[A/S] Hitch Receiver Ratings

["Harvey Barlow" <harveybarlow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jim,

Actually, that is not correct.  A Class III hitch, while it may vary
slightly by application, is usually rated to tow no more than 5k pounds.  A
Class IV is normally rated at around 7.5k to 9k pounds.  The Reese Hitch
website provides a hitch classification table at:
www.reesehitch.com/selection.html  Reese's table is slightly different than
the old classification tables that have been around for many years in that
Reese has expanded the rating of the Class IV.  Reese is the company that
recently introduced the Class V hitch which is rated at 12k.

Reese rates its Class III at 5k with our without weight distributing bars
and its Class IV at 12k with weight distributing bars and 7500 without.

My guess for the reason some trailer owners are experiencing hitch platform
failure is because they are towing heavy Airstreams (or other brands) with
Class III hitch receivers.

Harvey