Looking for 2018 3500 Trailer Hitch Upgrade

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joedmoran

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We're buying a bumper pull toy hauler with a dry tongue weight of 1600#. It's reported that the loaded tongue weight without a toy in the back can reach 2000#. This exceeds the 1800# tongue weight limit of the factory hitch. I can't find any info if the TW limit is increased with a WD hitch.

There are great aftermarket hitches but most seem to install under the factory hitch since Ram uses the same brackets to mount the bumper.

The toy hauler needs the ball at 32", well above the factory receiver at 23.5" so I really don't want a lower receiver.

I also need a 2½" receiver to fit the shank on the WD hitch.

Curious if anyone has a recommendation.

Thanks!

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AFMoulton

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Stick with the factory hitch. And use a WD hitch. It will be just fine. The 2000#s is without a WD hitch.


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2003F350

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We're buying a bumper pull toy hauler with a dry tongue weight of 1600#. It's reported that the loaded tongue weight without a toy in the back can reach 2000#. This exceeds the 1800# tongue weight limit of the factory hitch. I can't find any info if the TW limit is increased with a WD hitch.

There are great aftermarket hitches but most seem to install under the factory hitch since Ram uses the same brackets to mount the bumper.

The toy hauler needs the ball at 32", well above the factory receiver at 23.5" so I really don't want a lower receiver.

I also need a 2½" receiver to fit the shank on the WD hitch.

Curious if anyone has a recommendation.

Thanks!

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If you have a 2018 HD truck, you should already have a 2.5" receiver unless someone already swapped it out. That said, you don't NEED a 2.5" shank on your WD hitch drawbar, I would just run a 2-to-2.5" adapter.
 
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joedmoran

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If you have a 2018 HD truck, you should already have a 2.5" receiver unless someone already swapped it out. That said, you don't NEED a 2.5" shank on your WD hitch drawbar, I would just run a 2-to-2.5" adapter.
I do have the factory 2.5" receiver (and the 2" adapter). I need / want the 2.5" receiver because the Blue Ox 20k WD hitch now comes standard with the 2.5", 9-hole shank.

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OC455

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Not to derail the thread. You have this hitch? Thoughts?


2018 Ram 2500 6.4L 4x4
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Not yet, some good reviews....waiting on my OT

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GsRAM

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As said, the weight limit you state on the factory receiver is without the use of a wdh, which you absolutely need at those weights.

You need to be looking at the weight limit with wdh, which is typically several thousand pounds higher. I don't have my manual handy or I'd look it up now for you.

Weigh safe wdh looks nice. But seems to use a similar sway control as the equalizer? I could be wrong.
 
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6.7CumminsDrvr

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Weigh safe wdh looks nice. But seems to use a similar sway control as the equalizer? I could be wrong.

I believe the sway control is the same, what’s different is having the scale built in and the app to take the guess work out of the setup. No stacking washers and what not to make adjustments. Punch in the values and if needed, turn one bolt until the scale reads the correct number.
 

GsRAM

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I believe the sway control is the same, what’s different is having the scale built in and the app to take the guess work out of the setup. No stacking washers and what not to make adjustments. Punch in the values and if needed, turn one bolt until the scale reads the correct number.
Nice! That sounds like a good set up. I'd imagine the hotshot ( I think they are called that) who deliver RVs for a living like @VernDiesel, would appreciate a wdh that can easily be adjusted like that one for different loads.

I do like that built in scale. Does anyone know how accurate it is?
 
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joedmoran

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As said, the weight limit you state on the factory receiver is without the use of a wdh, which you absolutely need at those weights.

You need to be looking at the weight limit with wdh, which is typically several thousand pounds higher. I don't have my manual handy or I'd look it up now for you.

Weigh safe wdh looks nice. But seems to use a similar sway control as the equalizer? I could be wrong.
I've looked at the truck's manual (and all the Ram published towing specs). It just says 1800# max and doesn't mention a WDH. Some hitches list a slightly higher tongue weight with a WD hitch like the Curt Class 3 & 4 (+ 400# & +200#) but the Class V Commercial is 20,000# tow & 2700# tongue weight with & without a WD hitch. I find it odd that the specs aren't stamped on the Ram hitch anywhere I've been able to find.

The weigh safe WD hitch does look like the Equalizer. While the Equalizer maxes out at 1600# tongue weight, the weigh safe can go to 2000# TW.

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6.7CumminsDrvr

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Nice! That sounds like a good set up. I'd imagine the hotshot ( I think they are called that) who deliver RVs for a living like @VernDiesel, would appreciate a wdh that can easily be adjusted like that one for different loads.

I do like that built in scale. Does anyone know how accurate it is?

I have their aluminum drop hitch with the scale (not the new weight distribution one) but I’ve never used a separate scale to measure its accuracy so I can’t comment on that. I will say having owned and uses it quite a bit, I haven’t seen anything that would lead me to question its accuracy.

hopefully some others that have one can chime in.
 

