Towing Questions

[newbury]

Good point Jeff. Also I would like to add that one needs to also check the hitch itself placed on the truck. Many times the factory hitch is not rated for what the truck is rated for. A good example is the factory hitch that came on my 2004 F-250 was rated for 3,000# less than the truck was rated for. I ended up breaking the hitch in the first year.
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And as I like to chime in:
Check your balls!
Most default ones are only rated for 6,000lbs,

 

[strum456]

And as I like to chime in:
Check your balls!
Most default ones are only rated for 6,000lbs,

Yep...and to use the heavy duty balls, you will need a reciever to go with that. I think my reciever (6" drop) was around 50 bucks. All this stuff gets expensive really quick.

 

[crashz]

I towed a similar load once with my 2004. 2004 GMC 1/2 ton, RCLB, 5.3L, 4 speed auto, 4x4, 3.73 gears, electric trailer brake controller.

I neglected to use a weight distributing hitch and had approximately 800lbs on the truck. Nothing bad happened, but with P rated tires and those soft springs, it sagged and swayed and wallowed. I have to climb a very long steep winding grade, and decend the same on the other side, and power was never a problem. It pulled up the mountain just fine. In fact, it pulled with confidence, and I know it could handle more. However, coming back down the other side was a white knuckle experience. The trailer always felt like it was pushing the truck around and the truck felt as if it were floating in a river.

I upgraded the tires to D and added leaves in the rear. Never got a WD hitch, as I never towed with it again. Bought a new 2500 in January.

 

[RobertN]

Yes, on my Ram 2500, factory hitch is rated 5000lbs/10000lbs without/with Weight disti hitch...

I also found most tow balls and drop hitches from Walmart and general car parts stores were really rated low...

Our 14' enclosed dual axle Boy Scout trailer, and my 16' flatbed trailer with tractor, haul very nice, both being bumper pull. Good tires, well balanced loads. I still like the way my 5th wheel pulls best though. Except the loss of bed room...

Good point Jeff. Also I would like to add that one needs to also check the hitch itself placed on the truck. Many times the factory hitch is not rated for what the truck is rated for. A good example is the factory hitch that came on my 2004 F-250 was rated for 3,000# less than the truck was rated for. I ended up breaking the hitch in the first year.

People who say a BP trailer pulls like crap usually have one of two situations. Most common is the one you listed above. The other is too small of a tow vehicle. I have been towing for well over 20 years and have owned about 15 trailers. Only one was a GN. All my BP trailers have pulled great. I load them properly, use the proper hitch, and the proper tow vehicles.

Chris