Factory 01 F250 receiver capacity - upgrade options

[GoSlowGetStuck]

Alright... got an 01 F-250 7.3L to tow with. 4x4, off-road package, but I'm not sure that it had the trailer prep package. There's no brackets to hold the trailer plugs, and although it did come with a receiver, I don't know if it's OEM equipment, as I don't think all SuperDutys came with them back then.

No stickers on the receiver to indicate tongue weight / capacity. It looks pretty solid, four fairly sizable bolts on each frame rail to attach it. So, I'm kind of up in the air about it's capacity.

Does anyone know for sure what the factory receivers would have been rated for? Of course I'm seeing some people say it's 500#/5000#, but it seems like a substantial receiver on a 3/4 ton would have a higher capacity than your typical run-of-the-mill 1/2 ton receiver.

I am probably pulling 6000-6500# with it at the moment, but will be pulling more in the future. So I am a little worried that I am overloading my 5000# receiver right now, if that is what it's actually rated for. But regardless of what my current receiver is, I'd like to get a bigger one. Does anyone run a receiver with the 2 1/2" opening instead of the 2"? Do you use an adapter to get it to 2" for lighter loads or do you buy a 2 1/2" shank that can fit a standard ball? I know a lot of the balls are only rated at 6000# so that will be a concern too.

http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2001_Ford_F-250 and F-350 Super Duty.htm

I have been looking at e-trailer to see what's out there to upgrade to, just wondering if it's worth going to 2 1/2" for the higher capacity. I know I'd like at least a 1200#/12000# capacity in the future, but more is always better.

 

[vigman]

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-hitches.htm


If the mounting brackets look like the factory hitch for the xj then its a class 3 (5000Lbs) hitch. If they extend further up the frame rail then it may be a class 4 (7500lbs) or class 5 (14000) hitch.

 

[macgyvr]

the highest rating you can get with a 2in receiver is 12,500. that also with weight distribution too. If your hitch is factory its probably rated for 12,500, if its not, then you'll only know if you can find what the manufacture of the hitch rated it for.

if your truck is prewired for a trailer brake (ie you have the wire that just plugs in for the four wires under the dash) then your truck has the trailer towing package.

i have a 2.5 inch receiver from the factory on my f450. its rated for 16k with weight distribution. if you go to an insert to go down to a 2in, then the max is back again at 12,500k. the reason that the max is 12,500 for 2in is that all the drawbars and weight distributions are only rated for 12,500...

i have seen 2 and 2 5/16in balls rated for 10k.

i have reliably towed 6 to 6500 pound trailers on stuff rated for 5k.

mac 'specifically bought my truck to bumper tow 16k' gyvr

 

[GoSlowGetStuck]

It's way bigger than a typical 6-bolt hitch like an XJ has. Four huge bolts on each frame rail. I'll conservatively assume it's a class 4 and my 6500# is nothing to worry about. Even when I had the Tahoe I *knew* it was a class 3 and still pulled the same about of weight.

I did have the trailer brake plug under the dash and just noticed a bag in the glovebox with the trailer brake harness in it. So I guess I do have trailer prep.

I won't worry about it until I get the coin for a bigger trailer.

 

[macgyvr]

It's way bigger than a typical 6-bolt hitch like an XJ has. Four huge bolts on each frame rail. I'll conservatively assume it's a class 4 and my 6500# is nothing to worry about. Even when I had the Tahoe I *knew* it was a class 3 and still pulled the same about of weight.

I did have the trailer brake plug under the dash and just noticed a bag in the glovebox with the trailer brake harness in it. So I guess I do have trailer prep.

I won't worry about it until I get the coin for a bigger trailer.

yeah whats the point of having a diesel truck if it doesn't come with trailer prep...

i wouldn't worry about anything until you are looking at a two place bumper pull. even then the megacab did it with stock stuff, you'd probably be fine...but after having a dually i wouldn't pull the two place again on a srw truck.

mac 'tow your house' gyvr

 

[GoSlowGetStuck]

yeah whats the point of having a diesel truck if it doesn't come with trailer prep...

i wouldn't worry about anything until you are looking at a two place bumper pull. even then the megacab did it with stock stuff, you'd probably be fine...but after having a dually i wouldn't pull the two place again on a srw truck.

mac 'tow your house' gyvr

So would you say it's a bad idea to be pulling that much with SRW or just sayin' the DRW is way nicer for it? Would having a gooseneck vs. a bumper pull on the SRW help any with stability?

I do not see myself getting a DRW any time soon since I use the truck for DD'ing and running around town so much, but after my current tires wear out I am considering going to 19.5" wheels. Sounds like that's one of the best ways to gain some stability and keep it SRW.

 

[macgyvr]

So would you say it's a bad idea to be pulling that much with SRW or just sayin' the DRW is way nicer for it? Would having a gooseneck vs. a bumper pull on the SRW help any with stability?

I do not see myself getting a DRW any time soon since I use the truck for DD'ing and running around town so much, but after my current tires wear out I am considering going to 19.5" wheels. Sounds like that's one of the best ways to gain some stability and keep it SRW.

i dont recall what the tires/rims were rated at on my megacab...

when i pulled the goose to moab you knew you were over loaded (we were 5k over gross) but it still drove decent and made the trip there and back.

i can tell you that the dually just feels a lot more stable and comfortable with that much weight (with the enclosed we gross 2k more than the mega with the goose 25k vs 27k) than the megacab did. to compare the goose to bumper pull to me they both felt the same on the srw, like you were on the verge of doing something you shouldn't be doing i dont have a goose in the dually yet so i haven't pulled one yet.

i can't answer the 19.5 question, they hold more weight, but i have four in the back instead of two...save your money for them, they aren't cheap...

mac 'tons of fun' gyvr

 

[EvanRigged]

I just installed a Curt V5 2inch tow hitch last year and its rated for 14k. I'm also pretty sure theirs one out their rated for 15k.
A 5000 lb hitch on a 3/4 ton just seens like a joke to me. Why would ford do that? I know 3/4 ton dodges come with a 10k hitch. But they also come with a real Diesel

 

[macgyvr]

I just installed a Curt V5 2inch tow hitch last year and its rated for 14k. I'm also pretty sure theirs one out their rated for 15k.
A 5000 lb hitch on a 3/4 ton just seens like a joke to me. Why would ford do that? I know 3/4 ton dodges come with a 10k hitch. But they also come with a real Diesel

they might be out there but i've not seen a 2in drawbars and/or weight distribution stuff rated over 12.5k...usually that stuff is in the 2.5 inch...

i'm willing to bet that getslowgosilly's hitch on his truck is rated for 10k

mac 'the factory hitch on my buddy's 00 f350 is rated for 10k' gyvr

 

[GoSlowGetStuck]

I know 3/4 ton dodges come with a 10k hitch. But they also come with a real Diesel

What concerns me most about Dodge isn't the motor or the hitch, but all the stuff between them. Incidental things like the frame, transmission, etc. Stuff they're well known for.

Of course I'm talking about the older ones, to be honest I don't think you can go wrong with any of the big 3's newer trucks. They've all got their problems but they can all pull damn near anything.

i'm willing to bet that getslowgosilly's hitch on his truck is rated for 10k

My screen name just keeps getting weirder and weirder.