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Towing Hitches?

Discussion in 'Towing & Hauling' started by Ryan Mc., Jul 22, 2016.

  1. Jul 22, 2016 at 7:13 AM
    #1
    Ryan Mc.

    Ryan Mc. [OP] New Member

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    Hand made bed divider, bed d-rings
    2015 Tundra DC w/ tow pkg 5.7 (stock)

    I recently acquired a towing hitch. It is a 2" drop 2-5/16" ball with a towing capacity of 12,000 lbs and the hitch is rated up to 16,000 lbs. It is a regular set-up, no weight transfer.

    Mind you I do not have a trailer yet but when I do, I plan on towing to the max of my Tundra (10,300 lbs)...being a toy hauler around the 18' - 20' range. Nothing BIG, maybe a 2 toy max setup...like atvs, or maybe 3 including a dirt bike.

    Is the hitch I received junk/waste of money since it doesn't have a weight transfer system?
    Is 2-5/16" a good size or should have I acquired a 2" ball?
    Is a weight transfer system recommended or required when towing in the 8-10k lbs range?
     
  2. Jul 22, 2016 at 8:47 AM
    #2
    PlatinumPro

    PlatinumPro New Member

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    i can only answer part of what you're asking as i only haul a 10' aluminum trailer for my quad.
    the drop hitch you bought sounds fine and a 2" drop is pretty common but realistically you don't know how much drop you need until you hook up your toy hauler and see how level it sits.
    also, you buy the ball according to the size of the hitch so until you decide what you're dealing with it don't go spending trying to guesstimate what you'll end up with.
    past that stabilizers are something i've never had to pleasure of dealing with so maybe someone else can chime in.
    my little tacoma used to have zero issues pulling my quad around
    f2063870-7164-48ff-8486-504f72a62a80_zps_481791a2cdafbdfcf492bb9e936372057a129e97.jpg
     
  3. Jul 22, 2016 at 9:19 AM
    #3
    bobeast

    bobeast really old member

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    - Bull Bar - LED Bunny Burners - AMP retractable running boards - Headlight leveling retrofit - P3 Brake Controller - 60% rear seat delete - relocation of Sub to rear wall - Bilstein 5100 x4, top setting with 2 shims per side - Coach builder +2 rear shackles w/carrier bearing drop - Firestone Air bags - on-board compressor with auto-leveling - Dual Undercover Swing Boxes. - P285/65/R20 (34.6") BFG TA KO2's - TRD Front skid plate - Pop & Lock Tailgate lock - Remote Tailgate mod - LED Headlights - Nav Bypass - iPhone integration - Serius/XM retrofit - 25% front tint - Bizon electric tonneau cover - Power folding tow mirror upgrade - 2010+ leveling Headlight mod - Auto-fold mirror mod. - one-touch lane changer mod - Flash to open garage opener mod - Rigid H/L fog light upgrade - Pushbutton / Remote start mod.
    A 2" drop hitch is not gonna cut it, regardless of ball size or stated rating. You are going to need a weight distributing hitch to tow at max capacity. This is assuming you have the factory tow package. A simple drop hitch is more suitable for making dump-runs with a utility trailer. My rule of thumb is, if the trailer you are towing, is big enough to need its own brakes, you should be using a WD hitch.
     
    ColoradoTJ likes this.
  4. Jul 22, 2016 at 10:39 AM
    #4
    alalmcgrath

    alalmcgrath Old Fart at Large!

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    ^^^^
    What he said.
     
  5. Jul 22, 2016 at 10:43 AM
    #5
    Ryan Mc.

    Ryan Mc. [OP] New Member

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    So then if this is true, why do they make drop hitches without WD? After acquiring the hitch and looking at my dad's set-up, it is a mystery why they make such a device when it is useless.
     
  6. Jul 22, 2016 at 10:52 AM
    #6
    bobeast

    bobeast really old member

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    Hollister, CA
    Vehicle:
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    - Bull Bar - LED Bunny Burners - AMP retractable running boards - Headlight leveling retrofit - P3 Brake Controller - 60% rear seat delete - relocation of Sub to rear wall - Bilstein 5100 x4, top setting with 2 shims per side - Coach builder +2 rear shackles w/carrier bearing drop - Firestone Air bags - on-board compressor with auto-leveling - Dual Undercover Swing Boxes. - P285/65/R20 (34.6") BFG TA KO2's - TRD Front skid plate - Pop & Lock Tailgate lock - Remote Tailgate mod - LED Headlights - Nav Bypass - iPhone integration - Serius/XM retrofit - 25% front tint - Bizon electric tonneau cover - Power folding tow mirror upgrade - 2010+ leveling Headlight mod - Auto-fold mirror mod. - one-touch lane changer mod - Flash to open garage opener mod - Rigid H/L fog light upgrade - Pushbutton / Remote start mod.
    A drop hitch just describes the shape of the shank. In fact, most weight distributing hitches use a drop shank of one type or another, depending on what it takes to level out your trailer. If your trailer is light enough, relative to your tow and load capacities, you can get away with just a simple drop shank as in the dump-run example. If your trailer starts pushing the limits of your capacity, then a WD hitch is called for. Now whether that WD hitch uses a drop shank or not, is an entirely different conversation.

    As to why they make non WD hitches; They are not useless but like anything else, they should be used in the appropriate situations. Your stated goal of towing an 8-10k toy hailer is not one of them

    Now when all is said and done, its your decision as to what type of hitch to use. There are no tow-police hereabouts, but hey, you did ask :)
     
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2016
  7. Jul 22, 2016 at 10:53 AM
    #7
    chphilo

    chphilo Tundra addict

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    These hitches are fine for smaller trailers.

    edit: ^^what he said. He beat me to it.
     
  8. Jul 22, 2016 at 12:41 PM
    #8
    Ryan Mc.

    Ryan Mc. [OP] New Member

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    Thanks. I do understand the drop hitch principle. I just don't understand why make a non WD hitch that can handle 16000 lbs? That part seems useless. I'd assume anything over 16k would be better with a WD.
     
  9. Jul 22, 2016 at 1:17 PM
    #9
    bandit

    bandit New Member

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    An LDH setup like this will serve you well in the long run. I've been using blue ox for the past few years hauling cars.
    6571D2E0-F90E-49E2-A8BC-E2763EB9CC9B.jpg
     
    ColoradoTJ likes this.
  10. Jul 22, 2016 at 2:54 PM
    #10
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Oh lord...not this again...LOL
     
    bandit[QUOTED] likes this.
  11. Jul 22, 2016 at 3:03 PM
    #11
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Good question Ryan. There are other trucks on the market that can tow this kind of weight without a LDH. A F-550 comes to mind, with maximum of 2500 lbs tongue weight and 20K trailer weight. The F-550 also can tow 30K with weight distribution. In the end, it is up to the user to purchase the correct equipment. I have a hitch in my truck now that is way over the rating of my truck. No harm in doing that.

    FYI, our Tundra's require a LDH after 5K lbs of trailer weight. I have towed more with no LDH, but I wasn't on the highway either.
     
    Ryan Mc.[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  12. Jul 22, 2016 at 5:48 PM
    #12
    Tundraplatinum

    Tundraplatinum New Member

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    Very good information here. Definitely need wd hitch with toy hauler. I would recommend equalizer brand from experience with different ones
     
    ColoradoTJ likes this.
  13. Jul 22, 2016 at 7:21 PM
    #13
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    That is what I have.

    @bandit might suggest a blue ox LDC, and if I was in the market I would look at those as well.
     
    bandit likes this.

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