Suburban Trailer / Tow / Reciever Hitches

[blakeduren]

Let's talk tow hitches...
I have an 83 Sub with the 40 gallon tank in back. C20 w/454.
The factory Hitch says up to 4000 or 9500 w/WD

I'm looking to tow 5000-7000 with different trailers with out a WD setup.

Doesn't the factory rating seem a bit low compared to aftermarket ones that look similar?
Has any one here towed about 7000 with a stock hitch and no WD?

Has anyone used the "drill install" class 4 hitches before? It looks like you just have to drill one extra hole on each side to mount it all up.

Let's hear your experiences!
Blake


Here is regular class III, with 5000 tongue like most of them do.
http://www.realtruck.com/curt_2_trai...01M13369A.html


Here are some Class IV, with 10,000 or 12,000 on the tongue

http://www.realtruck.com/reese_class...983Y101MA.html

http://www.realtruck.com/hidden_hitc...101M7648A.html

http://www.realtruck.com/draw-tite_u...101M7654A.html

Here is a class 3 or 4 w/6000 tongue weight

http://www.realtruck.com/draw-tite_m...101M7520A.html

[blakeduren]

Or is it a dirty secret that everyone just tows whatever they want with a factory hitch? It looks pretty stout compared to some aftermarket ones.

[blakeduren]

http://www.autopartsdeal.com/catalog...d=C20+Suburban

Here is one. It is the second one listed.
7500 tongue...but it seems to be a 3 piece bolt together design.

[blakeduren]

Nobody?

[blakeduren]

Well, not alot of input from you guys...
I'm leaning towards the Drawtite class 3/4 with 6000 tongue. The only "big" trailer i will pull for a while will be 4000-6000 pounds depending how it's loaded. Only in the future will i want a higher load rating, and I guess I will use a WD setup if I ever pull a full size truck on a flat bed trailer or something.
chime in with any real world experience...

http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitc...icleid=1983468

[texassquarebodies]

The factory hitches do pretty good. I pulled a 20ft. all steel trailer with a 3/4 ton diesel square on the back and it did just fine. My burb is a 1/2 ton too.

[blakeduren]

THANK YOU!!!
That is what i was wondering.
The factory hitch looks like it has more metal to it then the class 3/4 hitch from drawtite.
Only the true class 4's have bigger tubes on them and maybe an extra bolt.
I plan on towing with the factory hitch up to 6000 lbs or so for a couple of years and see how it goes.
Fill me in on anymore stories that you guys have.
Thanks
Blake

[77gmcjoe]

I haven't done a lot of towing with a 'Burb, but we do a lot of towing with my family's duallys. We've always taken them to a welding shop and had the factory hitches reinforced for heavy towing and have never had any problems with them. If you're worried about the factory hitch not being stout enough you could prolly do the same thing.

[blakeduren]

Any pictures of the reinforcement?

[blakeduren]

One more bump to the top if anyone has anymore towing experience with the stock hitch...

[motornut]

Last weekend i helped my bro-inlaw move a trailer,found a fellow GMer stuck down to the diff pullin out a 5th wheel.Pulled it all out,truck and trailer lol it's still attached.first pic saw what was happening,second after unhooking it from the back

[junkyardjohn]

I WORKED AT GM. TRUCK & BUS FROM 1982 TILL. 1987. IT WAS AN ASSEMBLY PLANT THAT BUILT SUBURBAN, BLAZERS & PICKUPS. IT WAS KINDA A NICHE MARKET AS THEY WERE THE ONLY SUBURBAN ASSY. PLANT IN NORTH AMERICA. IT WAS THE ONLY VEHICAL IN THE WORLD THAT WOULD PULL A 40' TRAVEL TRAILOR, WITH 9 ADULT PASSENGERS, AT 70 MPH, ALL DAY LONG. GREAT TRUCKS. JOHN

[blakeduren]

Great stories and pics!

SO, no one has ever seen the factory hitch bend or fail?
They look stout to me...

[junkyardjohn]

Originally Posted by blakeduren

Great stories and pics!

SO, no one has ever seen the factory hitch bend or fail?
They look stout to me...

I PERSONALLY HAVE NEVER SEEN A FACTORY REIEVER TYPE HITCH FAIL. BUT THEN AGAIN... I'M ONLY 52.... THERES ALOT OF THINGS I'VE NEVER SEEN. JOHN