Hitch ratings.

[plowking]

My hitch frame on pickup is a Class III, but the receivers I have for 2 inch ball have a lower rating than the hitch. Do they make a receiver with Class III rating and would ball have to be 2 5/16 inches, even though my trailer is a 2 inch coupler on tongue of trailer. plowking

 

[RollTideRam]

You can find drawbars and hitch balls with many different ratings. I can't remember where I bought all my stuff, but it all came web ordered. I started with a class IV hitch (should have went class V) because I had heard of factory Dodge hitches breaking. It is rated at 8k with 800# tw. I bought a solid steel adjustable drop bar rated at 10k and my 2inch ball is rated at 8k. I don't have a weight distribution setup on my truck at this time. I think my hitch would be rated at 10k if I did. Search for manufacturers like draw tight, putman or putnam or hidden hitch. I think I bought from etrailerhitch.com and I also bought from truckperformance.com when they were running a free shipping sale. Higher rated drawbars will use a ball with a bigger shank. I think mine is 1 1/4 inches. They also come in 1 inch and 3/4 inch. JC

 

[Highbeam]

Everything has a stamped rating on it from the frame mounted receiver on back. It is OK to have a higher rated piece in the chain somewhere, just find the lowest rated link and use that rating for the whole system.

You won't find a 2" ball or even a 2-5/16" ball rated for 10k at walmart.

 

[barticus73]

TSC carries them.

 

[bones1]

I am also concerned about the 2'' trailer ball rated at only 6000 lbs.I'm pulling over 6.5k so that would be the weakest link?.Does anyone have a 2'' ball rated at 8k or more with a 1'' shank?. Or do I need to get a new 2'' insert drilled 1 1/4 for a heavier rated 2'' ball.

Or should I not be concerned about my little 5k 2'' ball.Anyone ever have a ball snap off?.

 

[George2615]

Bones1,
As Barticus said TSC carries them. I have several types of hitches. 2- 2 5/16" WD, 2- 2", 1- 1 7/8", and a multi ball adjustable height hitch with one of each size. Mine are rated at 6K for 1 7/8", 7.5K for the 2", and 10K for the 2 5/16". Never had one break. If your pulling 6.5K get a better 7.5K rated 2" ball. If you are ever in an serious accident hauling 6.5K with your 5K ball and the ball fails causing the accident, be prepared to hire an expensive lawyer. Especially if someone else is injured or killed. get a solid slide in hitch, not a hollow tube type and ball rated for what you haul.

 

[tractorsanmore]

Draw.tite makes very good hitches , and all the parts to go with them , I use class 4 , and buy them at u-haul

 

[roxynoodle]

I use a class V hitch on my Dodge and my 2 5/16" ball is rated for 10,000 lbs. I would have to look at my 2" ball to see what that says but that one is for my horse trailer, which with 2 horses comes in about 5000lbs. As for the ball mounts, they can be hard to find locally (at least around here) with a rating of more than 6000lbs so you may have to look online for that.

Any trailer dealer should be able to change out your trailer to take a different kind of ball hookup if that is the way you need to go to be able to tow it properly. I have actually been considering going with a pintle hitch for extra safety.