When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Looking at my 2003 F250’s factory hitch and an aftermarket Class IV for my truck model, how is there such a delta in numbers between the hitches? Is it subjective? Or are there any federal certifications involved?
Just don’t understand how my factory hitch is rated higher(15000lbs) in weight distribution than the aftermarket hitch(12000lbs), but lower in weight carrying(6000lbs) vs the aftermarket hitch(10000lbs).
Pictures of aftermarket hitch numbers (for my truck model) and the sticker on my factory hitch attached. Thanks.
The hitch "class" numbers mean whatever the manufacture of that hitch wants them to mean. Kinda like stage numbers for aftermarket injectors in diesels or supercharge kits for gassers "ie, stage 3 injectors". A lot of stuff in the automotive world is this way, like load range E tires can mean different weights depending on the tire manufacturer. Best to look at the actual numbers (like you're doing) than to go off of class "x" hitch.
...
