If towing OVER 6k, how critical is it to have a ball mount rated over 6000 pounds? The majority of the mounts I have seen are rated at 5k or 6k.

 

I would have to say you need to have one rated for more than the what you are towing not worth the risk of having it break due to the added weight it was designed for.

 

I once saw a 3" ball, no idea how much it was rated for. I always thought 2 5/16" was the biggest at 5k.

 

The rating on the larger ***** is predicated on the shank dia as well as the ball dia. You can get a 2 5/16" ball rated for 10,000#

 

I'd DEFINITELY get one rated over 6K, although you aren't gonna find them at Wal-Mart or Target. If you have to mash the brake for whatever reason, it could spell disaster if you don't have what you're supposed to have.

 

Or 30,000#'s in a goose neck with a 2 5/16 ball where the shank is 2" square solid steel.

That shank on the ball is attached is just as important as the receiver mount. They come in a multitude of sizes and weight ratings regardless of ball diameter.

 

I guess I was unclear with my question. Is it important to have a ball mount, the part that slides into the receiver and gets the ball mounted to it, to be rated for a 7000# trailer weight. Where can I find one rated as such or higher? I do not want to tow a loaded 7k# trailer with a ball mount rated for 6k.
Thanks for all the help guys!

 

Your receiver / hitch, draw bar (you call it a ball mount) and ball are all parts of a system. Your entire system needs to be up to the task at hand. Any part of the system that is not will be the likely failure point. For instance, if you put a 10,000 lb. draw bar into a hitch / receiver only rated for 7,500 lbs and tow a 9,900 lb trailer, guess what part will fail?

As for where to find the good stuff, try Reese or even your local U-Haul outlet. They carry a full line of the stuff you will need.

 

Don't know about the 7k ball mount; for sure, a weight distribution ball mount rated at 10K would fill the bill. Expect to pay at least a couple of hundred off ebay for a used/new setup. You may find a wd ball mount without having to buy the wd bars, chains, etc..

I did have a tractor/trailer combination that weighed-in at 7k; I felt safer with the wd equipment/hitch rated at 10k. That ball mount was SOLID steel; no 2" tubing!

Sorry if that doesn't help.

 

cliles55,
Thanks for the info I will look for one of the solid 10k draw bars.

2stroked,
Thanks for the schooling!

 

Convert-a-ball makes 10K rated draw bars. They're the ones with the anti shock deal built into them.

Tell ya what, Wish I'd of gotten one alot sooner, takes all that cling and clang out of the back while towing and really does ease up on the drive train and all. Works great.

10K rated ball's are usually in the 1 1/4 inch shaft diameters and up, so you'll need a 2 inch diam draw bar that will accept a 1 1/4 shaft hitch ball.

I tow a 7K load with that set up on a class IV hitch and isnt a problem.
So far, pretty happy with my 05 F150 XLT, does the job alot better than my Dodge did.

Best of luck!

Note: if your towing a boat, and the trailer has surge brakes, alot of weight distribution hitches wont allow the surge function to operate properly. So you'd have to go electric brakes, or with a surge brake compatable WD system, And I've only seen "one" out there (equal-i-zer Weight Distribution hitch for boat trailers).

 

www.etrailer.com has EVERYTHING you will need for towing

 

Zaairman,

Thanks for the link. They have the "ballmount" I was looking for.

 

a 10K ball hitch on a 6K draw bar is like modding a Hyundai Sonata with a Porche K&N air filter. Match the two.

I was always told that you should have about 1.5 times the amt of towing availability on your bar and hitch than you have ON that hitch if it's at all possible. Conservative? yes. Waste of money? Maybe. Safe? Oh yeah.

 

Does no one read from the top down?!

I requested information about a "ballmount" the part the ball is bolted to...it can also be called a "drawbar". I was looking for a "ballmount" as I have called it that was rated higher than 6k, as my truck is rated above 6k.

If per say I wish to tow a 7k trailer, I would like, and have found a "ballmount", "drawbar", "the piece the ball is bolted to" that is rated above the trailer weight, in this case 10k.