Has anyone replaced their factory hitch with one of a great weight capacity? I find it odd that the truck is capable of 7k lbs but the hitch is only rated at 5k lbs with a 500lb tongue weight unless using a WDH. I currently have a 5x8 v nose enclosed trailer but will be upgrading to a 7x12 v nose. Problem is the v makes a WDH that fits almost impossible it seems. Was considering replacing the hitch with a higher capacity. The trailer and load will be about 6500lbs.

 

Yes, many people have changed to a heavier hitch, over the past ~45 years of F150s.

 

The class IV receivers on modern F150s are plenty strong. Don’t change it for an aftermarket unit that is likely inferior regardless of ratings.

 

It's my opinion and my opinion only that the 53B meets the typical Class IV parameters of 1000/10000 and 1200/12000. Ford just changes the sticker when they raise the max rating on the highest rated truck that uses it. Right now that's 500/5000 and 1160/11600 and guess what the hitch sticker says.

​​​​​​While I don't condone it if I had a dollar for every 5000 lb+ boat trailer pulled by an F150 with the factory 53B Hitch I would be a rich man.
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These are integrated with the bumper. Take one off they both come off. Some of the hitches I seen are for ones without a factory hitch. Didn't know if there was a difference.

I don't plan on going past the rating of the truck. It's rated at 7500lbs. I'm gonna be around 6500lbs with maybe around 700lbs max TW. I'd rather use a WDH if I can get it to work with the trailer.

 

I'll send you a dollar via PayPal. Pulls our 525lb tongue weight 6500lb total weight boat just fine.

I wouldn't go much past 500lb on the tongue w/o a WDH though, even at that number you can tell weight is coming off the front end.

 

All f150's weigh about the same. So anything more than 500 lbs in the hitch lightens the front end to much and effects the steering and braking . It's a see saw effect. So the WDH puts more weight back on the front tires so you don't have understeer.
You can throw on a super duty heavy duty tow receiver system. Throw 1,000 lbs on the bag and good luck stopping or turning in the rain. The front tires do 60% of the braking. If you tow to light on the ball (under 10%) the trailer will wobble to the point of being out off control at any decent speed.

 

I think you’re exaggerating more than a little. Some F150s can handle 1300 pounds of tongue weight With WDH and 25% Front axle weight return per the manual This puts the same weight on the front axle as 1000 pounds on the tongue With a WCH.

 

Don't get me wrong I'm all for getting a WDH. Problem I'm finding is that the springs are to long for my v nose trailer. Where the chains hook up the saddles would be forward causing the chains to be tilted forward.

 

Yes, there have been MANY differences in the F150s that have been produced over the past ~45 years. But since you haven't mentioned which one you're talking about, no one can give you any specific opinion about anything.No, they really don't. A '75 F150 2WD I6 std.cab short bed doesn't weigh 1/2 what a '95 F150 5.8L 4WD Xcab long bed weighs, which isn't in the same league as a 2015 F150 Scab 4WD with the biggest engine.