Towing-related stuff?

[James]

This the right part for something towing related?

I was just wondering, is a Class 3 hitch or whatever that bolts onto the frame the same as a Class 4?
If not, what's the difference?

[FORDification]

Trailer hitches come in class 1, 2, 2.5, 3, 4 and class 5 ratings. Not all classes are available for all vehicles but the higher the rating the more you can tow.

Class 1 style hitches have a 2000 lbs. gross towing weight and 200 lbs. tongue weight.

Class 2 style hitches have a 3500 lbs. gross towing weight and 350 lbs. tongue weight.

Class 3 style hitches have a 3500 lbs. gross towing weight and 500 lbs. tongue weight.

Class 4 style hitches have a 7500 lbs. gross towing weight and 1000 lbs. tongue weight.

Class 5 style hitches have a 10,000 lbs. gross towing weight and 1,200 lbs. tongue weight.

[James]

cool, thanks.
Any idea what it means when it says a hitch is class 3/4/5?
I don't think a hitch can be 3 separate classes at the same time. and there's no option to select class, unless it's how you bolt it on or something..

[72hiboy4x4]

thats probably depending on three things:
1) size of the ball (1 7/8", 2", 2 5/16")
2) what size truck its on. (1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, 1 ton)
3) weather or not you use a weight-distributing hitch unit.

My guess is #2. these are very sensitive to what truck they are on for the ratings. A 1/2 ton won't be able to carry as much tongue weight as a 1 ton truck.

[averagef250]

If you're shopping for a reciever hitch and you're handy with a welder you can build yourself one heck of a tough mother hitch for far less than what an off the shelf V-5 costs. If you have a big truck upfitter shop near you like six states distributors they carry pre-cut reciever hitch related materials and this stuff is far beefier than what you can get pre-made. For my truck, I just made up a cardboard template that used all the holes on the rear outside of the frame and also incorporated the bracket for the stock rear bumper. I took the template down to a local job shop and had the brackets cnc plasma cut from 3/8" A36 plate for $30. I didn't have to drill a single hole in my truck's frame, the installation nearly looks factory and it's held up to 8K or so of tongue weight and 25K+ pound trailers.

[James]

Awesome.

Now here's a mind-boggler, would the frame mount points to a hitch be the same on a '71 F-100 as they would on a '94 F-150?


I'm not 'handy' with a welder, but I have know someone with a welder and my brothers have broken and welded enough stuff that I could get one of them to do it.

The best thing about me is, it could look like absolute crap as long as it holds up well and the price is right I don't care
(One of my ideas would be strapping 3-4 radiators onto a truck. Front of grill, under the truck, on the fenders, possibly on the hood or top of the truck, but since it's not good for an engine to run too cool...heh..Sad part is I would drive a truck with said parts attached, before you ask, yes, I'm fairly sure I lost my mind about 5 years ago )

[averagef250]

No. 67-72 all and 73-77 F-250 4x4 have a skinny rear frame.