OC455

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The scale is accurate. It measures tongue weight pretty accurately. I have the Weigh Safe regular drop hitch and I weighed the tongue weight of my trailer and it was spot on.

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AFMoulton

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I echo the two above comments. Just to check my trailer I weighed it and then used the cat scale it was damn close.


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392DevilDog

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For the 4th Gen trucks. After 2013. 1800 TW and 18000 trailer. anything over 18000 is to be a 5th wheel or Gooseneck

2019 was 2000 and 20000.

2020 plus are 2300 and 23000

Anything over 23000 is to be 5th wheel anything over 30k is to be gooseneck.

Here is the spec. The other years have the same.
Screenshot_20210216-222433.png
 

392DevilDog

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To put this into perspective.

The 1500 is 1200 TW and 12000 trailer.

Anything over 500 TW and 5000 trailer is recommended to use WDH.

So. Just like when buying your ball mount. If hitch is 1200 and 12000 you want to get a ball mount at the same. But if you get one that is say 500 and 5000...that is your limit.

So. On the 4th Gen HD...the hitch may be rated at say 2500 and 25000...but the truck rear frame is only rated at 1800 and 18000.

Hope this makes sense.

You can get a higher rated hitch...but the truck is still limited to 1800 and 18000. Anything higher needs to go to a 5th wheel or Gooseneck.
1800 is the limit with a WDH also. The industry recommends a WDH over 500 and 500 for most trucks. Some smaller trucks SUV it is 250 and 2500.


Just like the new 35xxx tow rating of the RAM HD. It is only do able with a regular cab 2wd tradesman trim with HO Cummins dually 4.10 gear and a gooseneck ball.
 
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joedmoran

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392DevilDog - Very interesting. At first I thought, yeah, right.... But the more I thought about this, the more sense it makes. Tell me if my understanding is correct....

The 1800 / 18000 is the structural capability of the truck. The ~13k towing capacity per my VIN is based on additional performance capability (gearing, engine, etc.). The most compelling support of your argument is I found a paper label on the hitch. It doesn't list tongue weight but it does say " Hitch Assy Class V 20k". So, as you say, this is a 20k hitch on an 18k truck.

Assuming this is correct, I can't add a 2700# TW hitch and get more than 1800# TW. It probably will state in the hitch instructions, "Never exceed the Mfr's maximum towing limits".....

Thoughts?

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392DevilDog

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@joedmoran that is exactly how it is.

The new frame under the 4.5 Gen 2019+ HeavyDuty was upgraded as I mentioned above.

The hitch would be 20k and 2000TW...but the truck is 18k and 1800 TW.

Anything over 18k is to be attached using a goose neck or 5th wheel. With a 4th Gen 2013 to 2018.

When you get into the 4.5 Gen the total becomes 20k and above requires 5th wheel and then for the max tow over 30k requires a gooseneck ball.

For instance. I have a 1999 Dodge RAM 2500 V10 and 5spd. The hitch is 1000 and 10k. The tow capacity is 17k. To tow at max it has to be a 5th wheel or gooseneck over the 10k.

I believe my 03 2500 is the same. A 2010 to 2012 4th Gen would be similar...maybe 1100 and 11k...not sure.

See a 2500 would not have to worry about the 1800 and 18k as that class the trailer tow ends at like 17500.

Hope this makes sense.

All this said. I am sure people tow over the 1800 all the time. We had another member here who had a similar situation and he did it for years...until he read some of the towing threads and went and weighed it.

Just like plenty of people haul a 7k trailer on a 5k ball...it will do it til it breaks. May be the first time...may be the 1000th time.

I did just notice something I find odd.


In your first post you say the toy hauler has a 1600# TW empty.

Usually...when the toy is added the tongue weight actually goes down. As the toy is at the rear.

Very odd you were told the opposite.

You may be worrying about nothing.

I would dig a little deeper into that.

I am very interested to know.

You may be fine.
 
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joedmoran

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@392DevilDog - My whole issue is the 1800# tongue weight. The toy in the back will bring it down as you say. This is from an owners experience:
Dry TW: 1600#
Loaded, no toy: 2000#
Loaded, w/ toy: 1800#

You are correct that people probably tow over capacity without ever knowing. Lots of people on the trailer forum recommend the Equalizer hitch for this trailer. The heaviest they make is 1600# TW. Some tow with the 1400# TW Equalizer and are happy.

Many have said the WD hitch reduces tongue weight but I can't verify that. Some hitches are rated slightly higher with a WD hitch though.

Thanks for your input!

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392DevilDog

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The toy in the back will bring it down as you say. This is from an owners experience:
Dry TW: 1600#
Loaded, no toy: 2000#
Loaded, w/ toy: 1800
This makes alot more sense.


The WDH does lessen the tongue weight

The purpose is to return weight to the steer axle and it also returns some to the trailer axle.

My suggestion would be to get the WDH setup properly and then always be sure to have weight in the garage.

I think you would be fine. Hope it works out.
 

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