Towing Capacity Discrepency

mschuyler · March 17, 2007

[rant] This is not a super big deal, but it is kind of a pisser. All the specs in the brochures and online say that a 2500HD Duramax (Ex Cab, 4WD, LB) can tow 12,000 pounds from the hitch or 14,800 from the bed (ala 5th wheel). Usual disclaimers apply. If yer 'big,' deduct accordingly. But you get the thing in and the hitch has a capacity of 7500 pounds, and that's what "Heavy Duty towing package, +$270" gets you. Easy fix in that all you have to do is add a "weight distribution" hitch in place of the stock one, but WTF? There was no indication anywhere I saw that the truck would come in 'under hitched.' This is deceptive at best. I hate it when GM acts like Toyota. [/rant]

pwall · March 17, 2007

I could be wrong.....but.....

the receiver on the truck is good for 7500lbs, that's with a regular tongue and ball.

However, if you use a weight distribution hitch with the receiver that's already on your truck, it will be much higher.

For example, on my truck (K1500), the receiver is good for 5000lbs and a tongue weight of 500lbs. If I use a weight distribution hitch (which I would with the 26' travel travel), that same receiver is good for much higher than 5000lbs.

demented · March 17, 2007

I know what you mean. I am in the process now of buying a hitch that "should have came on these trucks". When I bought my truck I thought the same thing. Much to my suprise, it doesn't match the weight I am towing. I do use a weight distributing hitch for one of my traliers, but the other one I have I wasn't planning on using one. It's more than just an inconvenience. GM must have had a few complaints about it because the put a good hitch on the 07 s. This sucks!!!

mschuyler · March 18, 2007

I could be wrong.....but.....
the receiver on the truck is good for 7500lbs, that's with a regular tongue and ball.

However, if you use a weight distribution hitch with the receiver that's already on your truck, it will be much higher.

Good Lord! I might have this all wrong. It shows what a rank beginner at towing I am (blush), but I thought the issue was that spider looking black thing that attached underneath the truck to the axles and who knows what all on the TOWING vehicle. In other words, NORTH of the the 2" receiver. But you seem to be saying the issue is SOUTH of the receiver--toward the trailer, by using the appropriate 'ball and tongue.' Can you clarify? Much obliged! I've got my eye on a pretty cool ball and tongue package with multiple balls :-) with a height adjustment that should fit just about any situation. My son-in-law brags about his, so, naturally, I have to do him one better.

pwall · March 18, 2007

I'm certainly not an expert on hitches and towing, although I've been around trailers all my life and have towed for many years.

Here is how I look at it.....the hitch that is attached to your truck is called a 'Receiver' as it receives the tongue/ball.

There are various types of tongues/balls to suit your requirements.

Then there is a weight distribution hitch that is used for heavier loads such as travel trailers. These are used to place the weight on the trailer hitch across the read and front tires.

Here is a image of some of the more common receivers, tongues/balls and WDH. It's certainly not all of them, but just to give you a general idea.

Again, I'm no expert so take all this with a grain of salt. ;)

If you want, I certainly can go into much greater detail.

Shaners · March 18, 2007

Like pwall said, if you use torsion bars the hitch on your truck can carry alot more... It requires special torsion bars that distribute the weight and of course a special slide in hitch that can accomidate these bars...

With the proper hitch and torsion bars (plus a sway bar) your truck can pull 1/2 a mountain!

demented · March 18, 2007

You guys are all correct when you say that the factory hitch with the proper weight distributing hitch will pull just about anything, but the fact that the truck is rated to pull more than the hitchs capacity is the point. I have an enclosed trailer that weighs 10000 lbs loaded,and I use a weight distributing hitch with it. But I also have a 12000 lbs equiptment trailer that the factory hitch cannot support and I can't use a WD hitch because it has a pintle hook. This is were the factory hitch just won't do.

mschuyler · March 18, 2007

If you want, I certainly can go into much greater detail.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Thanks! I'd appreciate a little more information on the weight distribution picture. I can identify a heavy duty versatile tongue, and I see the torsion bars. I can't really tell what the other gizmos are but assume they have to do with attaching all this stuff together. How are the torsion bars hooked up to the system? Do they attach beneath the truck itself? In this scenario it looks like the receiver gets to stay regardless. You don't have to swap that out to get 'weight distribution.'

Thanks. Your answer gets printed out!

Starrman · March 18, 2007

go to this link and watch the product video on the right hand side of the page. It'll explain/describe what one of these do. This Equalizer is more expensive than most, but is about the best out there for both weight distributing and sway control

http://www.equalizerhitch.com/productinfo/...istribution.php

firepoggy · March 19, 2007

I was at the lot today and made a point to check out the trailer hitch on an 07 (OBS) 3/4 ton diesel. The hitch is the exact same that came stock on my 05 1500

MemphisDoug · March 19, 2007

I was at the lot today and made a point to check out the trailer hitch on an 07 (OBS) 3/4 ton diesel. The hitch is the exact same that came stock on my 05 1500

The new receiver is on the new body style trucks - not the classic series.

Jimmy J · March 19, 2007

go to this link and watch the product video on the right hand side of the page. It'll explain/describe what one of these do. This Equalizer is more expensive than most, but is about the best out there for both weight distributing and sway control

http://www.equalizerhitch.com/productinfo/...istribution.php

That's the exact WD system I use when pulling our travel trailer, and absolutely love it. My father-in-law was so impressed with it, he plans on getting one himself.

Its really nice having the anti-sway built into the unit as well. I can literally hook up and be under way in just a few minutes as opposed to the old style chain link WD systems where you had to remember & count chain links in order to get the correct amount of torsion.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for anyone looking into a WD system!!!

Frozen001 · March 19, 2007

You guys are all correct when you say that the factory hitch with the proper weight distributing hitch will pull just about anything, but the fact that the truck is rated to pull more than the hitchs capacity is the point. I have an enclosed trailer that weighs 10000 lbs loaded,and I use a weight distributing hitch with it. But I also have a 12000 lbs equiptment trailer that the factory hitch cannot support and I can't use a WD hitch because it has a pintle hook. This is were the factory hitch just won't do.

Well you situation is not exactly "normal". GM and any other manufacturer is going to place what the largest percentage of it's users are going to need in to tow that amount of weight need. So that means a calss IV reciever. You require a Class V reciever

mschuyler · March 19, 2007

OK. I get it. Thanks to pwall and starrman. That video is really good. :-)

BC2500HD · March 20, 2007

[rant] This is not a super big deal, but it is kind of a pisser. All the specs in the brochures and online say that a 2500HD Duramax (Ex Cab, 4WD, LB) can tow 12,000 pounds from the hitch or 14,800 from the bed (ala 5th wheel). Usual disclaimers apply. If yer 'big,' deduct accordingly. But you get the thing in and the hitch has a capacity of 7500 pounds, and that's what "Heavy Duty towing package, +$270" gets you. Easy fix in that all you have to do is add a "weight distribution" hitch in place of the stock one, but WTF? There was no indication anywhere I saw that the truck would come in 'under hitched.' This is deceptive at best. I hate it when GM acts like Toyota. [/rant]

[/quot

The factory hitch, with the round tube design, isn't up to the task of heavy towing. I've seen some pictures on the net, where it failed. It breaks away from the round tube where the hitch box is welded to the tube. If you want to tow heavy loads you have to upgrade your hitch, to a Reese Tow Beast, or better yet, a Torklift "Superhitch". They are much stronger and can handle 14,000 lbs with a weight distributing hitch.