Towing

[Snacky]

Should I use a ball hitch or have a regular hitch installed?

 

Going to be hauling a uhaul trailer

[Dihappy]

How heavy?

[Snacky]

Here's the specs

 

Empty weight: 1,250 lbs

Max load: 1,550 lbs

Maximum Gross Weight (trailer plus load): 2,800 lbs

[Dihappy]

Hardly anything, use what you got.

[americanmuscleman]

Ditto on that.  Your fine with a bumper hitch with a 2800pd load.

[tmg115tmg115]

i think it will be best to get a new heavy duty hitch. and get a weight distabution reciever, and make sure you put on your antisway bar.  

 

you will be fine with what you got.  

[Stepside Z]

Better safe the sorry. Spend a hundred dollars on a hitch, have that piece of mind, and you can always use it for other stuff like racks and such.

[HillHound]

Your bumper will handle it fine but  if you're planning on keeping your truck for a few more years, why not take advantage of this to give yorself a reason to have a good class 3 hitch installed?  It'll be easier on your truck and you'll have it for future use too.

[01z71]

The stock bumper will more than handle that load.  However, you may want to think about the hitch if you are going to be keeping it.

[siume99]

I'd go with buying a load distribution hitch.  I'm sure your bumper can take the pulling weight, but what about stopping weight?  I follow the phylosophy of "better safe than sorry," not "can I get by."  There is usually more G's on stopping than accelerating (you don't usually expect/plan to brake hard).  The hitch will also lower your trailer tongue (safer).  Less likely to "lift" your rear end when stoping.  Besides there is always something else you can use the hitch for; bed extensions, hitch mounted bike rack, pulling someone out of the mud, larger trailers, etc.

 

Just my 2cents.

[firecadet613]

Spend a little bit and get a Class III, you never know when you'll need it in the future, why not just get it now.

[2000 GMC]

Where can I find specs on hitches, class III, IV, V, explain all that towing stuff, tongue weight etc?   I plan on installing one on my truck soon.  ???

[Shaners]

Where can I find specs on hitches, class III, IV, V, explain all that towing stuff, tongue weight etc?   I plan on installing one on my truck soon.  ???

Towing info is explained very well in your manual at approx page 4-57 (depending on model year).  there is also some good info in the "chevy Truck" brochure.

 

Class III is the lightest duty 2" reciever and it probably has an 8000lb rating (give or take) assuming you are using torsion bars.  Tounge weight should be approx 10%-15% of the trailer weight.

 

One thing is for sure, if your truck does not have the towing package, (which is sounds like it doesn't) then you will want to install an auxillary tranny cooler.

 

I could type a book answering your question.  I hope this is enough info to get you started.  An RV dealer or hitch installer can go into all the details with you...  And remember if your trailer is heavy, then you will need an electronic brake controller installed also.

 

Good Luck...

[VikingZ]

When your married, like me.  You jump on any chance to put money in to a truck, car, garage, tools, etc.... I could go on.  The moral here is: Get a good hitch, a bent bumper is gonna cost a lot more than said hitch.  Peace of mind is priceless as well.

 

JMHO

VikingZ

[Kansas Kid]

Back in the early 70's when my Dad was about my age, him and his brother towed a dirt track car (and everything that goes with it, tires, parts, etc) off of a regular ball hitch on the rear bumper.  They towed that car all over northern Kansas and Southern Nebraska for over 7 years without a single problem.  Granted this was back in the days when trucks had much tougher bumpers, but it can be done safely.  The drop bumper on my truck is rated at 8000lbs for the trailer and I believe 800lbs on the tongue weight.  I would feel just as safe towing off of it as I would from the GM stock reciever or any Class III reciever.

 

The first thing I plan on doing when I get a new truck is replacing the weak factor rear bumper and hitch with a bumper like I have and a real Class IV or V receiver.