New to RVing as of last year - Bought a new camper and they installed everything we need on the truck to get going, using a weight distribution hitch. We recently bought a new truck. Does a weight distribution system require a certain type of hitch to be installed on the truck? Or are we good to go with the factory installed hitch?
Trailer Hitch
- Thread starter aaron1
- Start date
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Martian
Well-known member
If your truck specs say that you can tow your trailer safely then it will have the appropriate receiver for your WD hitch. Good chance you will ned to make some adjustments.
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
Pickup trucks usually come with a hitch receiver, and the actual hitch is installed in that. Receivers come in standard sizes (designated Class 1-5) and can accept any type of hitch. The caveat is that the class of the receiver must be equal or greater than the class of the hitch. In your case, the hitch includes the WD function.
Most trucks come from the factory with a Class 4 (IV) receiver and odds are that's what your hitch is as well. Class IV receivers and hitches are typically rated for up to 12,000 lbs.
niget2002
Well-known member
Some new trucks (ram 2500) come with a 2.5" receiver instead of a 2". But it should also come with an adapter to fill the gap. Just don't forget to take the adapter out so you don't loose it out on your friend's 100 acre ranch. The aftermarket adapters at tractor supply aren't as nice.
Mountain high
Guest
For our Ram 2500 I purchased a 4 point Equal-i-zer 18" extension shank so that I could clear both the jack and the top of the tongue ball mount with the tailgate down. It still doesn't clear it by this much "------". 2.5" thick shanks are available, but not in the extended lengths. The 2.5" to 2" reducer tends to get stuck inside after towing. Have to whack it out.
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
Pickup truck tow ratings have increased to the point where the 2.5" Class V receiver is needed on some models to haul the max trailer weight. There is a 2" "Extra Duty" that goes up to 17,000 lbs but the full 2.5" Class V is needed for 18,000 & up.
niget2002
Well-known member
That's what happened to me. The truck was only 3 months old. We were out in a pasture and I pulled a hitch out of the receiver. The adapter stayed in the receiver and I completely forgot it existed. Didn't remember until the next time I went to put a hitch in the receiver and it didn't fit
Not sure where in his pasture the adapter came loose. His ranch hand said he'd keep an eye out for it for me.
Domo
Well-known member
What's the year, make, model of the new truck and the trailer. With that, we can look stuff up in your manuals and stop guessing.
If you take a picture of the WDH you have and rear of the new truck that would be a help also.
Heck, maybe the guys that sold you the new truck can tell you.
Let's get you back on the road again!
If you take a picture of the WDH you have and rear of the new truck that would be a help also.
Heck, maybe the guys that sold you the new truck can tell you.
Let's get you back on the road again!
Mountain high
Guest
I'll second that since with my luck just guessing the year of a new truck I'd be way off.
Joezeppy
Well-known member
This happened on my 2010 Sierra 2500. After a while the hitch pin hole elongated/deformed and it was tough to get the adapter in and out. No way it would fall out on its own so I left it in there and eventually it rusted itself in.
Old_Crow
Well-known member
Good luck with that. I lost a motorcycle ramp...8' long and 12" wide in a 5 acre pasture one time. Lived in that house for another 2 years and never did find it...even with the bush hog.That's what happened to me. The truck was only 3 months old. We were out in a pasture and I pulled a hitch out of the receiver. The adapter stayed in the receiver and I completely forgot it existed. Didn't remember until the next time I went to put a hitch in the receiver and it didn't fit
Not sure where in his pasture the adapter came loose. His ranch hand said he'd keep an eye out for it for me.
Rene T
Site Team
8’ long and you never found it?
Mountain high
Guest
I can understand that due to having over 3 acres of horse pasture. I found a large galvanized grate out there. Use it to cross an irrigation ditch.
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Larry N.
Well-known member
Yep- you'd be surprised what can hide in the grass and weeds.
Tulecreeper
Well-known member
Yep, my new RAM 2500 came with a Class V, 2.5" Commercial Duty hitch. The truck itself is rated for 15,500# towing capacity, and 3912# payload. Off the factory floor it was rated at 4010 payload, then they added tow hook, brake controller, and spray-in bedliner.
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
They probably went Class V because of the higher tongue weight rating - up to 2700 lbs. That would better match the payload capability.
Old_Crow
Well-known member
I thought sure that the darn bush hog would find it. I anticipated quite a kerfuffle when that happened, but it never did.
