Hitch ratings.

[plowking]

My hitch frame on pickup is a Class III, but the receivers I have for 2 inch ball have a lower rating than the hitch. Do they make a receiver with Class III rating and would ball have to be 2 5/16 inches, even though my trailer is a 2 inch coupler on tongue of trailer. plowking

 

[RollTideRam]

You can find drawbars and hitch balls with many different ratings. I can't remember where I bought all my stuff, but it all came web ordered. I started with a class IV hitch (should have went class V) because I had heard of factory Dodge hitches breaking. It is rated at 8k with 800# tw. I bought a solid steel adjustable drop bar rated at 10k and my 2inch ball is rated at 8k. I don't have a weight distribution setup on my truck at this time. I think my hitch would be rated at 10k if I did. Search for manufacturers like draw tight, putman or putnam or hidden hitch. I think I bought from etrailerhitch.com and I also bought from truckperformance.com when they were running a free shipping sale. Higher rated drawbars will use a ball with a bigger shank. I think mine is 1 1/4 inches. They also come in 1 inch and 3/4 inch. JC

 

[Highbeam]

Everything has a stamped rating on it from the frame mounted receiver on back. It is OK to have a higher rated piece in the chain somewhere, just find the lowest rated link and use that rating for the whole system.

You won't find a 2" ball or even a 2-5/16" ball rated for 10k at walmart.

 

[barticus73]

TSC carries them.

 

[bones1]

I am also concerned about the 2'' trailer ball rated at only 6000 lbs.I'm pulling over 6.5k so that would be the weakest link?.Does anyone have a 2'' ball rated at 8k or more with a 1'' shank?. Or do I need to get a new 2'' insert drilled 1 1/4 for a heavier rated 2'' ball.

Or should I not be concerned about my little 5k 2'' ball.Anyone ever have a ball snap off?.

 

[tractorsanmore]

Draw.tite makes very good hitches , and all the parts to go with them , I use class 4 , and buy them at u-haul

 

[roxynoodle]

I use a class V hitch on my Dodge and my 2 5/16" ball is rated for 10,000 lbs. I would have to look at my 2" ball to see what that says but that one is for my horse trailer, which with 2 horses comes in about 5000lbs. As for the ball mounts, they can be hard to find locally (at least around here) with a rating of more than 6000lbs so you may have to look online for that.

Any trailer dealer should be able to change out your trailer to take a different kind of ball hookup if that is the way you need to go to be able to tow it properly. I have actually been considering going with a pintle hitch for extra safety.