I need to tow a 16' flat bed/car hauler witch will weigh in around 7,000 pounds occasionally.
With my lance 915 on the truck it looks like I need an 18" extension.
Will the factory Dodge hitch do the job or do I need to upgrade to a Tow Beast or something like that?
You are almost doubling the extension for the receiver (most are spec'd 10" ball to hitch pin). Thus IMO you need a receiver spec of 18,000 pounds pull, and well over 2000# tongue weight capability. Your call.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Lovely German Shepherd.
1999 Mercedes ML320 TV
2003 Wanderer 187TB Toybox (3620# UVW, 4800# loaded) Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories. I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
I have close to the same situation, and installed a Towbeast on my dodge. I tow between 7k and 8k, I used a 24" extension since that's the shortest one available for the towbeast. Works like a dream, very happy with it.
Brian
2003 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab, Hemi, 5 speed manual, 3.73 gears, Tow Beast hitch with 24" extension.
28 ft race car hauler, Lola T440 Formula Ford, NTM MK4 Sports Racer
2004 Travel Hawk 8' Truck Camper - Roll at 16K combined weight
I used a Tow Beast with a 21" extension. I never liked being right at the weight rating of the hitch/extension, so I eventually changed it out for a SuperHitch with a 24" SuperTruss and I'm now well under the rating. When I load up the trailer, I can see the difference. The Tow Beast deflected several inches downward just connecting the trailer. The SuperTruss doesn't move at all. I can also feel the difference when driving. With the Reese setup, the trailer caused the truck to porpoise. Now, with the TorkLift setup it's much more stable.
Yes, The TorkLift setup is more expensive, but how much is whatever you're towing worth. When you consider how much you have invested in your truck, camper, trailer, and whatever is riding on the trailer, the difference in price between the hitches is minimal.
Happy Trails,
- Warren
Wife, 6 year old boy, 4 year old girl
01 Lance 961 (9'6 with slide out). TorkLift Frame Moutned tie downs, FastGuns, SuperHitch
05 Chevy DRW,LB,CC,4x4,8.1L gas, Alison
78 Toyota FJ40 w/'97 350 Chevy & auto. trans.
87 Honda TRX250R
Before I start, just to lighten the mood a little, just remember this---
"I know what you're thinking. "Did he tow 6000lbs or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a Dodge Magnum hitch, the most powerful hitch in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?" ;-)
Keep in mind if you put a car on said car trailer, the weight of the block and the whole front end will be riding on the hitch. Your center of gravity will be pretty far forward. Your tongue weight will be pretty substantial. I have an 18' flatbed rated at 7,000 and a 24' box trailer rated at 10,000. I load my jeep on backwards to keep the tongue weight down.
Unlike a lot of guys that have asked the same question, and I've given my opinion thinking they're fine, in your case I think you'd be pushing it a scosh over the safety line.
I don't want to preach to you and tell you to do what I did, which was to get a SuperHitch. What I will do is tell you what happened to me.
While I was "in between" TC's, I had a very heavy Newmar 32' TT. I wasn't even running an extension. I had the Ford factory class V hitch, the biggest they had at the time. The TT's tongue weight was 200lbs over the 1000lb tongue rating, and 2,000lbs over the 10,0000lb tow rating. But I figured "it's only a little over, it'll be fine."
It cracked, and I never noticed it. It was finally pointed out to me by the true experts on hitches, the guys at Superhitch in Kent, WA as I was getting my Torklifts installed.
When I saw my factory hitch was cracked, and in real danger of coming detached from the truck, I turned white thinking what could have happened.
Do you want to know you're completely fine, and DOT legal, or would you prefer to turn white like me?
Offline
