frame hitch OK to tow 12000 lbs?

[jklingel]

I have an '07 Chevy 3500, which came w/ a "12000 lb w/ weight distrib bar" hitch on it. I now need to tow a 10,000 lb loader and its, what?, 2,000 lb trailer? Is it intelligent and safe to tow this w/out a 5th wheel? I will absolutely get a weight distribution/anti-sway device; no idea which, but I have been reading about them here and another $500 or so into the truck is nothing to worry about. Should I go "big time" and get a $2000 weight distrib? I have no real interest in a 5th wheel, if I can avoid it. I may be hauling this unit up the Alcan, btw. Thanks for opinions. john

[mgraveman]

I have an 06 gmc and can't stand that reciever. It is rated for it, but I believe you will want to upgrade to another hitch. THere are a lot of pictures of broken hitches on the chevy forums, and mine drops when a good load is applied to it, a whole lot more than it should.

a weight distributing hitch is a must.

[SmokeyWren]

Should I go "big time" and get a $2000 weight distrib?

Be prepared for sticker shock. A new Hensley Arrow hitch is about $3,000. Hensley Arrow - Trailer Towing Safety

A new PullRite is over $2,500. PullRite has a SAFER, STRONGER, BETTER designed hitch for you

I may be hauling this unit up the Alcan, btw.

If I could not afford a Hensley Arrow hitch, or as a minimum a Pullrite, then I would refuse to tow a 12,000 pound tag trailer up the AlCal highway. End of discussion.

But for the cost of the Hensley Arrow, you could almost pay for a good used gooseneck or 5er trailer in excellent shape with tandam 5,000 or 6,000-pound axles. The Hensley Arrow will tow as good as a 5er or goose, but not better. The purpose of the Hensley Arrow is to use an Excursion or similar SUV as your tow vehicle, when 5er or goose is not an option. But with a pickup for a tow vehicle, you have the option of a 5er or goose.

[jklingel]

Shock, yes. Maybe I better put the $2,500 toward getting it shipped up the Alcan, then tow it around here w/ an upgraded receiver hitch. Now, what the hey is a 5er? Fifth wheel? And am I right that a goose neck and a 5th wheel act similarly, just have different ways of attaching to the truck "bed". At any rate, thank you for the info. I realized when I read the reply about "on the Chevy forum" that I posted on a Ford forum. Sorry about that; I posted questions here before about my Ford, and automatically dialed y'all in. I'll read on the Chevy forum. Broken towing stuff is scary. I hope GM recalls them.... ha ha. Not holding my breath.

[newtodieseling]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jklingel</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have an '07 Chevy 3500, which came w/ a "12000 lb w/ weight distrib bar" hitch on it. I now need to tow a 10,000 lb loader and its, what?, 2,000 lb trailer? Is it intelligent and safe to tow this w/out a 5th wheel? I will absolutely get a weight distribution/anti-sway device; no idea which, but I have been reading about them here and another $500 or so into the truck is nothing to worry about. Should I go "big time" and get a $2000 weight distrib? I have no real interest in a 5th wheel, if I can avoid it. I may be hauling this unit up the Alcan, btw. Thanks for opinions. john </div></div>
I don't want this to sound like a Chevy bashing response, but a buddy of mine had a 2500 HD that he was regularly towing 8500# and the frame where the hitch was attached broke; I mean just flat cracked and the one side of the hitch came undone from the frame. Granted, his was an '03, but still, I would be weary.

[NickKent]

I think you'll be fine. You could get a true class V hitch that was rated at 14k+. I think they have weight distributing for them that are rated at 14k.

[Hook'em Horns!]

Never understood why GM puts a receiver hitch for a ½ ton up under a 3500 as part of a tow package. Jklingel, looking closer you will see that hitch is only rated for 7500 lbs. I would not trust that hitch, when for less than $200 you can put 15,000 lbs of hitch (16kWD) instead. Moreover, that loader/trailer is probably closer to 13-14k lbs. The GN would ride far better.

