I have a 2002 F-250 CC, 4x4, 7.3
I was looking at my receiver and noticed that the sticker states that it is a V-5.
Can someone explain the difference between this and a class 5 hitch.
I have an 8,500 lb boat, with trailer the wet weight is probably about 10,000 #
Do I need to upgrade this hitch.
By the way, boat trailers don't come with equalizers, so that is not an option.

Thanks for your help.

 

It is way short of a class-5. Should also state the rating on the sticker, but all I have seen are 6,000lb or 12,000lb with WD hitch. 600lb tongue wt I think, Very low and you will find that hitch all over CL for sale. Why Ford put that on your f250 or a F350 DRW is a common discussion.

 

Yea i believe tim is correct and it's just another way for saying class 5 hitch and looking at my 2000 f250 the hitch also is a v-5 and reads Weight distributing 10000 and weight carrying 5000 so you might want to check and find the sticker.

 

My sticker states;
Weight distributing 12,500 for gross trailer weight 1,250 for max tongue wt
Weight carrying 5,000 for gross trailer weight 500 for max tongue wt

This is less than the Suburban that this truck replaced!

What I am trying to determine is this dangerous, or do I need to replace the hitch to comply with laws.
I see a lot of Super Duty trucks towing heavy, I doubt that they all replaced the V-5 hitch with a class 5 hitch.

 

I don't think I have ever seen a trailer of any sort actually come with a WDH. They are always an add-on as far I know. If you think that because you have a surge brake on a trailer it can not be weight distributed, it can. Reese sells one along with others. Check out eTrailer.

 

Surge brakes is one issue, the other is how boat trailers are constructed.
Most have a long tube that the hitch and brakes are mounted to, unlike a travel trailer there is no structural members flaring out to mount the WDH arms to.
Usually this tube is 3" wide.
You would have to rig up some type of outrigger to connect the arms to

 

I guess you did not check out eTrailer, so let me help you out:
etrailer.com - Products reese sc

 

V-5 is an industry quality standard and has nothing to do with the capacity of the hitch. Class 3/4/5 is the capacity. Class 4 is usually between 10K and 12K total trailer weight and the hitch is rated for use with weight distribution. Some Class 3 hitches look similar, have the same 2" square receiver, but are not rated for WD. Class 5 is the 2 1/2" square receiver that you can get on some Fords, the Reese Towbeast, some other aftermarket hitches, and can be rated pretty high.

Your boat will be over the weight-carrying (as opposed to weight distribution) trailer weight rating of the stock hitch on your F250, but the tongue weight may be OK since boat trailers often have the axles way back and quite a light tongue weight. If the tongue weight is under the rating (600 lbs from memory) then I would say you are OK.

Brian

 

 

Hi Lattitde Adjuster, I'm new here but tried to post on your hitch question.
please see my picture on this thread, sincerely< Deepseapat

 

I would hope that after a DECADE, OP was able to get this figured out and move his boat.

 

Thanks Deepseat Pat! I am looking at a V5 hitch to put on my Maverick to tow a boat and think you answered my question.