Question on truck receiver hitch

[Chris B.]

I bought this 1997 GMC sierra and it had a "Sure Pull" hitch/receiver on it. The hitch has a sticker on it that has a couple different weight ratings on it(5,000 and 10,000 pounds). This is my 1st real truck(had SUV's in the past) and I'm not familiar on towing and ratings. So how how much is this hitch/receiver rated at pulling? Is it the 5,000 or 10,000 lb rating? I know the truck is not rated at 10,000 but I think it could handle 7 or 8,000lbs. Also is this a class III receiver? Here is a couple pictures and you can see the receiver on the truck on the bottom picture. Thanks for any info!

 

[Colt45ws]

If you are just doing a straight pull, the hitch is good up to 5k lbs with a hitch weight of 500 lbs. If you use a weight distributing setup to put some of the weight on the front axle of the truck too, it goes up to 10k lbs and 1k lbs on the hitch.
Of course, you will want to remain within the GCVWR of the truck. But that is what the hitch is good to.
Seems to match up to being a Class III.

 

[Donald]

I agree, its a class III hitch. I assume you have a 1/2 ton truck. Stick with up to 5K lbs in towing or less as dictated by owners manual. If you tow a full 5K lbs you will definitively know you are towing something heavy.

 

[Cup of Joe]

This hitch is rated for 5000 without trailer brakes just a straight pull. To put that in perspective a 2011 ford ranger with a V6 is rated for 5000 lbs. Your truck should be rated for around 7500. With a weight distributing hitch this receiver can handle 10k lbs, you would need trailer brakes as well for that kind of weight.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts...ion-systems.htm

How many pins are on your trailer lights? Does the truck have a trailer brake controller?

 

[Rand]

Originally Posted By: TaterandNoodles
This hitch is rated for 5000 without trailer brakes just a straight pull. To put that in perspective a 2011 ford ranger with a V6 is rated for 5000 lbs. Your truck should be rated for around 7500. With a weight distributing hitch this receiver can handle 10k lbs, you would need trailer brakes as well for that kind of weight.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts...ion-systems.htm

How many pins are on your trailer lights? Does the truck have a trailer brake controller?


Thats incorrect. that hitch is rated 5000lb with or without trailer brakes. However most States require trailer brakes on anything over 1500-2000lb depending on state.

What the truck is rated at is totally separate and different.

Also you can have surge brakes without any kind of controller.. ala uhaul trailers.

The max truck rating if it has the 5.7L is 7500. That would be with a weight distributing setup which isn't present. So the max is 5000lb with brakes.
and 1500-2000lb unbraked (per state law)

 

[beanoil]

5000 pound weight bearing, 10000 pounds weight distribution. Truck should be rated at about 7500-8000 pounds towing capacity. I can say that when I towed 9000 pounds with mine the transfer case lasted about 1500 miles before the internal chain let go. Yep I was overloaded, and well aware of it. The designers have the ratings pretty close IMO, for max towing capacity.

 

[Chris142]

Man you really don't want to be pulling much weight with those C-Clip axles.

C-Clip axles allow some side to side movement at the axle which is a couple of inches of movement at the hitch.

Hauling a heavy load with a C-Clip rear end is a fast way to roll the truck and trailer into a ball.

 

[Chris B.]

I think I understand now. Thanks guys! I won't be pulling more then 7,000lbs and not often at all.

It is crazy how full size trucks back then are nothing like today. Back then 10,000 was alot and now they pull over 21,000lbs easy!