Truck tow capacity vs bumper hitch rating

redvetram · Oct 1, 2020

I have a 2019 1500 Classic with the factory tow package with sway control, Class IV hitch, trailer brakes, wiring harness, in dash trailer controls, blah blah blah. According to any specs you look at (including the VIN decoder), the truck has a minimum 8000 lb tow capacity and 800 lb tongue capacity. But Stamped on the bumper is “5000 lb max gross trailer weight 500 lb max tongue load”

So which is it?

csuder99 · Oct 1, 2020

Depends...

The 5000/500 numbers apply when actually putting a tow ball into the bumper itself. Which nobody does anymore because bumpers sit so high nowadays. The other numbers are for a frame mounted trailer hitch.

muddy12 · Oct 1, 2020

Pic of your bumper?
Does your bumper have the round plug in the middle?

Usually the specs stamped on the bumper, are what you are limited to if you install a ball directly to the bumper. I.E. you pop out the plug from the bumper, and install a ball in the hole.
That rating is low because the bumper itself can’t support much weight.

There should be another set of numbers on the receiver hitch( below the bumper), that should be more in line with what the spec sheet says your truck is rated for.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

redvetram · Oct 2, 2020

Ahhhh... yes! I totally forgot about when we used to tow stuff from the bumper. Duh - “bumper pull trailer”. It makes sense now. Thanks.

Earl goofed · Dec 7, 2021

I'm new to the forum and don't know if new comments (like this old one) pop up but you guys are a life saver. I just bought a used 2015 with all the right towing specs then found this 500/5000 thing on the bumper and panicked. Now I can sleep at night.

GTyankee · Dec 8, 2021

The bumper itself is too high, but that bumper is also weak, when it comes to pulling, they tend to bend with just a little jerk
They are stronger when the pressure is on the edge & downwards
Lateral pull strength, not so good.

The small Class 3 hitch strengthens in both directions, but not by a lot

ric221 · Dec 23, 2021

Ok I have a question about this. I have a 16 with the towing package per the salesperson at the time. But it has the ball hole in the bumper, but if you look below the truck there is a receiver hitch bolted to the frame of the truck that looks just like a regular receiver but with no opening for the hitch. So my question is why is it done that way? By the way the ball mounts into that receiver through the bumper. As a note I don't tow with this vehicle but I'm just curious about this

392DevilDog · Dec 23, 2021

Because. The bumper can be used to tow a 5000 lb trailer.

But most need a drop or a rise...and they tow a larger trailer and use the receiver hitch with a ball mount.

When they equip them with the hitch factory they figure you then will not be using the bumper and mounting the hitch to the bumper hole adds extra strength.

Your bumper without the extra receiver hitch, is still a class 3 hitch...which is why you see what you see.

392DevilDog · Dec 23, 2021

Not sure that reads how I meant it.

All RAM truck bumpers are a class 3 hitch.

The option is to get the class 4 receiver hitch...with the square for a ball mount.

This really only affects tradesman and bighorn trims.

The class 4 is standard on all other trims.

dhay13 · Dec 23, 2021

FWIW I wouldn't tow a lawn mower with a bumper hitch

392DevilDog · Dec 23, 2021

I would. It is a stout piece of steel. On a 2wd 1500...which would be about the only one close to low enough...i would have no issue towing a lawn mower or most smaller boats with it.

redvetram · Dec 23, 2021

ric221 said:
Ok I have a question about this. I have a 16 with the towing package per the salesperson at the time. But it has the ball hole in the bumper, but if you look below the truck there is a receiver hitch bolted to the frame of the truck that looks just like a regular receiver but with no opening for the hitch. So my question is why is it done that way? By the way the ball mounts into that receiver through the bumper. As a note I don't tow with this vehicle but I'm just curious about this

Could you send a picture? A little confused on how you can have a receiver hitch with no opening? And if your truck has a factory tow package there should be brake controller and tow option buttons on the dash or console.

392DevilDog · Dec 23, 2021

redvetram said:
Could you send a picture? A little confused on how you can have a receiver hitch with no opening? And if your truck has a factory tow package there should be brake controller and tow option buttons on the dash or console.

He is referring to the class 3 mount for the bumper. It looks like a receiver hitch without the square.

A tradesman and bighorn come without the class 4 with the receiver square tube.

I would guess he is mistaken in saying he has a tow package.

You can get the brake controller and tow mirrors and still not get the class 4

And all ram trucks have the 4 and 7 pin plug.

redvetram · Dec 23, 2021

392DevilDog said:
He is referring to the class 3 mount for the bumper. It looks like a receiver hitch without the square.

A tradesman and bighorn come without the class 4 with the receiver square tube.

I would guess he is mistaken in saying he has a tow package.

You can get the brake controller and tow mirrors and still not get the class 4

And all ram trucks have the 4 and 7 pin plug.

Huh. Thanks. I’ve had 2 bighorns, both with tow packages and both with factory Class IV receivers, so didn’t know not having it was a thing.

392DevilDog · Dec 23, 2021

Without class 4 receiver

With class 4 receiver.

Both have the class 3 bumper

392DevilDog · Dec 23, 2021

New body bighorn without

REBEL Laramie and Limited come standard with class 4

ric221 · Dec 23, 2021

You guys are right. After doing a vin check the salesperson was wrong, my truck did not come with the tow package. As I stated I do not tow with this vehicle. But the info is good to know.

redvetram · Dec 23, 2021

Thanks ya’ll. Never imagined they’d make a truck that can’t tow. Might as well buy a minivan.

pacofortacos · Dec 23, 2021

They can tow, if you want to tow more than the bumper will allow you just add the correct hitch.
Often certain packages include hitch delete also.

GTyankee · Dec 24, 2021

If you look at Post # 16
You will notice the bumper pad is covering a rubber or plastic plug
That plug can be removed for towing
You should know, there is enough strength for downward pressure marked on or around that plug.
BUT, there is really no lateral strength for towing that weight !!
Just 1 forward JERK could bend that bumper.

Now you can add this Class 3 hitch, for a bit more strength, because it is also using a part of the subframe for strength

Class 4 hitch receiver factory installed

Truck tow capacity vs bumper hitch rating

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