We recently traded in our popup camper (3000lb gross) for a travel trailer (7500lb gross, 4600lb dry). I haven't taken delivery of the new trailer yet, but want to make sure I'm all set to tow it. I got a nice brake controller from a friend and it's installed and working great. However, I'm a little concerned about my receiver hitch. I had someone look at it and it's not a stock Ford hitch, but there's no labeling, etc and it is pretty rusty. Is there anyway I can tell what the hitch is rated at? I can't see anything, but maybe I'm not looking in the right spot. My best guess is that it would be rated at 5000lb.

My second question is would I be better off putting money into a new hitch that covers the 7500lb, sticking with the existing hitch and adding a weight distribution hitch (can I do this as an add on), or should I really look at both?

My guess is that the trailer will weigh about 5500, maybe 6000lb in all actuality for how much gear we'll be adding.

 

If you're going to be towing with it a lot, I'd get a new for both. If only on occasion, I'd at least get a new hitch.

Why is it so rusted? What year is your truck?

 

It's a 2001 screw with about 110k miles on it. Hard to describe exactly how much rust is there, but there were some spots with several layers of rust that I could easily scrape off with a screw driver.

We usually go on about 6-8 camping trips a year, most being either 240 or 500 miles round trip.

 

Personally, I'd be happier getting new everything. That's quite a few trips. You can always sell that stuff later on down the road if need be, and as long as you take care of it you'll get a fair buck for it.

 

You need weight distribution to tow over 5000# with a 1/2 ton truck. A new Class 3 hitch isn't that expensive and with WD will be good to 10000# (more than the truck can handle).

 

Thanks for the replies. I'm shooting for safe, but not overkill. Don't want to have something bad happen because I was too cheap to spend a few hundred dollars, but also didn't want to get too much overkill. It really sounds like the best option for me may be to go with a new WD hitch that can handle 7500lb.

Any recommendations for a decent hitch? I'll be checking with a few places tomorrow I think, but I'd like to get an idea for what it should cost me to buy one and get it installed.

 

glc, just to clarify your post. Are you saying a 5000lb rated hitch with a WD system can handle 10000lb?

 

Yes.

 

Class 3 hitches are usually rated for 5000# straight and 10000# with WD. If your rust is just surface rust, you can probably clean it up and keep using your receiver. If it's a 2" receiver, it should be at least a class 3.

However, if in doubt, replace it.