Factory Trailer Hitch

Neutron · January 7, 2008

My 2007 NNBS did not come with the factory trailer hitch and wiring.

How easy would this be to install? How much would I be looking at for the parts?

Bowler807 · January 7, 2008

I think the first question we will need to know is how much do you expect to tow? There is much more to the towing package than just the hitch and wiring. If you plan to tow nothing more than a "pop-up" camper or small boat, the hitch and wiring will be relatively cheap. If you plan to tow heavier than that, well.....

redvett · January 7, 2008

The hitch and wiring are just part of towing correct gear ratio is needed. A trans cooler is a must. Like bowler807 said it all depends on how heavy a trailer you want to tow. If everything is not correct on your truck and you want to tow a say 6-7000lb trailer you need to trade current truck in on the correct one. Your nerve's and truck will be much happier.

dietz4ibanez · January 7, 2008

Yeah, if you are going to be towing a lot of wait you will also wen to invest in a brake controller and run wire to provide brakes to your trailer. Not only will you then have safer braking but also it will help with your brake life on you truck. Also if you are towing a lot of wait (which I would consider anything over 4000-5000lbs) you will need to check if your truck comes with a transmission cooler. Older trucks at least to my knowledge did not come with the trany cooler unless it came stock from the factory with a towing package.

dietz4ibanez · January 7, 2008

The hitch and wiring are just part of towing correct gear ratio is needed. A trans cooler is a must. Like bowler807 said it all depends on how heavy a trailer you want to tow. If everything is not correct on your truck and you want to tow a say 6-7000lb trailer you need to trade current truck in on the correct one. Your nerve's and truck will be much happier.

ha ha we about posted the same ideas at the same time but by a couple minutes

pm26 · January 7, 2008

Also if you are towing a lot of wait (which I would consider anything over 4000-5000lbs)

Now weight a minute......

Neutron · January 7, 2008

Anything I tow will be under 3000 lbs. I wouldn't expect to tow much more, nor would I want to.

At most it would be a medium U-Haul trailer or a pop-up camper.

C & A s Dad · January 7, 2008

You can find several choices on a hitch including an OE hitch from a salavage yard.

Valley Tow, Reese and Putnum all come to mind. I have a Putnam class V due to the weight I pull.

No matter which way you go with the hitch, if you do not already have a aux trans cooler, add a good stacked plate designed cooler. I can offer some ideas and recommend some brands and sizes if you tell me what part of the world you live in. Do not want to go too big if you live in a really cold climate.

slomo007 · January 7, 2008

You can find several choices on a hitch including an OE hitch from a salavage yard.

Valley Tow, Reese and Putnum all come to mind. I have a Putnam class V due to the weight I pull.

No matter which way you go with the hitch, if you do not already have a aux trans cooler, add a good stacked plate designed cooler. I can offer some ideas and recommend some brands and sizes if you tell me what part of the world you live in. Do not want to go too big if you live in a really cold climate.

If you don't tow much, is there really a need for a trasnmission cooler if you live in Texas? What is the temperature danger point for transmissions?

Neutron · January 7, 2008

I live the the DFW area of Texas.

It would be nice to have an OE hitch if I can get a great deal on one. Does anyone know if the 7-pin wiring for the NNBS trucks are prewired, as in all I have to do is pick up the connector and plug and play?

redvett · January 7, 2008

The problem is people go and buy a price leader (cheapest) and then try to tow a trailer with no towing equipment. Sooner or later something bad is going to happen, either the truck breaks down or there is an accident.

Neutron · January 7, 2008

My truck was no price leader. It is a NNBS 2007 Silverado ECSB 5.3L Z71 2WD LT1.

C & A s Dad · January 7, 2008

You can find several choices on a hitch including an OE hitch from a salavage yard.

Valley Tow, Reese and Putnum all come to mind. I have a Putnam class V due to the weight I pull.

No matter which way you go with the hitch, if you do not already have a aux trans cooler, add a good stacked plate designed cooler. I can offer some ideas and recommend some brands and sizes if you tell me what part of the world you live in. Do not want to go too big if you live in a really cold climate.

If you don't tow much, is there really a need for a trasnmission cooler if you live in Texas? What is the temperature danger point for transmissions?

Michael, I guess adding an aux trans cooler could be a matter of personal opinion. I have added an aux cooler to every auto equipped vehicle I have owned since the 80s. IMO, a truck, any truck, should not come out of the factory without an aux cooler. As Redvett said, sooner or later someone is going to load it or hook something to it and extra cooling is needed. Somehow, running hot trans fluid through a short piece of metal tubing sticking in the coolant in the radiator which is already around 210 degrees simply does not seem adequate to me. Dino fluid is good for 210 or 220 before it begins to seriously break down and of course the new synthetics will withstand more.

For me, it is just a safety precaution. I like to see nice cool temps well under 200.

slomo007 · January 7, 2008

You can find several choices on a hitch including an OE hitch from a salavage yard.

Valley Tow, Reese and Putnum all come to mind. I have a Putnam class V due to the weight I pull.

No matter which way you go with the hitch, if you do not already have a aux trans cooler, add a good stacked plate designed cooler. I can offer some ideas and recommend some brands and sizes if you tell me what part of the world you live in. Do not want to go too big if you live in a really cold climate.

If you don't tow much, is there really a need for a trasnmission cooler if you live in Texas? What is the temperature danger point for transmissions?

Michael, I guess adding an aux trans cooler could be a matter of personal opinion. I have added an aux cooler to every auto equipped vehicle I have owned since the 80s. IMO, a truck, any truck, should not come out of the factory without an aux cooler. As Redvett said, sooner or later someone is going to load it or hook something to it and extra cooling is needed. Somehow, running hot trans fluid through a short piece of metal tubing sticking in the coolant in the radiator which is already around 210 degrees simply does not seem adequate to me. Dino fluid is good for 210 or 220 before it begins to seriously break down and of course the new synthetics will withstand more.

For me, it is just a safety precaution. I like to see nice cool temps well under 200.

In the summer, when temps are 100+ outside I will watch what the transmission temps are and install one if necessary. Just got it in September so haven't had a true hot season yet. I'll keep an eye on it though. That's probably the one option I wish my truck had that it doesn't.

cerbomark · January 7, 2008

most of the wiring may be tied up underneath even without the tow package. Was that way on my other 07 nbs . Hitch was dealer installed for about $300.