Trailer Hitch

[Timmy!]

You don't want the tongue too low, it should have a little bit of rake, but too much will wear the front trailer tires out and will also cause more tongue weight and more work for your truck.

[da.bell]

But I wouldn't think 1/2 inch would make that big of a difference in the overall with Matt. That is why I liked the idea of a 6" drop if a 5.5 inch drop was not available. Am I wrong in this thinking?

[flackpack]

Matt -

go across the interstate to one of those Travel trailer/Motor Home dealers and buy a billet aluminum 4" or 6" drop ball mount. The hitch should run about $50.00, but they have a 10k rating, and look great. Then, see what ball ratings you need and place the correct ball on the mount. I did this a few years ago, and I won't go back to a Reese or other welded hitch.

Our Expedition works great with the 4" drop.

See here - http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=pd_rs_2/...inger%20towing

[Matt Garcia]

When I hooked up my wifes Tahoe (07) to the boat the trailer was not level, the front was raised and the prop gaurd was low to the ground.

Gmoney, LOUD AND CLEAR!

Timmy, I just have the standard trailer tires so its not as tall as yours.

Brad, I didnt even think about the RV shops until I posted this thread. I am going to check them out this weekend.

Thanks all.

[Ruune]

Somehow I find it hard to believe that billet aluminum in a 2" square pipe would have a 10k load rating... especially when thats what hardened steel is rated for.

Seriously... go for iron or steel.

[G-MONEY]

Gmoney, LOUD AND CLEAR!

sorry

[Timmy!]

Billet Aluminum definitely does, it's milled out of a solid piece. Matt, you can also go this route:
http://www.drawtite-hitches.com/ball...dersen_mfg.htm

Then you can use it on both vehicles.

[xpjim1]

When I was looking the highest steel I could find was rated for 6000#. I got the solid aluminum rated at 12000# from an RV dealer. I specialed ordered a 2 inch ball with a 7000# rating since fully loaded with the trailer, boat , gas i am about 6300#.

[xpjim1]

What concerns me is the pivot hitch and actuator on my Extreme Trailer says not to exceed 6000#. In 06 I saw that Extreme was putting on the 7000# rated actuators on the 24v series

[da.bell]

Billet Aluminum definitely does, it's milled out of a solid piece. Matt, you can also go this route:
http://www.drawtite-hitches.com/ball...dersen_mfg.htm

Then you can use it on both vehicles.

Damn, I can see that boating isn't cheap.... Damn, over $200 for that????? I'm not even sure how much mine was. I didn't care when the dealer gave it to me. I just assumed it was part of the price of the boat....

[Ruune]

Billet Aluminum definitely does, it's milled out of a solid piece. Matt, you can also go this route:
http://www.drawtite-hitches.com/ball...dersen_mfg.htm

Then you can use it on both vehicles.

yeah... just realized it's solid. that makes sense.

[talltigeguy]

So the wife gets a new ride over the weekend (Tahoe) and I decide to buy a hitch for it. After calculating the total weight of the boat, trailer, gas etc I came up with roughly 5655 pounds give or take a hundred pounds. This would then make my tongue weight between 560-600 pounds (10% of total weight). I drive to a few Walmarts and a U haul to search for a hitch and trailer ball that is rated for the correct amount. It appears that trying to find a receiver for this size is few and far between. It seems that most, if not all of them are rated for 5000 pounds max trailer weight and 500 pounds max tongue weight. Which then makes me think, is my current hitch rated for the correct amount (don’t have my hitch with me since I can’t tell)? Then I also wonder if my previous truck hitch had the correct rating?

So my question is does everyone have there hitch rated for the right amount? Also where the hell can you find a 5 ¼ drop hitch rated for 6000 pounds and 600 tongue weight?

If I understand right, this thread so far has only answered half of your question...the drop hitch. The receiver is another matter. Most Class III receivers are only rated for a 5000 pound towing capacity. You need to upgrade to get more rating. I would bet that 90% of our boats are pulled with class III, because that is what most trucks get stock, despite the fact that it is inadequate for plenty of trailers.

http://www.trailersnhitches.com/receiverhitchindex.htm

What concerns me is the pivot hitch and actuator on my Extreme Trailer says not to exceed 6000#. In 06 I saw that Extreme was putting on the 7000# rated actuators on the 24v series

Yes, Extreme has upgraded a few parts of their trailers. If I remember right it says not to exceed 6,000 pounds right on my trailer. With boat and gear and the weight of the trailer, I am over that much. I think something is going wrong with my brakes, BTW, but will post another thread when I get time. Might have something to do with the actuator being too light?

[talltigeguy]

Took this with my cell phone while cleaning the boat last night.

[bk3104]

Matt, I've got the same concerns ... my 07 Tahoe factory hitch says 5k trailer weight. 4x4 with standard axle ratio. So have you changed the factory hitch or didn't have the factory hitch and installed an aftermarket ? I figure my 07 24VE with trailer is close to 6k pounds. I'm going to get a 6k ball/receiver with a 2" drop but am still concerned with the overall weight and the factory hitch.

[race fan]

I got a reciever and drop from a custom trailer shop. Its rated at 10k and the ball is rated at 8k its a great peace of mind knowing its rated above what you need. I like the alum. type but be careful with it. Alum and steel are different metals and can react negatively to each other. Also the alum is softer and the nut has a habit of loosining up.