Trailer Hitch And Towing Questions

04sierra2500hd · June 2, 2007

im going to be towing my camaro with my 2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD. i guess the tuck doesnt have the tow package because it has no reciever(it does have the tow/haul mode button on the shifter). the car wieghs 3400 pounds and i think the trailor is around 2000 pounds. so i figure the total weight being around 5500 pounds. i need to a reciever and the harness extension. i would like to get as much from GM as possible. does anyone have any part numbers for the reciever and the trailer harness extension. im also going to use a brake comtroler. does anyone have the gm part number for that brake controller harness. also can anyone reccommend a good brake controller.

again all this stuff is going on my 2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD with 6.0l and the automatic.

sonjaab · June 3, 2007

Best off going down to your local U-Haul or camper store for

a class 3 or 4 hitch platform and installation.

There are several trailer brake controllers that are plug n play.

They can help you with that also!

Avoid the dealer at all costs unless you want to pay more!

tomseeley · June 3, 2007

also can anyone reccommend a good brake controller.

I use the Prodigy controller. I'm a newbie also, and I have had no trouble with it at all for over 2 years now! Very easy to install and adjust. should run you about $100 if you shop around.

04sierra2500hd · June 3, 2007

im sorry i guess that i should have told you guys. im looking to have anything installed on the truck. im going to do it all myself. thats why im looking for the part numbers. i am a tech at a private garage and ive installed everything that i listed above, i just done know any of the part number. thanks alot

Webb · June 3, 2007

check www.hitchweb.com you might want the class 4 hitch, class 3's usually have a 5,000 lb limit, though i have seen a few 6,000 lb ones

Actually you might get a better deal at U-Haul, you can purchase a hitch over the counter from them. Their hitch pro will be glad to do it that way, less work for them. That site might give you some part numbers and info, but those hitches looked a bit pricey.

The Prodigy is the top of the line brake controller, usually runs about $150 for just the part last time I checked. The prodigy is very user friendly. You could also probable get i mid grade one that would work just as well, though not as user friendly. But still simple enough to figure out, Just gotta set the level, boost and gain manually, where as the prodigy would do most of that for ya.

Let me know if youve got any installation questions, Ive installed hundreds of these.

firepoggy · June 3, 2007

I agree that the prodigy is a good choice in controller.

I am looking to replace the hitch on my 04 because of the piece of mind if you have read the stories on OEM hitches. If you want to send me enough cash to buy a putnam I'll send you the hitch off my truck.

ryank1 · June 4, 2007

The gm hitch is part #12497969 for CK259*** and #12497968 for CK257*** it includes the 7 pin harness and lists for $140.00, brake controller harness is #15085418 it lists for $25.71

2500HD 8.1 · June 4, 2007

Drawtite makes a class 4 hitch receiver rated to tow 10,000lbs weight carrying. I dont have the part # but I had one on my 2500. The stock hitch is only rated at 5,000lbs.

STUBS · June 4, 2007

I agree that the prodigy is a good choice in controller.

I am looking to replace the hitch on my 04 because of the piece of mind if you have read the stories on OEM hitches. If you want to send me enough cash to buy a putnam I'll send you the hitch off my truck.

I'm a newbie to I just bought a prodigy two weeks ago from the local rv store it was $175.

I installed it my self with the factory harness on my 03 1500hd.It only took a half to do every thing.

asilverblazer · June 4, 2007

I got my prodigy for 100$. Look in a salvage for a hitch if you want OEM, it might add a bit of resale to the truck if a buyers sees an OEM hitch. (It might have just came that way and never really towed anything. If the buyer sees an aftermarket, then they KNOW it towed something, and if it's a class IV, then they know it was something heavy.)

Burbman · June 4, 2007

I would NOT add an OEM hitch receiver, for any reason other than having it "look" nice. There have been several reported failures of OEM hitches due to flexing in the design. Especially if you use a weight distributing (WD) hitch, there have been many that found defective welds that started to crack under load. The OEM hitch box also has the tendency to "wrap" when WD torque is applied through the spring bars, resulting in the hitch box pointing upwards in the rear and insufficient weight being sent to the front axle of the truck.

For the same $150 that the dealer will charge you for a factory hitch, a Draw-Tite or Putnam XDR can be had from etrailerpart.com, southwestwheel.com, or similar sites. These aftermarket hitches bolt on using the factory attaching points, and are much sturdire than OEM. Look for a hitch where the box goes right into the crossbar, not hanging below like the factory model.

Mine twisted apart towing my 9,000 lb RV, and the receiver says it's rated to carry the full 12,000 tow rating of the truck in WD mode.

New DrawTite:

Go over to rv.net and do a search on GM Hitch and see how many guys have found bad welds, cracks, etc.

There are many that haven't had a problem with the OEM hitch towing trailers in the <5,000 lb range, but if you're buying one, buy a good one.

04sierra2500hd · June 5, 2007

thanks alot for all the good info guys. ive been doing alot of searching on here and i have seen all the post about the factory hitch breaking. so i think im going to go with an aftermarket one.

04sierra2500hd · June 5, 2007

i have a couple more questions more questions before i order anything. im looking at a really nice drawtite hitch. the one that was mentioned above. but it says that it requires drilling with a 6 foot bed. does anyone know exactly what you have to drill through. and also i was looking at the Prodigy controller but im not sure if it will work with my trailer. my trailer has two axles but on one axle has brakes on it. will the Prodigy controller work. thanks again.

asilverblazer · June 5, 2007

The Prodigy will work fine. Make sure the brakes are well grounded.

pwall · June 5, 2007

I just recently upgraded from the Voyageur brake controller to the Prodigy. It'll work fine with just one alxe (although breaks on both alxes would be better....) and you'll like the controller. Easy to use and the digital display is far better than the Voyageur's light that changes colour. ;)