FALSE. You need to do your homework before you start spewing these "facts". Class IV hitches are rated for trailers up to 12k pounds or 1200 pounds of tongue weight. Stop and think before you post...why would dodge brag about a tow rating of 10k pounds and then put a hitch on that truck that is only rated for 5k.

But i will agree that a weight distributing hitch is highly recommended for trailers around the 10k pound mark that are being towed by a half ton truck.

 

from valley website:

VALLEY CLASS IV RECEIVER TRAILER HITCH, 1 PIECE -- 500 lbs. Tongue Weight/5000 lbs. Gross Trailer Weight For Weight Carrying, 1000 lbs. Tongue Weight/10000 lbs. Gross Trailer Weight For Weight Distributing, Bumper Mount, Features Corrosion Resistant Powder Polyester Black Paint, Includes Pull Wire, Plates, Nuts, Bolts, And Key Wrench, Easy No-Drill Installation, With Valley's Limited Lifetime Warranty

So to get over 5k with a valley you need weight distributing.

Draw-Tite:
Part Number: 75662
Description: Max-Frame Receiver
Finish: Black Powder Coat
Warranty: Limited Lifetime
Weight Carrying: 600/6000 lbs.(TW/GTW)
Weight Distributing: 1000/10,000 lbs.(TW/GTW)

So to get over 6k with draw tite you need weight distributing.


Reese:

Part Number: 44603
Description: Professional Receiver
Class Rating: CLASS III/IV
WC / WD: 6000 lb. / 10,000 lb.

So to get over 6k with reese you need weight distributing.

And the important one

MOPAR:

http://moparestore.trademotion.com/M...tch%20Receiver

12,000-lb tow rating, 1,200-lb tongue weight rating with weight distributing equipment; otherwise 5,000-lb. tow rating, 500-lb tongue weight rating, includes receiver plug, 2.0"" opening, Hitch Ball and Ball mount sold separately

Fits: Ram 1500


So before YOU call someone out do YOUR reaserch. Hell go look at the back of your truck, your bumper which is what your receiver is mounted to says that it is good up to 500/5000.

The trucks are rated to their higher numbers with the weight distributing setup...

You cannot get to a ram 3500 dually to rated capacity without a specialty equipment (fifth wheel). What makes you think you can do it with a 1500?

Dodge rates to maximum capacity with a weight distributing hitch, a 150 lb driver and no load. Guess how I know: I do this for a living and I did my research.

 

My point? If you are towing a 7500 lb trailer (as jayman seems to think is fine) without a weight distributing system, you are at 150% capacity. If you are at 10,000 (which he thinks is marginal) you are at 200%. I know most of you who had not read this would have been comfortable towing 7500 with your trucks.

So... if the OP is 250lbs over capacity once in a while as opposed to 2.5K he should be fine.

Sorry if I sound like a dick in my posts. I generally know what I am talking about and I get a little defensive when I get called out...

 

This has been an educating, albeit contentious discussion. Although I have been in compliance with Dodge and Industry standards for towing various trailer weights; I was not aware of the requirement for a weight distributing hitch for weights over 5,000 lbs.

Well, here it is in black and white.

What disturbs me is that the 2009 Ram 1500 owner's manual does not specifically state the case for the requirement. It only refers you to the Dodge.com website "for further information".



http://www.dodge.com/towing/D/basics...ght_class.html

Before you select a towing vehicle you need to determine the weight of the trailer being towed as well as the weight the vehicle will carry while towing. To make things easier and provide a good margin of safety, Dodge has created five classifications for trailer weights and hitches. Take a look at the breakdown of maximum weights for each class, typical trailer loads, and hitch requirements below.
2,000-pound maximum Folding camping trailers and trailers for small boats, motorcycles, and snowmobiles Load-carrying (non-equalizing) hitch
3,500-pound maximum Single-axle, small to medium length (up to 18 feet) trailers
5,000-pound maximum Dual-axle or large single-axle trailers Weight-distributing hitch not required, unless specified for a particular vehicle
12,000-pound maximum Largest travel trailers made for recreation Weight-distributing hitch is required; as indicated by each weight classification, there are
three types of hitches that are required
Over 12,000-pounds Must be fifth-wheel or gooseneck

 

Dont know how your hitch is mounted but mine is bolted to my frame and not my bumper.

 

is that the truck can probably tow more than it is rated BUT I know that if something "bad" happens and a member of my family is hurt and somehow the trailer or my trucks ability to haul what I am towing comes into play I do not want that on my conscience. WHen I am towing my trailer and my family is in the truck safety is my first concern. YEah if I knew better from the get go I would have found my trailer first then the truck as the 2009 limits your trailer choices but I have a 30 foot trailer that weighs 4800 dry and with it all added up stays under the weight rating.

 

Ok so u r saying your truck is different from every other Ram since 03 or you are saying you have mo idea what you are talking about....

The Ram like the f150 and unlike the silverado has its bumper bolted to the receiver on trucks with factory towing and a bar shaped like the receiver on trucks without it. All the weigt placed on the bumper is teansfered to this bar. This bar is all that attaches your bumper to the frame. The reason your bumper and your receiver are rated 500/5000 is because that is what this bar is rated to. Go look at the back of your truck. It is almost like your bumper is just a decorative cover for this bar.

Again, not to be a Dick but this is my job. I have hundreds of hours of training in towing and towing accessories, and thousands of hours actually towing. Odds are I either know what I am talking about or have the resources at hand to check my info. If you want to debate art or the design of transmissions or the best way to build a house, then I will defer, bit it is frankly insulting that someone who does not deal with these questions on a daily basis is questioning my expertise.

Sorry to vent.

 

well you stated that the receiver is bolted to the bumper and then stated that the bumper is bolted to the receiver. Now which is it? What part is connected to the frame of this truck. Is the receiver connected to the frame and then the bumper is bolted to the receiver or is the bumper bolted to the frame with the receiver bolted to the bumper.

 

frogslinger posted a link to the mopar hitch site which linked to this diagram

http://moparestore.trademotion.com/m...s/K6860344.pdf

Should answer anyone's question about what is bolted to what.

 

Jay, I said

1) the bumper is bolted to the receiver.
2) the bumper is only connected to the frame via the receiver (in other words the weight put on a ball on a ball mounted on the bumper transfers directly to the receiver, I think if you look that if you install a ball in the cutouts on your bumper it actually bolts through the receiver)
3) if you look carefully the bumper is essentially just a decorative cover for the receiver.

Not sure how I can make that any simpler. It should be Private proof.