Weight Distribution Hitch Question

[Fordman1981]

Yeah I meant pintle hitch auto correct on phone got me and does that mean you have to be limited to the lower rating on the hitch then?

 

[jejeosborne]

Can you use a wd hitch on a penal hitch?

I don't know but you have to distribute weight when doing penile hitching. Lol

If your penile hitch is the weakest link, if feel sorry for you and your rig. Maybe get an aftermarket one.

Oh I am sure I could think of more but I will quit.

 

[downslope]

It's not an easy out at all... The ratings from the manufacturer take into consideration ALL of the components involved in towing. Putting an aftermarket hitch on your vehicle may provide a beefier hitch component, but it does not change the weight ratings for the axles, the strength of the frame, or any of the other pieces that make up the full "system". The hitch manufacturer is not qualified to provide a new tow rating for your vehicle as the result of bolting on a new hitch.

Another thing, if you look at the 2008 Ford manuals in Azclan's links they have a warning:

ON PICK-UP TRUCKS, the trailer hitch provided on this vehicle enhances collision protection for the fuel system. DO NOT REMOVE!

Does mean it's OK to REPLACE with something different but not REMOVE? I wonder if the aftermarket hitches are designed and tested to provide the same protection?

The manual also gives a warning that towing beyond the maximum tongue weight in the chart "could result in vehicle structural damage".
Again, do we know if the aftermarket manufacturer designs, tests and certifies that structural damage will not occur when utilizing their product at maximum loads?

 

[downslope]

Can you use a wd hitch on a penal hitch?

Gawd I hope you mean Pintle hitch :shocked: :laughing: And, if so, I do not believe so...

Actually my brother-in-law did have a penal hitch, plus a large fine as well. Something about an investment scam involving senior citizens.

 

[SailaK]

Good afternoon! First post on the board here, I actually stumbled across this discussion while searching for more well-defined information regarding trailer overloading. As the owner of a tractor dealership, and heavy-equipment rental store - this subject is one that I have to deal with on a daily basis. One thing that i'm quite surprised to see hasn't been thoroughly discussed is the vehicles maximum towing capacity; which is wholly dictated by GCWR, and not "Maximum Trailer Capacity" as most manufacturers would like you to believe. While yes, theoretically it is true that a 2012 Ford F-150 is "factory rated" for something like 11,000lbs, that rating is a far cry from the truth. Your vehicles GCWR is the total maximum allowable weight, loaded onto, hauled behind, or stuffed inside your vehicle. So (using rough numbers for conversational purposes), let's say that the F-150 is indeed "rated" to tow 11,000lbs. It has a maximum GCWR of roughly 12,000lbs. If you subtract the curb weight (again, estimating) of 5,000lbs, then your actual LEGAL towing capacity is only 7,000lbs. That doesn't include the weight of your passengers, the suitcases or junk behind the back seat, and it doesn't even include the weight of the trailer hitch insert (if you want to get REALLY picky!). I frequently have customers wanting to tow equipment that weighs in excess of 12,000 - 14,000lbs with something like an F-150, Suburban, etc... Now, try to stop that 11,000lb load, or put the rig in an emergency maneuver situation... You see my point! Just because the factory puts a sticker on the door that says you can haul "X", does not mean that after running the numbers - you still can. If you put an 11,000lb trailer behind that truck, even with a weight distributing hitch, you are without question, at least 5,000- 7,000 beyond what your truck can LEGALLY tow. And friends, that's all that matters when the State Trooper or Weighmaster is writing you a $2,000 ticket for being overloaded! Just the traditional "two cents". Thanks, and have a great day!

-Tim

 

[jejeosborne]

Good afternoon! First post on the board here, I actually stumbled across this discussion while searching for more well-defined information regarding trailer overloading. As the owner of a tractor dealership, and heavy-equipment rental store - this subject is one that I have to deal with on a daily basis. One thing that i'm quite surprised to see hasn't been thoroughly discussed is the vehicles maximum towing capacity; which is wholly dictated by GCWR, and not "Maximum Trailer Capacity" as most manufacturers would like you to believe. While yes, theoretically it is true that a 2012 Ford F-150 is "factory rated" for something like 11,000lbs, that rating is a far cry from the truth. Your vehicles GCWR is the total maximum allowable weight, loaded onto, hauled behind, or stuffed inside your vehicle. So (using rough numbers for conversational purposes), let's say that the F-150 is indeed "rated" to tow 11,000lbs. It has a maximum GCWR of roughly 12,000lbs. If you subtract the curb weight (again, estimating) of 5,000lbs, then your actual LEGAL towing capacity is only 7,000lbs. That doesn't include the weight of your passengers, the suitcases or junk behind the back seat, and it doesn't even include the weight of the trailer hitch insert (if you want to get REALLY picky!). I frequently have customers wanting to tow equipment that weighs in excess of 12,000 - 14,000lbs with something like an F-150, Suburban, etc... Now, try to stop that 11,000lb load, or put the rig in an emergency maneuver situation... You see my point! Just because the factory puts a sticker on the door that says you can haul "X", does not mean that after running the numbers - you still can. If you put an 11,000lb trailer behind that truck, even with a weight distributing hitch, you are without question, at least 5,000- 7,000 beyond what your truck can LEGALLY tow. And friends, that's all that matters when the State Trooper or Weighmaster is writing you a $2,000 ticket for being overloaded! Just the traditional "two cents". Thanks, and have a great day!

