QuestionHello,
I just purchased a new GMC Sierra Ext. cab long bed 4X4 truck. I also am going to be buying a travel trailer which will weigh approx. 6,500 lbs. loaded. The receiver that came with my truck says 5000/500 weight carrying and 12000/1200 weight distributing. A friend of mine told me that the weight distributing hitch only took care of my 650 lb. tongue weight and that I`d need something else to pull the weight of the trailer. Is this correct? I thought that the weight distributing hitch would allow you the higher tongue weight AND towing weight. He said I`d either have to weld something to the frame or get a heavier receiver.
Thanks in advance!
AnswerHi Scott, congrats on the new truck! VERY nice.
IF you have a weight distributing hitch, fyi, this is one with the extra 'bars' with it, then you are able to go up to the maximum of 12000 #, but the truck is not rated for 6 ton.
The truck is slated to haul about 7-8000 # in a 1500 truck, with a properly equipped hitch, and of course, the truck itself being properly equipped.
What they are talking about on those labels is, that the hitch is goo for 500 # hitch weight with a maximum of a 5000# trailer, when all you have is a trailer ball for a hitch. No weight distributing setup.
With a weight distributing hitch, the way we used to install our particular hitch, was you connected the trailer, wound up the truck and trailer with the trailer jack quite high, then installed the torsion bars, and lowered the jack. The weight becomes spread evenly, depending upn how high you wound up the jack, and where you set the chains on the bars, across the truck and the trailer. The idea that the truck does now not 'squat' when the trailer is on it.
If you have a weight distributing setup, and you have the bars properly torsioned, then you can go 1200 # hitch weight, with a 12000 # trailer. That is what your hitch label is referring to.
As I stated before, you would be limited by the type of truck that you have - that is, if you have a 1500 or a 2500. In your case with the trailer that you want to buy, you should be okay, with a weight distributing hitch setup. They are a bit of a pain to put in, but they REALLY do work well in making a more driveable unit.
If you can find a picture of a weight distributing hitch, then you can better figure out what we're talking about, if you've never seen one.
Otherwise, you are good to go! Just make sure when you are pulling that you have the Tow/Haul mode on, and the transmission in third gear (Drive, not overdrive).
If you have any further questions, please feel free to drop me a line.
Automotively yours,
Dean
