Need a new hitch

elite0259 · March 27, 2012

I just got a used 07 silverado crew cab short bed Z71 LTZ, 3.73 gearing, 5.3L engine. Well as I should have expected... now my parents want me to tow their boat, which when equiped to put in the water and sail weighs about 4600 LBS. I'm assuming with the trailer/extra equipment we transport on the boat, it will probably weigh about 7k lbs, maybe a little more, so I'm looking at getting a 10k lbs rated hitch for the truck. Just to be sure though...

This trailer won't kill the truck, we have an event up in Maine at the end of the summer, it's about a 500 MI trip... Can anybody offer me some reassurance I'll still have my truck at the end of the day? I know a few other people in the fleet with 04-ish tahoe's that do it with no problem, using 4.8's and 5.3's.

Any recommendations as far as a good hitch? Is getting a 10k lbs hitch overkill? I have a 5k on there now so I should be able to just put the new one on.

Diesail · March 28, 2012

I tow a boat from MD to the FL keys every year. 1200 miles one way. I did it for many years with a same engine and gears you have. While it was about the max you would care to tow with it, it did do it year after year without fail.

I don't think 10k for the hitch is overkill at all. Take a look at http://www.curtmfg.com/

elite0259 · March 29, 2012

How heavy was the boat you were towing? I was also thinking wind resistance is probably a big deal since the boat on the trailer is probably 8 feet high...

Diesail · March 29, 2012

It's a 24' walk around with a hard top. Loaded, I would guess about 8500#. And yes wind does play a big role. Anything much over 65 and you are working it harder.

wages999 · March 30, 2012

When I bought a hitch for my dad's Ram, there were 5K, 10K, and 12K pount hitches available. He needed more than the 5K pount hitch and the 12K pound hitch was only $20 more than the 10K, so I got the 12K. His truck will never see anywhere close to 12K, but $20 was a small amount for the heavier hitch. His hitch is a Curt hitch.