[jhtransit]

All Transit models seem to come with Class III hitches. The Van 250 with 3.5 EB and 2.73 is rated at 7000# tow capacity. Class III hitches are limited to 5000#. Can a weight distributing set-up take the capacity to 7000# or will I have to get a Curt Class IV (available for Transit) and use my weight distributing set-up?

 

[Airedrifter]

The Manual specifically states that load distribution hitches are not suitable for the Transit. I'm guessing unibody...

 

[PeterR]

All Transit models seem to come with Class III hitches. The Van 250 with 3.5 EB and 2.73 is rated at 7000# tow capacity. Class III hitches are limited to 5000#. Can a weight distributing set-up take the capacity to 7000# or will I have to get a Curt Class IV (available for Transit) and use my weight distributing set-up?

You might be interested in this thread:

http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/accessories-add-ons/7561-rear-hitch.html

and the January 2015 and later posts on this thread:

http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/79089-post48.html

And this short thread about the Trailer Brake Controller FYI FWIW:

http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/...3-trailer-brake-controller-worth-trouble.html

Good luck!

 

[jhtransit]

Thanks for the info. 'Rear hitch' did not show up under 'Towing'. Just what I needed.

 

[PeterR]

Thanks for the info. 'Rear hitch' did not show up under 'Towing'. Just what I needed.

Welcome to the forum by the way! This site is not moderated much, thus you will find all kinds of subject matter "mis-filed" (IMO) in various sub-forums. Thanks for checking under Towing anyway.

The site's search function (to the right) works well, however, and the search results usually contain what you are looking for, somewhere in the list . . . or at least a good lead . . .

 

[audiopyle]

If anyone has photos of a Class 4 hitch installation vs Class 3 I'd like to see them.

 

[jhtransit]

If anyone has photos of a Class 4 hitch installation vs Class 3 I'd like to see them.

Go to the Curt web site. There is a Class III and a Class IV available. There are installation sheets for each and you can get a pretty good idea of the differences. I had to replace my Sprinter OEM hitch with a Curt hitch as the Sprinter hitch had further restrictions besides 5000#/500#TW. Curt allowed greater load, TW and the use of weight distributing. The 6 cylinder Sprinter is an excellent tow machine. Am impressed with the Transit tow package, just not with the Class III limitation.

 

[jhtransit]

Looked at the label on a Transit hitch today and it is V5. Don't know what that means but the rest of the label said it was good for over 7000# with weight distributing. That covers the tow capacity of the van and means I won't have to get another hitch!

 

[Budsky]

The factory hitch on my 350 HD is rated for somewhere over 7000 lbs weight distributing.
Seems odd Ford would place a hitch with decals advising weight distributing capabilities then elsewhere say don't do that.

 

[danketchpel]

Looked at the label on a Transit hitch today and it is V5. Don't know what that means but the rest of the label said it was good for over 7000# with weight distributing. That covers the tow capacity of the van and means I won't have to get another hitch!

My factory installed hitch is rated class 5 on the label which surprised me.

 

[Budsky]

You sure it says Class 5?
It probably says V-5 which is a standard specifying hitch "quality" ie type of steel, welding etc. It has nothing to do with the weight rating or class.

 

[larry8061]

Class V

A Curt Class V hitch is rated for 16,000 load and 2,400 tongue..... good luck with that with a Transit. And the Ford factory certainly didn't install a Class V hitch.


Further research may be warranted.

 

[larry8061]

Preaching revisted

For the folks that say this doesn't matter:


In New York State and particularly on Long Island last fall a person put a 4000# boat on a 3000# trailer, the trailer detached and killed a bicyclist and hurt someone else. They have filed manslaughter charges against the boat towing person.


The news article is sighting the overloaded trailer (I don't know what Law enforcement is sighting). In the picture it looks like trailer simply wasn't hitched right in the first place and just came off regardless of the weight (or he had the wrong ball on the tow vehicle).


It may be prudent to engineer your towing rig for the job at hand and probably more importantly YOUR towing and experience levels. Knowing one is over recommended weights and knowing what to look out for and pay attention to in that situation, is far different than a novice being near the limit with a wife and two children distracting the driver while going to the state park, having no clue what could go wrong (and how quickly).


Snark away...