Upgrade to Class V Hitch or Not

[Timbo126]

I will be towing a boat next spring that weights in at 12,000-13,000 lbs. Is the factory hitch capable of handling this or should I look at upgrading to a Class V hitch. The boat will be towed from FL to MD and then back to FL next winter. I will be purchasing helper air bags but will not be using a WD hitch.

[JSchuricht]

You would be pushing your luck. Get a good hitch with a 2.5" shank that's rated for 15k. I don't think the 2.5" started showing up till 08, 2" is usually only up to 10k.

[Timbo126]

Well I was considering going with the Curt class V hitch thats rated at 15,000Lbs weight carrying. Its still a 2" reciever though. It says it won't fit with a 20" spare. I have 20" rims on the truck, but my spare is the flat black rim which I assume is like an 18" rim or something. This should still fit then right?

[44magnum]

I'm not sure what the rim size has to do with anything its the diameter of the tire, and if your 18" spare has a tire thats as tall as your stock 20's tire then your probably **** out of luck. I say if your not going to use WD setup then I would go with one of these. The non-WD tongue is 2000# and non-WD trailer weight is 18000. Trailer Hitches - Draw-Tite

[Timbo126]

Well the other day I had to use my spare and the overall wheel diameter was smaller then my factory wheels on the truck. I also would like to stick with a 2" reciever if I could.

[JumpinJack]

The stock hitch on my '04 is rated at 12,500# so you will be pushing the posted limit. I don't know what the max on the hitch ball and mounts are. However I would suggest a WD hitch due to tongue weight that should be 1200-1300#. Also double check the tow weights for those 20s, I know some wheels lowered your capacity for 18in and larger. If you don't want to get the WD hitch you could just put your spare in the bed for the trip up there and then swap the hitches back around if you were to go with a larger hitch. Is the trailer a tandem or triple axle, makes a diff in how the trailer will sway. This is just my opinion on it to be as safe as possible cause that has got to be a pretty expensive boat weighing that much.

[44magnum]

Ya my 17" spare tire is a good inch shorter than my 20" tires but I still wouldn't trust it. Also with the 2.5" hitch you have the option of using 2.5" or 2" receiver components through the use of an adapter. I'm thinking the 2.5" drop hitches are rated for a bit more than your 2" stuff. Here is a link to an adapter but all you really need is a chunk of 1/4" wall square tubing with 2.5" outside diameter. Then again $17 isn't that bad. I don't know what the price difference is between the 2" and 2.5" receivers are but If I were going to haul around something of that value I would error on the side of caution. Rigid Receiver Hitch Adapter - 2.5 inch to 2 inch RH-252