As several of you know I am nearly ready to close on a 2000 Tiger. I'm flying to Virginia this Tues with waterheater and another friend for the survey and sea trial..... If all goes well hands will be shaken and boat will be mine.

My question is regarding the hitch on my tow rig. The tow rig is a 2004 GMC 2500 Diesel. The hitch states the following: Max Trailer Weight - Weight Carrying 7500LBS, Weight distributing 12000LBS. Then there is Max Tongue Weight - Weight Carrying 1000LBS, Weight distributing 1500LBS.

I'm assuming the "Weight distrubuting" is either a 5th wheel or sway bars? Is this true. I will not be using these options so it wouldn't seem to me the 7500 limit would not be sufficient? I was recomended today to replace the stock hitch arrangement with an aftermarket bolt-on hitch?

Thank you in advance.

Just peel the sticker off and play stupid, that's what I did and it hasn't broke yet!!!

Check this thread:

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...vy+hitch+balls

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...vy+hitch+balls

Sway bars and WD hitch work together, but are not the same thing. I have a full WD hitch setup, with surge brakes. (Does your trailer have surge brakes?) You cannot use anti-sway bars with surge brakes. You CAN use WD bars.

Your stock hitch is NOT enough. You need to upgrade to the Reese Titan-V (there is another nice Class-V hitch, another make, cheaper, which I just bought, have yet to install.) I can tell you, with a 37AT and full fuel on an aluminum trailer I am at 12K lbs. You are going to be OVER your tow rating, so kiss insurance goodbye if you have an accident. Sorry, its just the facts.

Say, go to www.thehitchshop.com and under most popular hitches, you will find the XDR series. 15k w/c and 16k w/d. Buddy of mine did this change out on his 2004 crew short 2500hd w/ a duramax to pull his 47 Fountain triple! Hope this helps, Wrink

Thanks Wrink....I'm going to need one of those!!!!

put the XDR on my HD Crew the day after I picked it up...

big backer plates top and bottom, gr. 8 bolts, lockwashered and double nutted. None of them give you real hardware, spend the $10 for good chit.

I specifically didn't order trailer tow because now all you get is the cheese hitch...everything else is already on the truck.

I believe reese supplies them to GM Neil, your going to be hooking up to a Myco, your biggest concern will be if your truck has the back up plug, dont panic if it doesnt, you need to switch the plug though when you go to back up as the brakes stop from going into reverse unless you have the plug, it can be intimidating at first but you should be fine, mine towed like a dream, granted I have a 3500 dually but its lowered so I lost some of my capacity. Is yours a long bed w/ extended cab or crew? if so the wheelbase should be fine. If all goes well, your about 4and a half hours from me, stop by on the way up 95...Rob

Reese may supply the hitch but that doesn't mean it's worth a chit!

They get the rating they do out of it by bolting it to the bumper also.

spend some time on truck and RV forums for the horror stories and pics associated with that stock hitch at or near it's (relatively low) max.

The truck frames don't fail...but the hitch does!

I wouldn't trust it beyond 7000lbs. period.

you had better trade that truck in, it wont be enough to pull that set up.if you dont have at least a dually your pissing in the wind, and you will need at least a class 5 hitch. anyone that tells you other wise is a fool. you can waste your time and put the w/d numbers together all you want. your only fooling yourself. a lot of fellas on this board with f-250s and w/d systems and they are towing 38 foot rigs. they will tell you its fine. they are out of their minds. get the right set up, do it right cause, god for bid you get into a wreck or hurt someone your insurance will never cut you a check, and you will find yourself signing over your house. do yourself a favor and do it right, you will sleep better at night..

Mine is bolted to the frame from GM, as I stated i was only going by mine. Mine could have been special ordered as I bought the truck with 30k miles on it, it also has 8.1 and allison tow pkg.