anybody know the weight carring max for the factory installed hitch ? the owners manualis very scetchy on facts I think its a 3500# with a 350# tongue weight but the dealership told him class 5 anyway his is bending down with a 376# tongue weight after a trip from FL.to TX. and back looking to put a draw tite 75338 on it they say It is 500# rated and I hoping this is a upgrade called putnum valley curt & cequent towing (witch is draw tite) and draw tite seems to be the best rated looking for idea's

Per this website:

http://www-5.jeep.com/vehsuite/VehicleCompare.jsp
(You may need to start from the beginning and drill down to Technical Data/Capacities.)

6500 towing properly equipped, which means a Full Weight Distribution setup.
(10% tongue weight would be 650 lbs. w/ WD setup.)

and

3500 standard, which means with a regular weight carrying hitch.
(10% tongue weight would be 350 lbs. w/ weight carrying setup.)

While 376 lbs. does not seem over the standard WC setup by to much, remember, each big bump you go over when you tow drastically increases the weight on the hitch as the trailer bounces for and aft. This cantilever effect is probably what weakened/bent the hitch, or worse, the frame. This all needs to be checked out, probably by a body shop with a computerized frame aligner.


Contact Putnam before your friend purchases a new hitch.
http://www.putnamhitch.com/
See if they make a hitch for the Commander. I am on my 2nd Putnam, and like it very much. Its far superior to any stock setup.