15000lb Class V hitch...worth it?

[teameyecatcher]

I need to tow a boat that will be around 13000lbs total, but come to find out the factory hitch is only rated to 10k (as well as the ball I have on there). I know that the weight is more than my rating (which is 12500), but I think I'll be fine. My only concern is whether or not I should invest in a Class V, 15000lb rated hitch, ball, and ball mount. Cost is only about 300 for all of it, but is it really needed? Would I be better off just buying the ball mount and ball instead of the whole assembly? This is the link to the hitch I'm talking about:
Hitches, Receiver Hitches; Hitches Online

Thanks in advance

[Turbodude]

heres what i think: I don't see what it can hurt...if you are going to be hauling this ship often then i think its money well spent dimply due to the security. and if you ever want to take your truck to a sled pull you'll be set. Although you have to remember that your truck doesn't have 13kLb sitting right on the hitch...and the trailer is taking the brunt of the weight. Its not like you are dragging the boat with no trailer and you are dragging 13K, once you get the weight rolling it is somewhat off of your truck...the question in hand is can you stop it?

[Jon]

or go home thats what I say!

[teameyecatcher]

Thanks for the quick reply. The trailer will have electric brakes on it I believe...cant decide what the owner went with...if not then they will be hydraulic. I'll only be towing it maybe 10 times per year, for about 250 miles one way. I may just go ahead and purchase since it's not too much money. Do you think a 250 could easily tow it?

[Jon]

Just be carefull and make sure the trailer brakes are good.

[Turbodude]

that depends on the tongue weight...i think a leveling kit may be in order for that if the tongue wieght is high enough to bottome out your suspension...i think the engine is plenty capable...after all you aren't a cummins guy...these guys ive noticed tend to get ove zelous and try to pull anything.

[Logan]

You could always throw some airbags on it for pretty cheap too. Increase the weight you can put on it.

[Turbodude]

id make sure your trucks brakes are good too just in case the trailer brakes give out and i would seriously look into an exhaust brake just to give you some extra stopping power.

[formula29]

I'm in the same boat as you,literaly, I have a 2000 4x4 crew cab, my boat and trailer weigh in at around 14,000. I pulled it for a couple of years with the factory hitch and 10,000 ball with no problem, truck pulls fine with the 3:73 gear's, I did switch to the v5 hitch just in case of an accident or d.o.t, so my beepbeepbeep if covered, since my boat is 11' wide and I'm supposed to have a overwide permit. but I tow it like twice a week and have never been stopped. The brakes are the key,you need electric over hydraulic, the surge brakes suck.

[teameyecatcher]

Thanks again for the help. I guess my biggest problem was whether or not the equipment rated at 10k would be able to handle it. Not so much the hitch itself...I really dont see what the difference could be, but the ball mounts and hitch ball. Dont want that thing to snap in half now do we? So on that front I know that I'll just go ahead and spend the 70 bucks for the mount and ball...why not...
I'm fairly new to towing near my limit, but I see that the general consensus is that towing 13 or 14k isnt really doing so since it is on wheels (trailer)...The engines are all the same, so I figured that wouldnt not be a problem either. I'm guessing no difference in transmissions for 250s, 350 SRW, and 350DRW. In fact, I've noticed that the 350 SRW is the same as my truck, just different springs I think. No difference in tow rating, so I reckon its the dual rear wheels that step up the tow to 19k
Hope I don't get pulled over for the width either, this boat itself has a beam of 10'8", so the trailer will be well over 11' wide