I have a 2003 F250SD crew cab long bed with a factory hitch receiver of unknown classification, although it says 5000/500 weight carrying and 12,5000/1250 weight distrib. Guessing it's a class IV that's really more like a class III.
Should I get a better hitch receiver or a WDH (or both)? I'd be pulling an older Bison 2H BP w/ DR, I don't know the weights on it, but should have them tomorrow. Will tow one horse w/o a lot of stuff since we'll be making shorter trips, so it's not like I'll be adding on several bales of hay, shavings etc.
Almost positive that I'll be over the 5000 limit, so I'll definitely need one or the other.
Posted 2006-09-02 9:21 PM (#47768 - in reply to #47760) Subject: RE: beefier hitch receiver or WDH?
Regular
Posts: 96 Location: Massachusetts
The hitch receiver is a combo class III/IV. Like you said, the lesser weight ratings are for usage without a WDH and the higher ratings are what it can handle with a WDH. This is the same type of hitch I have.You should be fine using this receiver and going with a WDH. Just be sure to get a good brake controller if your tow package doesn't include one.
Posted 2006-09-02 9:53 PM (#47772 - in reply to #47760) Subject: RE: beefier hitch receiver or WDH?
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Hello Jester: Welcome to the forum...
GM "Requires" a WD hitch for trailers over 5,000 pounds. Ford only "Recommends" a WD for trailers over 5,000 pounds. You'll have to decide who to believe.
I think you'll be in the best possible spot since your truck has a very long wheelbase. I usually recommend a WDH for the stability gained when pulling a BP trailer. Stay with the factory hitch, get a WD if your trailer actually puts more than "500 pounds AS YOU USE IT" on the hitch. The only way to know is to take the whole rig to a scale and weigh it.
Posted 2006-09-02 10:15 PM (#47774 - in reply to #47760) Subject: RE: beefier hitch receiver or WDH?
Member
Posts: 5
Location: MD
Thanks Rik and Hosspuller -- I'd rather be overequipped than underequipped, so I'll probably go with the additional WDH. Couldn't hurt, I don't want to drive myself crazy (and I will!) with paranoia.
Posted 2006-09-02 10:31 PM (#47775 - in reply to #47774) Subject: RE: beefier hitch receiver or WDH?
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Originally written by jester1113 on 2006-09-02 9:15 PM
I'd rather be overequipped than underequipped, so I'll probably go with the additional WDH. Couldn't hurt, I don't want to drive myself crazy (and I will!) with paranoia. Thanks again!
Good for you Jester... I firmly believe in "Overequiped" when dealing with horse trailers. Has anyone ever had a load of bricks rock the rig while at a stop light?
Posted 2006-09-03 5:47 PM (#47801 - in reply to #47760) Subject: RE: beefier hitch receiver or WDH?
Member
Posts: 45
Hi Jester, We have a 04 Bison BP 3-horse w/dressing room that supposedly weighs 4,450lbs empty. It doesn't take much gear with 2 horses(we usually haul 2) to be at 7000-7,500lbs. Our first tow vehicle, a 2500 Suburban with Drawtite hitch rated 10,000/12,000WDH and second vehicle, a 01 GMC crew dually with factory hitch(6,500/12,000WDH) both benefit greatly using a WDH setup. We use an equal-i-zer WDH and cannot say enough good about it. It levels both tow vehicles(when set up) and offers great anti-sway capabilities to the truck and trailer. Night and day difference when passing or being passed by semis. I won't tow trailer without using it. Good luck
Posted 2006-09-03 6:36 PM (#47804 - in reply to #47760) Subject: RE: beefier hitch receiver or WDH?
Member
Posts: 5
Location: MD
Thanks lostinohio! I have my eye firmly set on an equal-i-zer.
I looked at the trailer today (buying it from a close friend) and the sticker that lists the weight is long gone...Sent an email to Bison about it, hoping they get back to me. I know you want to closely match the WDH tongue capacity to your actual tongue weight, but what if you have absolutely no clue?
Honestly, I don't even know if the thing is steel or aluminum, having it inspected next week. My friend bought a new 3/4 horse gooseneck and said she'd continue to use her old BP for short trips, but loved her new trailer so much she never uses anything but! She has to force herself to hook up the Bison once a month to keep the tires heathly and all the parts moving.
Posted 2006-09-03 7:21 PM (#47808 - in reply to #47760) Subject: RE: beefier hitch receiver or WDH?
Member
Posts: 5
Location: MD
Nope, I have a looooong commute so I drive my p.o.s. Saturn (got 36.74 mpg last tank! wahoo!) during the week. Truck is weekends only which precluded me getting a diesel. To make up for the lost coolness points of the gas engine, I did get a V10 6.8L though. ;-)
Posted 2006-09-03 8:54 PM (#47812 - in reply to #47760) Subject: RE: beefier hitch receiver or WDH?
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
well im not sure how much the v10 weighs. i was going to say if you had the diesel, it may be easier to get the hitch upgraded as you may not actually need the weight distributed. i dont run a wdh on the gmc diesel as my 1000# tongue weight (gm allows 1000# tongue for duramax equipt trucks) only removes ~100# (out of 4000#) from the front axle, when before i had no choice on the trailblazer. i too had an equal-i-zer hitch it worked well, it was a greasy heavy mess though.
beefier hitch receiver or WDH?
