Looking over new full-size trucks, finding only Class III hitches (5000lb max)

I need a new truck. I have a 6500-6700lb load to tow and this is over class III limits. I've towed this load with a Dodge Ram Quad Cab, but time for a new truck. It is. As a matter of fact, while the sticker is worn on the old Dodge hitch, I think it has a class III hitch despite being rated for over 7k lbs.

Tahoe? Class III hitch, and can only tow up to the advertised 7k am't with weight distribution. Durangos... Rams... Titans... Armada (9.1k tow rating)... Tundras... Ugh... with their class III hitches.

Before I hit the auto lots, and search on-line until my head hurts, can someone shed some light on this subject for me? I bought my car on-line, and it was a great deal in the end, once I got the dealer/seller to double confirm some basic equipment questions (they always messed up on the specific packages the car had. When I searched, I wanted a specific set of performance options. Whenever I dug and dug, it turned out the dealer was wrong and I had to restart my search).

So, we are a family of six and there are some vehicles which seem to suit my needs, and advertise up to 9k tow limits, but I am starting to doubt whether they come with anything more than a class III (5klb) hitch.

Anybody that can help me before I lose my mind?

Re: Looking over new full-size trucks, finding only Class III hitches (5000lb max)

Just buy another hitch...that's what i did. Had a hitch put on that could do 8,000 lb deadweight. Was way better than the crap that GM puts on their trucks.

Re: Looking over new full-size trucks, finding only Class III hitches (5000lb max)

bruceb58 said:

Just buy another hitch...that's what i did. Had a hitch put on that could do 8,000 lb deadweight. Was way better than the crap that GM puts on their trucks.

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I agree. Here's a chart that may help. Buy the truck. Then go to Leonard or to some truck accessory/hitch specialist and have them install the hitch you need (for under $300) or do it yourself.

Re: Looking over new full-size trucks, finding only Class III hitches (5000lb max)

Hmmm... I guess that'd make searching easier. Find one with factory tow package, and swap out the actual hitch.

Re: Looking over new full-size trucks, finding only Class III hitches (5000lb max)

The hitch platform is only part of the equation. If you have an 8000# load you also have 800# (or thereabouts minimum) tongue weight if doing this without a weight distribution setup. So now you need a ball mount that can handle that weight as well.

Re: Looking over new full-size trucks, finding only Class III hitches (5000lb max)

My friend bought a F250 rated for somethign like 10K towing...all the regular dealers would put on was a class3 hitch, so he had to have a better rig installed himself.
He did not understand why they would sell a 10k truck with a 5k hitch.
He took the truck down the road to a Ford dealer who was a Commerical truck Dealer and they put the big hitch he needed on for him.

Re: Looking over new full-size trucks, finding only Class III hitches (5000lb max)

That's what I am going to do. Now I have to figure what the heck I want.

Nissan Armada seems tempting...

Re: Looking over new full-size trucks, finding only Class III hitches (5000lb max)

If your hauling 6500 pounds+, I would think you should stick with something like a 3/4 ton truck.

Re: Looking over new full-size trucks, finding only Class III hitches (5000lb max)

rbh said:

If your hauling 6500 pounds+, I would think you should stick with something like a 3/4 ton truck.

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A later model 1/2 ton from Detroit will be fine, as most of them have near 10K capacity now... Although, for me, I would go 3/4 ton, as I do tow more than that pretty often...

Re: Looking over new full-size trucks, finding only Class III hitches (5000lb max)

Armada is Titan-based and rated at 9100. More than a Tahoe. I need a 3rd row of seating.

Re: Looking over new full-size trucks, finding only Class III hitches (5000lb max)

2005 Excursion

Re: Looking over new full-size trucks, finding only Class III hitches (5000lb max)

Kinda odd they all come with a class 3. Our Grand Cherokee has a class IV and is rated at 7200lbs.

Re: Looking over new full-size trucks, finding only Class III hitches (5000lb max)

I just have to throw this in there:

I've owned one Nissan and will never own one again. As a matter of fact, it's sitting in my driveway, waiting for the Veterans to come tow it away. 2003 Sentra with 130k on it...worth...nothing.