-Tim

First of all welcome to the forums. It is a very informative place to spend some time. I have the Ford truck you describe but must say you have been given some wrong information. My ecoboost is indeed rated to legally tow 11,300 lbs. I have towed about 9500 lbs from a rental yard like yours with a proper WD hitch just fine. Here is a picture from my manual and the sticker on my truck. My GCWR is 16,900 which is where your discrepancy is. I am sure that the tow values are reverse calculated as you describe but the values have got to equal out and mine do.

Hopefully this information will allow you to send more equipment out the door and keep more customers happy.

 

[newbury]

<snip>So (using rough numbers for conversational purposes), let's say that the F-150 is indeed "rated" to tow 11,000lbs. It has a maximum GCWR of roughly 12,000lbs. If you subtract the curb weight (again, estimating) of 5,000lbs, then your actual LEGAL towing capacity is only 7,000lbs. <snip>

Welcome aboard. That was brought up before in this thread, post #49 I think.

But my listed GCWR is only 20,000lbs

So I have a curb weight of about 7K and I have to keep the truck bed "light" to legally tow my 12K trailer.

We've had threads on what states focus on and it seems some states, Virginia for one, focus on GCWR and don't care much about your load but rather your listed capacities. If I was driving down the road with a smaller truck or my E350 diesel van I couldn't LEGALLY tow my trailer empty. Other states may weigh everything. But in another thread http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/242864-where-have-youve-been-stopped.html it seems that if you look clean, everything chained and strapped down properly, and are not commercial, it's rare you get stopped.

In jejeosborne's example picture the vehicle directly below the one he highlighted in yellow does have a GCVWR of 11,100 listed AND a max trailer weight of 5,700 lbs listed. So it seems the manual mentions it, but who reads the manual?

 

[jejeosborne]

The vehicle under my highlighted truck on the manual has the 3.7 liter motor which is very limiting. Yes each vehicle is considerably different based on how it is equipped.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Good afternoon! First post on the board here, I actually stumbled across this discussion while searching for more well-defined information regarding trailer overloading. As the owner of a tractor dealership, and heavy-equipment rental store - this subject is one that I have to deal with on a daily basis. One thing that i'm quite surprised to see hasn't been thoroughly discussed is the vehicles maximum towing capacity; which is wholly dictated by GCWR, and not "Maximum Trailer Capacity" as most manufacturers would like you to believe. While yes, theoretically it is true that a 2012 Ford F-150 is "factory rated" for something like 11,000lbs, that rating is a far cry from the truth. Your vehicles GCWR is the total maximum allowable weight, loaded onto, hauled behind, or stuffed inside your vehicle. So (using rough numbers for conversational purposes), let's say that the F-150 is indeed "rated" to tow 11,000lbs. It has a maximum GCWR of roughly 12,000lbs. If you subtract the curb weight (again, estimating) of 5,000lbs, then your actual LEGAL towing capacity is only 7,000lbs. That doesn't include the weight of your passengers, the suitcases or junk behind the back seat, and it doesn't even include the weight of the trailer hitch insert (if you want to get REALLY picky!). I frequently have customers wanting to tow equipment that weighs in excess of 12,000 - 14,000lbs with something like an F-150, Suburban, etc... Now, try to stop that 11,000lb load, or put the rig in an emergency maneuver situation... You see my point! Just because the factory puts a sticker on the door that says you can haul "X", does not mean that after running the numbers - you still can. If you put an 11,000lb trailer behind that truck, even with a weight distributing hitch, you are without question, at least 5,000- 7,000 beyond what your truck can LEGALLY tow. And friends, that's all that matters when the State Trooper or Weighmaster is writing you a $2,000 ticket for being overloaded! Just the traditional "two cents". Thanks, and have a great day!

-Tim

While i agree with you the max GCWR is the final say your numbers are off. My 08 Titan is 15,000# and change but the truck weighs 5,600# with me in it and 3/4 tank of fuel. So it can not do the full 9,500# Nissan claims but can do a honest 9,400#

Same is true with my 06 F350 that has 24,000# GCWR but weighs 7,600# with me in it and 3/4 fuel.

All weights done at a Cat Crrtified scale.

Chris

 

[downslope]

...We've had threads on what states focus on and it seems some states, Virginia for one, focus on GCWR and don't care much about your load but rather your listed capacities. If I was driving down the road with a smaller truck or my E350 diesel van I couldn't LEGALLY tow my trailer empty. Other states may weigh everything...

I was wondering how in a state like Virginia they focus on GCWR. Since like you say it's buried in the owner's manual and can vary based on engine option and axle ratios. Do they have all the specs in a computer or book and then start checking out what axle ratio and motor you have?