[mlcowden]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hook_em_Horns</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Never understood why GM puts a receiver hitch for a ½ ton up under a 3500 as part of a tow package. Jklingel, looking closer you will see that hitch is only rated for 7500 lbs. I would not trust that hitch, when for less than $200 you can put 15,000 lbs of hitch (16kWD) instead. Moreover, that loader/trailer is probably closer to 13-14k lbs. The GN would ride far better. </div></div>

X2

[jklingel]

Chitina! I just looked at my hitch; 7500/12000 lb, but it is one sad looking hitch. FAR lighter than the similarly rated Reese I had on my Ford; it had square tubing instead of round, and weighed 40 lbs more. This one is toast; EOS. Six Robblee's, here I come. I also looked at local equipment trailers: they range from under 3K lbs to 4.5K, at 14K GVW, so I will be towing 13,000 to 14,000 lbs. Oh, sigh.... making a GN look more suitable all the time.... carp. Thanks LOADS for all the info and opinions.

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by jklingel

Now, what the hey is a 5er? Fifth wheel?

Yes

And am I right that a goose neck and a 5th wheel act similarly, just have different ways of attaching to the truck "bed".

Yes. They tow about the same as far as safety and no worry about sway - provided the hitch is installed in front of the rear axle. But they are quite different. Notice that all the big boys at the truckstop have 5er hitches. Almost all RV trailers have a 5er hitch. Some of the horse, livestock, and equipment trailer have a 5er hitch. Only some of the smaller trucks with horse trailers or equipment trailers have gooseneck hitches.

[Wiley75]

Here's my opinion:
If it's rated for 12,000 then it can handle 12,000 safely. The trick is to make sure you've got load distribution bars that are adequately sized for the tongue weight of the trailer. My suggestion would be something like the Reese Titan 1700lb bars with the Reese Titan hitch head. You can get the hitch head fastened to a solid 2" draw bar to fit into your receiver. As for sway control, the Reese dual cam works perfectly with the Titan 1700 lb bars. I had this set up on a 12,000 lb toy hauler with 1850 lbs tongue weight. It worked very well. You can also get a Tork-Lift "Super Hitch" or Reese 2.5" Hitch that are rated for something like 15K or 17K if you think your trailer will be more than 12K.

good luck.

[SuperDutyDave]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SmokeyWren</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jklingel</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Now, what the hey is a 5er? Fifth wheel? </div></div>

Yes.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> And am I right that a goose neck and a 5th wheel act similarly, just have different ways of attaching to the truck "bed". </div></div>

Yes. They tow about the same as far as safety and no worry about sway - provided the hitch is installed in front of the rear axle. But they are quite different. Notice that all the big boys at the truckstop have 5er hitches. Almost all RV trailers have a 5er hitch. Some of the horse, livestock, and equipment trailer have a 5er hitch. Only some of the smaller trucks with horse trailers or equipment trailers have gooseneck hitches.
</div></div>

I thought the towing capacity of both a good quality gooseneck and a fifth wheel hitch were comparable...the difference was mainly that goosenecks lived in the world of construction and agriculture....being better offroad and the fifth wheels lived in the world of RV's as they were more tow and truck friendly.

If I am wrong how so?

Can't you not tow 30K+ on a gooseneck?

Smokey I trust your opinions what's up?

Dave

[Bill1013]

There are several GN hitches rated at 25,000 GVW 6,000 tongue for around $400, not installed. Bed rails or flip up styles. Reese - Hidden Hitch - Super Glide and others. If you would go with bed rails for the GN you can also fit the regular 5th wheel hitch on them. Go GN as they can swivel a lot more than a 5er hitch.

If jklingel lives in Fairbanks, he should know that the Alcan is really one rough road in spots. He would do well with a GN.

[mrnecsteve]

Before you plan on a gooseneck/fifth wheel,you should realise that they typically increase the weight at the front of the trailer from 10% trailer tow to 20 percent. I dont know any of the specs for your truck...you might want to check it out for yourself.A 14000 pound gooseneck would be 2800??? pounds added to your rear axle at full load.

[bier-man]

I would assume that any listed rating would have some margin built in for safety.

I've been pulling a travel trailer that has a GVW rated at just over 10000 lbs. My hitch is rated to 10000. I am using a 12000 lb rated Equal-i-zer for load distributing and sway control. Our previous TT was rated about the same as this one, but did not produce as much squat in the Ex as our Coachmen. It must be a little heavier tongue weight.

If this thinking is wrong, what are my chances of having a problem with my hitch? The longest trips we've been on were like 150 miles one way and I have not seen any issues when I have inspected the hitch mounting.