated for 12k WD and 5k WC you could likely to over the WC capacity a bit and not break anything if your tongue weight wasn't out of spec.

wolfpack2 · Jul 3, 2016

Too many variables. If the ball in directly in line with the joint between the frame the hitch, then maybe. The worst case loads are actually during breaking and accelerating with a drop hitch. So yes if you are on the light side of the tongue load and just over the max gross trailer weight, you might get away with it. But having a trailer that is pushing the max would mean you have only 5-7 % tongue load. This would likely mean you have an ill handling setup. At this point the sway would be more dangerous than the hitch overload. It is safer and easier to just use the weight distribution setup then risk the breaking of a hitch or an ill handling setup. They are easy to to use and cheaper than the alternatives.