trailer hitch gurus out there?

[Rocco]

I own a 1987 Chevrolet V30 (1 ton pickup, SRW, 8ft bed) and have plans to tow a 14,000 lb trailer with it. I am looking for a Class V hitch (receiver style) that would accomodate this load. I am having a hard time finding a Class V made for my bodystyle. Reese makes a Class V "Titan" rated at 14k lb that would be perfect but does not make it for the older bodystyle (they start at 1988). I know there has to be something out there built for my truck. I am basically looking for the largest capacity hitch out there for my truck. Any suggestions? I appreciate any feedback. thanks

[wyldman]

My Draw-tite catalog doesn't list anything over 12K for the older GM trucks.The Titan isn't a bolt on fit.

You may be able to modify the Titan to fit,but it will requires some drilling.

It's going to be a handful pulling a 14K trailer with ball hitch on a short SRW truck.Why not a 5th wheel hitch ?

[CT18fireman]

I only see to 10,000lbs looking at my Reese catalog. Draw-tite does show hitches to 12k. Almost all require some modification.

This must be an existing trailer???

I to would recommend 5th wheel for that weight.

[PSDF350]

i agree with Chris and ct 18 fireman 5th wheel is the best way to go with that much weight.

[wyldman]

It can be done,as I've pulled 18K with my reciever hitch,but it's not the safest thing in the world.A shorter wheelbase truck will tend to get yanked around pretty good with 14K behind it.

A 5th wheel setup will give you much better handling and stability due to better weight distribution.

[John DiMartino]

Id go with a gooseneck with that weight. Any single wheel truck will be dangerous otherwise. B&W makes a nice turnover gooseneck hitch,thats rated at 30000lbs. All the Dodge/Cummins guys use them with a 7 or 10 ton gooseneck trailer,it is a good match and very stable and tows great. The gooseneck keeps the bed open,robs less payload and 99% of the equipment/horse/flatbed trailers are gooseneck

[CT18fireman]

I was pushing gooseneck, fifth wheel same thing, at least in that they both are in the bed. There are obvious differences and John is correct that a gooseneck offers more variety.

[JohnnyU]

I'll also suggest going with a Gooseneck hitch system. Much safer, and actually easier on the truck. I'm looking to get one for my truck.

[Alan]

Rocco,

Do you already have the trailer or is this a planned purchase? If you don't have it already do you have the flexibility of changing to a gooseneck design?

A 7 ton trailer is usually paired up to something with dual wheels. Do you have experience towing? And I'm not talking a couple tons of boat either but heavy load towing. 6 to 8K on a bumper pull trailer.

To get stable towing you would need at least 10%, preferably 12-15% of the trailer weight on the hitch. That's 14-2100 lbs on the ball, roughly 3 feet behind the rear axle. That's going to add a lot more than that to the rear axle as that is acting on a fulcrum that pivots on the rear axle. An equal amount will be taken from the front of the vehicle, making the axle load double the actual hitch load. While that is still within the limits for the axle and suspension can be beefed up, it would be getting very close to tire capacity. A single 265/75R16 E is rated for 3415 lbs @ 80psi inflation. A load leveling hitch is going to be mandatory for your service.

There is also the factor that the reaction point of that force is located way behind the rear axle. It it starts any sort of sway that force gets a lot more leverage on a bumper pull hitch.

You may have to consult a fabricator and have something built that can do the job reliably. I've built bumpers that incorporate a hitch that can do the job. I would tow that heavy if I had to, but if I had the luxury of starting from scratch I'd go with some sort of in-bed hitch, either gooseneck or fifth wheel.

[gslam88]

Guys,

As far a bumper pulling .. .the hitch that gets lots of great review is the Hensley arrow hitch. but at the cost of $2945... it better do a lot more than just pull my trailer.....

or look for a weight distributing hitch or sway control

it does also have a 14k tow capacity, but not able to confirm if your truck will be able to use it

http://www.hensleymfg.com/xcart/customer/home.php

Have you talked with a local dealer to see if they can modify a receiver hitch or maybe a hideaway ball for the bed of the truck as others have suggested.

The other thing to consider is not a ball hitch, but a pintle if you are adamant in a receiver style.

Just my .02

Pete

[thesnoman]

Yes, 14K to regularly pull with a reciever hitch on a P/U is pushing it a bit. On a stake bed truck with a short frame stub behind axle so that hitch is close to axle it would be quite doable though. You are in 5 wheel/goose neck area at 14k and above otherwise.

[chris krebs]

SRW-single rear wheel.8 ft.bed, is not short wheel base.

[wyldman]

Originally posted by chris krebs
SRW-single rear wheel.8 ft.bed, is not short wheel base.

A reg cab,8 ft box is a 131.5" wheelbase.That's short for pulling big (14K) trailers on a reciever hitch.A longer wheel base,like an extended cab,or crew cab would be preferred.Cab and chassis trucks with set back rear axles also make good stable pulling trucks.

[wyldman]

I found a few hitches that will fit your truck,if you still want a reciever hitch.

Putnam has a 15K unit here (http://www.putnamhitch.com/Pickups/chevyfs62-87.htm)

Curt manufacturing has a 15K hitch here (http://www.curtmfg.com/5_list.asp)

Torklift also has a 15K reciever here (http://www.torklift.com/application_guides.htm)

[Garagekeeper]

Rocco I handle Putnam and yes they do make a class 5 hitch for your truck.
If you need additional info please feel free to e-mail me.

:rolleyes: John.......................................

[thesnoman]

Originally posted by wyldman
A reg cab,8 ft box is a 131.5" wheelbase.That's short for pulling big (14K) trailers on a reciever hitch.A longer wheel base,like an extended cab,or crew cab would be preferred.Cab and chassis trucks with set back rear axles also make good stable pulling trucks.

