Formula tow vehicle discussion and other questions.
02-09-2005 | 12:28 PM
#31
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From: Southwest, FL
Re: Formula tow vehicle discussion and other questions.
I've worked in the car/boat business for years. Let me tell you, those factory hitches are almost ALL rated at 5-6K LBS without using weight distribution. The weight distribution number is the 10-12k LBS number everyone likes to dwell on.
Not on my new 2500 Suburban with their tow package option....the sticker on the hitch says 6000# without weight distributing . The truck is rated for 12,000# with the 4.10 rear end.
So get rid of that darn class III hitch on your trucks/suv's and get a class V that's truely rated to tow your rigs!
02-09-2005 | 12:32 PM
#32
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From: Virginia Beach
Re: Formula tow vehicle discussion and other questions.
Originally Posted by DoTheMath
True story - back in the day I worked for a Formula dealer one summer when I was in college. I sold a guy a new 357 on a GALVANIZED triple axle trailer and he showed up a couple days later to pick it up... driving an F-150!!!! I wished I had a camera, he wouldn't heed our warning, so we told him he was on his own if he pulled out of there dragging that beast behind him. Sure enough - he did, and I had heard a short time later he cooked his drive train and bought a 350 to replace it - what a dope! 
Moral - go big, as big as you can! You'll never say, "I think I bought too much truck"
Moral - go big, as big as you can! You'll never say, "I think I bought too much truck"
yeah, much bigger and I will be in a power stroke f250 or 350 for sure. I'm not even sure I could pull a 292 on a trailer with this truck. Its rated at 9500 pounds, but I don't recall what the trailer hitch on it is.
02-09-2005 | 12:40 PM
#34
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,803
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From: Ma. / Lake Winni., NH
Re: Formula tow vehicle discussion and other questions.
Yep - he had a class V on it with the Disty bars and thought he was alllll set - could have been one of the dumbest stunts I had ever seen... away from the boat ramp that is!
02-09-2005 | 01:29 PM
#36
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From: Traverse City, Mi
Re: Formula tow vehicle discussion and other questions.
I made the huge mistake of hooking my 357 to xwifes tahoe. I only had to go ten miles. Man was that stupid, I should not have gone ten feet. Now it only gets hooked up to the duramax crew.
02-09-2005 | 01:44 PM
#37
21 and 42 footers
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,207
Likes: 146
From: Richmond VA
Re: Formula tow vehicle discussion and other questions.
Originally Posted by powerguy
t500hps - Do you ave the trailer hitch that came from GM on your 2500 Suburban? if so, I thought that the rating of that hitch is only 6000# without weight distribution.
02-09-2005 | 01:54 PM
#38
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From: Southwest, FL
Re: Formula tow vehicle discussion and other questions.
This is what I meant in my above posts. Just because the truck is rated to tow 12000 lbs AND you have the optional tow package with hitch, doesn't mean the truck is properly equipped to tow your 12000 lb trailer without a weight distribution setup! The weight distribution setup are the bars that connect to the trailer and are linked to the trailer hitch (somehow, I never used one) and it is supposed to transfer weight to the FRONT of the vehicle to better distribute the tongue weight for a more balanced load for braking etc...
Don't feel bad, this fall I got into a heated debate with a Ford Commercial Truck MANAGER about this issue...and he lost!
Don't feel bad, this fall I got into a heated debate with a Ford Commercial Truck MANAGER about this issue...and he lost!
02-09-2005 | 02:00 PM
#39
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From: Southwest, FL
Re: Formula tow vehicle discussion and other questions.
Oh, one more thing. It is easy to know if you have a class V hitch because it will only take a 2 1/2" receiver. You would have to get an 2" adaptor sleeve to be able to use a 2" standard receiver. Don't forget too, that the receiver and ball MUST have the same rating as you are towing. For example, I have a Reese TITAN Class V hitch on my 97 F350. It is rated for 12000 lbs on the hitch and 14000 lbs weight distributing. I use a 12000 lb 2 1/2" receiver and ball that are also rated for 12000 lbs.
The receiver and ball ratings are stamped onto the receiver and ball somewhere, you just have to look.
I hope this helps...
The receiver and ball ratings are stamped onto the receiver and ball somewhere, you just have to look.
I hope this helps...
02-09-2005 | 02:59 PM
#40
21 and 42 footers
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,207
Likes: 146
From: Richmond VA
Re: Formula tow vehicle discussion and other questions.
Originally Posted by formula1
Oh, one more thing. It is easy to know if you have a class V hitch because it will only take a 2 1/2" receiver. You would have to get an 2" adaptor sleeve to be able to use a 2" standard receiver. Don't forget too, that the receiver and ball MUST have the same rating as you are towing. For example, I have a Reese TITAN Class V hitch on my 97 F350. It is rated for 12000 lbs on the hitch and 14000 lbs weight distributing. I use a 12000 lb 2 1/2" receiver and ball that are also rated for 12000 lbs.
The receiver and ball ratings are stamped onto the receiver and ball somewhere, you just have to look.
I hope this helps...
The receiver and ball ratings are stamped onto the receiver and ball somewhere, you just have to look.
I hope this helps...
