Ricktwuhk

Are you suggesting that the tongue weight was 500 pounds or less? I judged from the description, and the picture, that it was more than 500 pounds and therefore over capacity.

BadBoy4fun_wa

The best solution to this whole deal IMHO is a heavier duty hitch. I recommend a class IV hitch which is able to handle up to 1200 Tongue Weight and 12k Gross Weight. For F150s not as common but on my F250s I always replaced the factory hitch with the class IV hitch if not so equipped. My Dad always had a big boat and the standard hitch and receivers were not rated high enough.

For big big tow jobs they even make a Class VI that is rated at 2k and 20k.

etrailer.com is great source for Q&A for information like this. Here are some more details on all Hitches: https://www.etrailer.com/faq-hitchclasses.aspx

Davidmackv

How do you know what class hitch you have? I have the hitch that comes with the factory tow package.

My hitch sticker says FOMOCO, V-5

Distribution weight. Total 10,500. Tongue. 1500
Carry weight. Total 5,000. Tongue 500

I take it this is a Class IV hitch?

Dirttracker18

As was noted already, a WDH does not reduce the stress on the hitch but redistributes weight. The OP already noted the failure as due to rust.

However, yes I am suggesting the hitch weight was not an issue. Unless it was a much larger than it appears trailer loaded with horses, no it was very likely not over capacity.

I still fail to see how one could assume it was over capacity by the picture posted. All we see is a small part of the tongue.

Ricktwuhk

Class 4, with an engineering spec for a tad more weight.

mike243

You cant beat mother nature and add some salt and bang,rust and life happens,its to late to worry about load ratings,fix it and keep a eye on the rust in the future.glad the frame looks to be in good shape.

rogersmithiii

The trailer was filled with 90 bales of hay. The load was pretty balanced over the wheels. In fact, the front two feet on the trailer were empty. The rear end of the truck was not sinking at all. There was a lot of load on the trailer as I backed it up a slight incline into the driveway though. Assuming 50 pounds a bale, the trailer was carrying 4500 pounds of hay. Add the weight of the trailer (3700 pounds), I don't think I exceeded the truck's capacity. I have a 5 L V8, 4WD, and the factory trailer package.

rogersmithiii

It's at the dealer to find out if the frame and mounts are OK. If there's rot, I'm looking at a new truck. I didn't think that 12 year old trucks rotted anymore.

Saying prayers it's just the hitch.


And yes, they indicated that the factory sells a class IV with the trailer tow package.

jp360cj

So you're estimating 8200# for the loaded trailer. You listed the hitch weight capacity at 1500. Was that a typo? I suspect it's actually 1050 for the factory hitch. That's just under 13% of 8200 #. You were very likely at or near (or over) the capacity of the hitch.

rogersmithiii

The good news is that it didn't let go going down the highway. The good news is that the frame was OK, and I didn't need a new truck.

The bad news is that the mounting plates were bent, and all the hardware was rusted together. It took 6 hours of labor to get the old hitch off, and the new one finished. $1500 for the job. $460 just for the hitch.

Ouch.