If it is heavy in the front with a big block or a diesel it might get by but still, 2000lbs plus hitch weight located about 4 feet behind axle on a pickup is a lot to overcome.

[Rocco]

Appreciate all the responses. I'm brand-new to towing. All I've towed before is a ford mustang on a Uhaul auto transport which I estimated to be about 6k lb. I pulled it with my 87 chevy truck. No problems at all. very strong truck. I do not own a trailer yet but have plans to buy in the near future. I should clarify my situation a little bit better: My plan is to buy an enclosed car trailer/race trailer rated up to about 14k. The primary reason I need (want) it is to carry my 68 mustang project/showcar around. Obviously with only a vehicle inside the trailer won't weigh 14k, more like 8k which is a big diff. However, I am in the military so my secondary use for the trailer will be moving my household goods everytime I move, (which is pretty often it seems). Expected empty trailer weight of the trailer I've been looking at is about 4k. I don't own 10k worth of household goods at the moment but I'm relatively young and know that someday (prob soon the way I seem to collect stuff) I will have close to that. Bottom line is that I want that capacity to be there.

Like I said I'm new to towing so I don't really have a feel for what's acceptable and what isn't and what's safe. I do know that I want to do everything by the book, following all the rating recommendations of all the equipment I own, considering I want to tow all of my BELONGINGS behind me I definitely don't want them laying on a highway somewhere after a wreck. I bought a 1 ton so that I would have the capacity to tow virtually anything. I didn't think a dually was necessary for my limited towing needs from the research I did before I went looking (by the way it is not easy finding a good 1 ton SRW pickup) and really didn't want to drive with the extra "hips" when I wasn't towing.

No fifth wheel/ gooseneck trailer is not out of the question, as I haven't bought anything yet. I originally dismissed that idea because 1) they're a lot more expensive 2) until I posted here I thought that receiver style was still be plenty safe 3) I wanted to be able to use my bed for additional payload while towing.

My truck is a 4X4, NP205 transfer case, dana 60 front axle, TH300 trans, both oil, trans coolers, has a 454 with TBI, 14 bolt rear, reg cab, 8ft bed. It's all in great mechanical shape and pulls real hard. GVWR is in the 10k lb category, so the suspension is pretty heavy duty.

Safety is my #1 concern but I also must weigh in costs and towing frequency. Primarily I will be towing the lightweight trailer setup but I will def. want to push it to 12-14k lb a handful of times. So it sounds like the 12-14k lb scenario is the only issue.

Again, appreciate the advice. I'm glad I found this board before I committed to anything.

[Joey D]

Go with a 5th wheel or gooseneck trailer. The space you would loose in the bed can be had in the bunk house on the trailer. They are safer to tow with and make your truck handle much better than a ball hitch.

[thesnoman]

14k is heavy for a enclosed car hauler for one car. If you got one with twin 6000lb axles it would still be over kill for job (5200lbs axles would work too) and your empty weight would be about 3500 to 4000lbs and throw in a 3 to 4000lb car and at 8000lbs or so you will have no problems towing that thing with your truck with a class 4 or class 5 receiver hitch and a 2 5/16 bal. I have a freind that regularly tows a 18 x 7 x 7.5 with 5200lb axles for work every day and it varies in total weight from about 6500 to 8500lbs or so. He tows it with a 94 GMC 1 ton van and has no problems at all for stabilty with no equalizer bars either (I have riden with him a time or too). Now that I better understand wha you want to do, there is no need for a 5th wheel here.

[wyldman]

Now that we know all the details...........

I'd go with a gooseneck.Fairly simple installation,keeps the bed clean when not in use,and added safety when towing the heavy stuff.Like John said,The B&W turnover ball is one of the nicest on the market.See the website below.

www.turnoverball.com

[thesnoman]

Originally posted by wyldman
Now that we know all the details...........

I'd go with a gooseneck.Fairly simple installation,keeps the bed clean when not in use,and added safety when towing the heavy stuff.Like John said,The B&W turnover ball is one of the nicest on the market.See the website below.

www.turnoverball.com

For a single car hauler, a 5th wheel is a waste of bed space and a goose neck trailer will weight about 800 to 1000lbs more than a tag of unneeded weight to haul one car. Unless you plan to put 8 to 10000 lbs of stuff in trailer, a tag will do just fine.

[Alan]

Originally posted by thesnoman
For a single car hauler, a 5th wheel is a waste of bed space and a goose neck trailer will weight about 800 to 1000lbs more than a tag of unneeded weight to haul one car. Unless you plan to put 8 to 10000 lbs of stuff in trailer, a tag will do just fine.

It might help to read Rocco's WHOLE post.

However, I am in the military so my secondary use for the trailer will be moving my household goods everytime I move, (which is pretty often it seems). Expected empty trailer weight of the trailer I've been looking at is about 4k. I don't own 10k worth of household goods at the moment but I'm relatively young and know that someday (prob soon the way I seem to collect stuff) I will have close to that. Bottom line is that I want that capacity to be there.

[thesnoman]

Originally posted by Alan
It might help to read Rocco's WHOLE post.

I did, still does not need a 5th for that use. Do not get me wrong, 5th's are nice but they are also a pain about some things too and lack the utility of a tag trailer too.

[CT18fireman]

Once again I have to agree with experience. For this appliction I too would recommend teh gooseneck.

It is the same for a landscaper starting out, might as well get a bigger trailer then you need so that it can be used for the future.

The goosenecks IMO are easier to back up, and seem to ride a lot nicer over the road. I am not sure how they lack the utility of a tag trailer.

By the way, I would still recommend that you install some sort of frame mounted receiver hitch, you will need it at some point like if you were to borrow a trailer, or tow for a friend.