Ford vs Chevy - No, it's not about your favorite brand...

[Dmace]

Not to get into all the particulars here but Ford offers something like 7 spring packages for different GVWR's. GM and Dodge only offer the 1. If a WD hitch was used the guy did into know what he was doing or it was not setup right.

Yeah, I'm sure the guy that does nothing but test trucks for a living had no idea how to set it up. He should have asked a pilot that tows boats around before attempting this test.
The Ford Towing Guide (pg 8) clearly states that the SRW F250/F350 is limited to 6,000lbs without a WD hitch and the DRW is limited to 8,000lbs.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

The Ford and Dodge had them but the GM has a 13,000lb tow rating without the WD hitch so they didn't use it.

2010 HD Three-Quarter-Ton Gasoline Trucks (SRW) - PickupTrucks.com Special Reports

Yeah, I'm sure the guy that does nothing but test trucks for a living had no idea how to set it up. He should have asked a pilot that tows boats around before attempting this test.
The Ford Towing Guide (pg 8) clearly states that the SRW F250/F350 is limited to 6,000lbs without a WD hitch and the DRW is limited to 8,000lbs.

Very interesting...I thought that most 1/2, 3/4, and 1-ton trucks had to have a WD hitch if towing over 5k or 6k...Also, I thought most of their hitches are rated somewhere around 5k/12k. To double check I looked at Chevy's towing guide and it has a footnote under the 1500 saying that you need a WD over 5k but there is no such notation under the 2500 or 3500. Another thing, it says that the 3500 HD DRW can tow around 17k bumper pull (nothing about a WD hitch) and I noticed that the factory hitch is rated at 17k/17k. I posted that before and everyone seemed to think that it could not pull 17k without a WD...Now I'm not so sure...

 

[Dmace]

Very interesting...I thought that most 1/2, 3/4, and 1-ton trucks had to have a WD hitch if towing over 5k or 6k...Also, I thought most of their hitches are rated somewhere around 5k/12k. To double check I looked at Chevy's towing guide and it has a footnote under the 1500 saying that you need a WD over 5k but there is no such notation under the 2500 or 3500. Another thing, it says that the 3500 HD DRW can tow around 17k bumper pull (nothing about a WD hitch) and I noticed that the factory hitch is rated at 17k/17k. I posted that before and everyone seemed to think that it could not pull 17k without a WD...Now I'm not so sure...

Just like you said, it's all about what their hitch is rated at. I really don't understand why Ford and Dodge don't just put a good Class V 2-1/2" hitch on from the factory. For $367 and less than an hour of install time, you can install a Class V Titan receiver that's rated at 18k lbs with or without a WD hitch and 2000lbs of tongue weight without losing the spare tire or modifying the bumper.
It all depends on the trailer too, I need the WD hitch for towing my 7000lb 27ft camper since it's so front heavy and the axles are set pretty far back but I can load up my 10,000lb 10ft dump trailer and the truck barely squats below level without the WD hitch.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Just like you said, it's all about what their hitch is rated at. I really don't understand why Ford and Dodge don't just put a good Class V 2-1/2" hitch on from the factory. For $367 and less than an hour of install time, you can install a Class V Titan receiver that's rated at 18k lbs with or without a WD hitch and 2000lbs of tongue weight without losing the spare tire or modifying the bumper.
It all depends on the trailer too, I need the WD hitch for towing my 7000lb 27ft camper since it's so front heavy and the axles are set pretty far back but I can load up my 10,000lb 10ft dump trailer and the truck barely squats below level without the WD hitch.

Like you said, it all comes down to the tongue weight.

I broke the factory 2" hitch on my 4 month old 2004 F-250 Diesel 4x4. The hitch was rated at 12,000# with WD and I believe 7,500 without. Anyway I was pulling just shy of 15,000# and no WD. Impossible to use on most boat trailers. I have only had 1 boat trailer it would work on. Anyway, I broke it. Luckily I caught it before I lost the load, a brand new $120,000 boat. I went the next day and got 2.5" Titan at a RV dealer about 1 hour away. Still have it and never a issue.

When I ordered my 2006 F-350 Diesel 4x4 SRW I told the dealer I did not want the 2" hitch that came on the F-250 and F-350 SRW trucks. I wanted the 2.5" hitch that came on the DRW trucks. He did a tow package with a hitch delete then ordered the 2.5" hitch and they put it on as a dealer installed option. One dealer tried to convince me it would not work because the frame was narrower on a DRW truck but that was not true. It was only narrower on a Cab and Chassis truck.

What I am getting at is a better hitch can be had. Just takes some know how and a dealer who is willing to do the research, not just order what is in a package.

Chris

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I broke the factory 2" hitch on my 4 month old 2004 F-250 Diesel 4x4. The hitch was rated at 12,000# with WD and I believe 7,500 without. Anyway I was pulling just shy of 15,000# and no WD.

I wonder why you broke it??? :confused2:

 

[Diamondpilot]

I wonder why you broke it??? :confused2:

I have broken many things Kyle. I work my stuff hard and always find the weak point quickly. Get a few years on you and you will be in the same situation.

By the way, congrats on the Member Of The Month honors. I enjoy your posts.

Chris

 

[jmanatee2]

I have an 08 chevy 2500HD diesel and they do the same thing on that hitch 7500/13500 noWD/WD and it is a 2.5" class V hitch, its stupid. I think it is CYA if you tell people you can put a 13500lb trailer on it people will do it with out looking at the way the trailer is loaded. Some may need a WD some may not.

I upgraded my hitch to a curt 15602 18,000lb with or without WD 1800lb tongue capacity for $208 plus 45 min to install. I am selling my stock hitch and probably make close to the $200 so it will be a wash.

I pull my 10k lb dump trailer no WD truck sits very level.
I pull my 12k lb (about 11.5k lb on it) flat bed with the kubota and implements with no WD and the truck sits level.

So why would I need or want WD?

 

[Dmace]

So why would I need or want WD?

The WD hitch is not just for sitting level while parked in your driveway. I see plenty of hot shot RV'ers that think they can put a 30ft travel trailer on a 1/2 ton truck and pull it since it sits level with no WD hitch. Then they get on that bumpy road and all of a sudden their chains are dragging and the trailer jack is scraping all the frost heaves off the road.

It may sit level when parked, but drive down a bumpy road and you will see where that WD hitch really makes a difference.

 

[timswi]

The WD hitch is not just for sitting level while parked in your driveway. I see plenty of hot shot RV'ers that think they can put a 30ft travel trailer on a 1/2 ton truck and pull it since it sits level with no WD hitch. Then they get on that bumpy road and all of a sudden their chains are dragging and the trailer jack is scraping all the frost heaves off the road.

It may sit level when parked, but drive down a bumpy road and you will see where that WD hitch really makes a difference.

That's certainly true..I used to pull a 32 foot trailer with a 1/2 ton shortbed reg cab 4x4 Chevy (not the ideal truck for that, but it worked fine)...I wouldn't dream of trying that without a WD...Even if I was using a 1 ton, I'd still use WD and sway control...You do see a lot of stupid in the towing world though.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I have broken many things Kyle. I work my stuff hard and always find the weak point quickly. Get a few years on you and you will be in the same situation.

By the way, congrats on the Member Of The Month honors. I enjoy your posts.

Chris

Thank you. I too enjoy your posts; you seem very knowledgeable in the trailers/transportation area... Oh, and about the breaking stuff...I brake stuff all the time, just nowhere near or over its rated capacity...:laughing: