New toy but what options?

[Diamondpilot]

The current GM 2.5" hitches are rated higher. What year is your truck?

As for the same fit and finish that is not going to happen. The GM hitches of late that I have seen mount off the frame and rear bumper. Guys like Builder who put a utility bed or work body on a GM must scrap the factory hitch because they will not work due to you losing the oem rear bumper.

You will have to do a Putnam or a Titan, my choice would be the Titan, in the 2.5" unit. It will mount to the frame only. Not sure if you must drill holes or not. Do not mess with many GM trucks. The Titan I have on my wifes F-250 is rated at 15,000#. Not sure what the rating is for the GM trucks.

Just remember just because the hitch is rated for X load that does not mean the truck is up to the task. Consult your owners manual for the load limit on BP trailers.

Guessing your truck is a 2009 Crew Cab Dmax 3.73 gears 4x4 regular bed the tow limit is 13,900# according to my book. It does not state if that is BP or GN, it just says max tow rating of 13,900#.

Chris

 

[AKfish]

Total BS IMO. So now I still need to replace it since I tow my BP dump trailer also. Who makes the best cap factory fit replacement hitch for the GM units?

Matt

Yup... I'll probably replace mine, too. I can't "legally" tow my 28' BP travel trailer; unless I go with an equalizer. Sucks!

I looked at a whole bunch of different hitches. Titan was right in there; Drawtite, Valley, etc.

This place seemed pretty decent and shipping was real good - no cost for anything over $150. etrailer.com - titan-trailer-hitch

Headin' south this Monday. Got my Spot all dialed in!! (My wife wants to know where I'm at... I'm gonna take it to the bathroom ALL the time, too!) See what that looks like on the map!!

Best of luck.

(Like that color truck, too.) AKfish

 

[AKfish]

The current GM 2.5" hitches are rated higher. What year is your truck?

Just remember just because the hitch is rated for X load that does not mean the truck is up to the task. Consult your owners manual for the load limit on BP trailers.

Guessing your truck is a 2009 Crew Cab Dmax 3.73 gears 4x4 regular bed the tow limit is 13,900# according to my book. It does not state if that is BP or GN, it just says max tow rating of 13,900#.

Chris

Whoa... my 'ol 2003 is rated for 14,700 (short-bed). GM is way, way cautious... on the newer trucks!

Changed my fuel filter and tranny filter today. Both looked real clean. Ready to roll.

Coffee and diesel fuel - what more could you ask for - oh, yah; my iPod!

AKfish

 

[AKfish]

Just figured that nobody would have any idea what I meant by the comment about "Spot". Check it out --- SPOT SATELLITE MESSENGER :: HOME PAGE

It's alot better (cheaper, smaller and easier to carry) than a satellite phone for "hairing off" in the boondocks.

Got it for one of my last Dall sheep hunts and have been a regular subscriber since.

AKfish

 

[mojoinco]

Installed the Titan on my 2005 2500 Duramax a few weeks ago. Easy bolt on, heavy bolt torque (about the only hard part). The instructions not thorough, but all the parts were there. Got mine from Etrailer (I think in the high $300 range). The hitch is rated at 17,000#. I have not intention of ever needing it that high, but with the 8~12" extension I will be using when my slide in is on the truck, I will be well in spec with the wifes 12,000# rated horse trailer. Hitch derate for a 12" extension is about 30%.

UPS apparently dropped the hitch somewhere before it go to me, so I had to cut a piece of 4x4 and use a bottle jack to spread the frame of the hitch a bit.

GM, Nissan, Ford all use the same connector on the back side of the trailer plug (for the 7 blade connector). But the GM plug uses a ratcheting twist mount for the plug. You will need a different plug and a different mounting plate for the plug, as the after market plug doesn't quite fit the std 7 blade plug mounting pattern. Putnam (I think) is the manufacturer for both. I used the 'southwest wheel' sponsor for this (I think).

The Titan line is sold by at least three brands, and owned by Cequent (which is owned by someone else: TriMas Corporation - Packaging, Energy, Aerospace & Defense, Engineered Components and Cequent.). Though each brand may have a different weight rating for its version (probably to give each brands dealers a semi unique product line). I looked and didn't find this when I bought mine -- should have searched the site from the internet instead of from the etrailer site: Pre-Wired Chevy

Oh -- you will have to work harder to wire a brake controller if it didn't come with the factory package. Easy enough to find the write ups on line. The older series came prewired. I used the fancy hydraulic unit that Southwest Wheel sells. http://www.southwestwheel.com/store/showproduct.aspx?ProductID=3084&SEName=maxbrake-brake-controller

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

Chris, why are you asking me what year it is? As I clearly stated it's an 09. It has a factory 2.5" hitch that's rated at 7500/12000wd. I have the intergrated trailer brake controller and the wiring and plug is in the bumper so no worries there. I just need a higher rated hitch that has the factory fit. If I can't get and aftermarket to fit like the oem I'll contact my dealer to see if there's a higher rated OEM I can use. Though I'm sure it will be silly $$$$.

Matt

 

[Diamondpilot]

Sorry Matt

Missed the year. As far as I know GM does not have a heavier hitch.

On my 2006 F-350 when I ordered it I speced the 2.5" hitch. Its rated at 15,000# versus the 12,000# the 2" unit has. They told me the 2.5" unit was only available on the dualy and I have a SRW. I told them if they want to sell the truck it will have the 2.5" unit which it did. I thing it was $300.

Chris

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

Well, since no one seemed to have any answers on a replacement hitch I'll share my find. I've got a Curt brand oem style replacement hitch for about $230 with free shipping from the Hitch store.com. Ordered yesterday and it was delivered today. Great service for sure. It's rated at 18k and mounts in about 20 min. I'll be installing in the AM weather permitting so I'll follow up with my expericances.

Matt

 

[Diamondpilot]

I gave you a few options on hitches but Curt makes a great hitch also. They have a great finish. I did not realize they made one that strong. 18,000# is pretty stout. Is it a 2.5" hitch? Also did you get a ball and draw bar that is equal to the hitch? Most of the junk at TSC and WalMart is only rated for 10,000# max.

Curt makes nice stuff. I have installed 2 Curt 5th wheel hitches. One in a F-150 and one in a 06 Dmax. Both were sliders and worked great for the application.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

Just went to Curt's site and looked up your hitch and I am impressed. I think I have a new HD hitch option. I really liked the Titan but the finish is not the best. The last 2 I installed I had painted before I ever bolted them up at my local auto body guys place for $50 so they would last.

One thing I did notice is it only connects with 4 bolts to the chassis and 2 to the bumper. I guess its ok since that is what they rated the hitch for. My Ford uses 8 bolts through the chassis.

Chris

Chris