Rusty hitch

[dodge man]

The 2002 GMC pickup I just bought has a factory hitch on it, and I think its a class 5. It has quite a bit of surface rust on it, but I think its still intact and solid. I'd like to get it off the truck, sand blast it, paint it and put it back on. Are these just a bolt on and easy to get off?

 

[jwstewar]

They aren't class 5, I know that. I think they are a class 4, but I can't swear to it. Don't remember the cut off of classes. I think they are "rated" for up to 10k w/ WD. There are 8 bolts that hold them on. 3 on each side of the bottom of the frame rail and 2 in the bottom of the bumper. Before you remove the bolts though, disconnect the wiring harness on it so don't you pull the wires out and/or break them when the hitch drops down.

 

[dodge man]

I'd almost swear it said class V, but I agree, the weight rating seemed like a IV.

 

[crbr]

If it's an OEM hitch on a 1500 series, it's class III.

 

[Diamondpilot]

The " V5 " on a hitch is a SAE rating. It has confused many folks before. It has nothing to do with the load capacity, only that it meets SAE specs for hitches in North America. You will never see a class 5 on a 1/2 ton truck and until recently they had not been on 3/4 ton trucks or SRW 1 tons. Only since the new monsters from Ford and GM have you seen such heavy hitches on a SRW truck.

Class 1 = 2000# and 200# tongue weight

Class 2 = 3500# and 350# tongue weight

Class 3 = 5000# and 500# tongue weight then upto 7500# and 750# with WD

Class 4 = 7500# and 750# tongue weight then upto 10000# and 1000# with WD

Class 5 = 12,000# and 1200# No WD limit usually (I have seen as much as 17,000# and 1,700# limits)

These are just guide lines and some hitches may be more but never less in a certain class.

Also its possible to put a hitch on a truck or SUV that exceeds the vehicles limits. Case in point is my neighbors fathers 1/2 ton Chevy with a 5.3L and 3.42 gears. Its about a 2005 model and its only rated at 7,700# tow rating but has a Class 4 hitch rated at 10,000# with WD. He was trying to convince us it had a 10,000# tow rating.

Chris

 

[dodge man]

Chris, you are correct, it says V5 on it, but the weight rating show that it is a class IV.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Chris, you are correct, it says V5 on it, but the weight rating show that it is a class IV.

Yes, its confusing. If you look at your hitch balls and draw bars also they should all be stamped " V5 " no matter what class they are. All the " V5 " stamp really means is its SAE approved for use in North America. I have seen some cheap hitch balls not stamped " V5 " and the same goes for draw bars but I have never seen a hitch that when new that was not labeled " V5 ".

Chris

 

[dodge man]

Thanks for the info. As usual, I learn something new everyday.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Thanks for the info. As usual, I learn something new everyday.

Same here. This site is great.

Chris