Computer went out about 500 miles outside of the emissions warranty. It had a recall about 4 months previous which stated the foam in the computer housing was breaking down and the gasses released were eroding the capacitors. So, at 84900 I had the foam removed and like 600 miles later the computer totally quit functioning.

Is it possible that it went due to something other than the foam which had been in there almost its whole life? Yes. Is it at least as likely it was caused by the foam? Sure! Did my dealership do anything for me? They charged me $1200 for a new computer.

We elevated the thing to Nissan USA, and tried to explain to them it was our first car as a married couple, and we would undoubtably be buying many more cars in the future. They appologized and told us the recall had been performed, so that had nothing to do with it.

Moral of the story: Stay away from Nissan.

I like somebody's idea on the Excursion. Grab one with a diesel. If you can get 10 MPG in an Armada, you'd be doing really good, round town. My current ride is a huge beast of a lifted 91 3/4 ton Dodge Diesel. Gets 17-18 around town...more than the sedan it replaced.

Re: Looking over new full-size trucks, finding only Class III hitches (5000lb max)

Doubt you find any truck that will tow it?s advertised load without the use of a weight distributing hitch. Without the WD hitch, most will exceed one, if not all, of their GVWR, GCWR and RGAWR ratings.

Changing out a class III for a class IV hitch is not going to change the vehicles load rating. Talk about law suits in the making.


http://changingears.com/rv-sec-calc-trailer-weight-tt.shtml

Re: Looking over new full-size trucks, finding only Class III hitches (5000lb max)

Subliminal said:

I like somebody's idea on the Excursion. Grab one with a diesel. If you can get 10 MPG in an Armada, you'd be doing really good, round town. My current ride is a huge beast of a lifted 91 3/4 ton Dodge Diesel. Gets 17-18 around town...more than the sedan it replaced.

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I have an 03 Excursion and it does have the 6.0 desiel. Love it. It will pull a house down, seat seven confortably (we have the captains chairs middle row) and get 17-18 around town and 20-22 mpg on the highway. Or course, if you put your foot in the turbo, it will get less, so you have to watch how you drive it. I find myself driving it a bit different than my gasser vehicles. Of course, my wife tries to drive it like a sports car...

Anyway, love the truck, has plenty of room and came with a 10,000lb/15,000lb hitch...

Re: Looking over new full-size trucks, finding only Class III hitches (5000lb max)

Philster said:

Armada is Titan-based and rated at 9100. More than a Tahoe. I need a 3rd row of seating.

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Toyota Sequoia SR5 with a 5.7L (381 horse/401 ft lb torque) is rated at 9600. You won't be disappointed with the 5.7! or the 6 speed tranny!

Re: Looking over new full-size trucks, finding only Class III hitches (5000lb max)

My 07 ford f150 with the 5.4 has a 9000lb tow rating. Lots of room and power. Not that I have towed that much but have seen may of them tow close to that on the highways up here.

Re: Looking over new full-size trucks, finding only Class III hitches (5000lb max)

My 3/4T Suburban came with a 5000lb dead weight hitch. The truck didn't even flinch when I attached my 7000lb boat to it. It did not need a weight distributing hitch at all.

Re: Looking over new full-size trucks, finding only Class III hitches (5000lb max)

Hmmm... I've got some shopping to do!

I know the Armada has a self leveling suspension. Before I investigate further, so any of the other trucks offer that?

The 6.0 liter diesel got my attention.... interesting...

Re: Looking over new full-size trucks, finding only Class III hitches (5000lb max)

Knightgang said:

A later model 1/2 ton from Detroit will be fine, as most of them have near 10K capacity now... Although, for me, I would go 3/4 ton, as I do tow more than that pretty often...

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i wouldn't just limit it to domestics... toyota tundra has a tow rating over 10000 pounds, depending on model/specs. as far as I know, no domestic 1/2 ton can do that.

you also gain on average vastly better build quality, and in most cases buying foreign supports the american worker, vs buying 'american' and supporting the american CEO, and mexican worker. (my last ford I owned was built in mexico. My current subaru, japanese car, built in indiana by americans)