I was wondering I own a 2001 chevy silverado k3500 dump vehicle witha tow capacity of @13,000 pounds . The reason I use thisis is I needed a multipurpose vehicle and it has a heavy duty allison tranny. My question is I need to have hitch reciever welded to rear on the back plate where the duel six bolt hitch is now and I am not sure how far from the back of vehicle should i have this welded. I know I cna not use the 6 bolt hitch that is on there now for one it puts trailer to close to the dump bed and another reason
no load bar assembly.
ANY ideas how I can judge a good distance to have it welded?
Here is truck rear simular to mine same kind ok 6 blot hitch..
Mrcrowley,
I have an F350 4x4 TV. My hitch ball is 12 inches center of ball to the end of the frame hitch. May be a good guide. I'd be a bit leary of just welding a draw bar to the plate shown on your pic....scares me! But I've always been a bit cautious. Welds do break.
__________________
Rgds,
Scott Air 16426
Fully retired now!
Remember:
Never start anything before noon and always plan on being finished by 5.
I will never HAVE to be anywhere ever again!
You can make it flush with the back plate if you want , the ball mount that goes into the receiver will stick out another 4-8 inches depending on what you buy . The drawback of being flush is you will have to put the hitch pin in from the back side . If you want the hitch pin exposed the receiver will stick out about 6" . Depends on how else you use the truck which one will be better.
With that much truck you may not need weight sharing hitch. Try it with out it first and see what you need. Top of the ball should be 19 inches above the ground on level parking lot.
Just so you know the back plate is 1/2 inch think and in the back there is a frame support that goes from left to right so welding a a receiver to the plate not a problem ill have it extended through the plate. I really would like a reciver hitch anyways because I have three didfernt trailers with three differnt size balls and three hitch's for them . Anyway thanks for info
Just so you know the back plate is 1/2 inch think and in the back there is a frame support that goes from left to right so welding a a receiver to the plate not a problem ill have it extended through the plate. I really would like a reciver hitch anyways because I have three didfernt trailers with three differnt size balls and three hitch's for them . Anyway thanks for info
The short answer is yes . The 13000# you mention above is with a weight distributing hitch , GM says it's 7500# without . Except for short local trips at low speeds I would highly recommend it . You can pick up a trailering guide at your local dealer , and don't forget to read the fine print , they like to hide it to make their trucks look better.
You are right on one point -- you'd probably not be overloading your rear axle. The important point is that it's hard to get the antisway you need to protect the trailer without WD bars as part of the bargain. 5000# of trailer could give that tow vehicle a come-hither move and you'd be in the ditch. 99.X% of the time you'd be fine but it would catch up to you and not help in the proverbial 'oh s***' moment.
I've only put my antisway to the test one time -- traveling the crown of a small dirt road at 30 mph when a truck appeared without warning over an approaching hill. I did a quick move to the side and the trailer tires didn't bite -- it wanted to sway but my Reese Dual Cam kept it in line beautifully!
MrCrowley.
You can buy a reciever from anu Drawtite dealer. I've got their catalog. You can also order on line. That way, you could cut the square hole and mount the receiver the way you want. Just a thought.
__________________
Rgds,
Scott Air 16426
Fully retired now!
Remember:
Never start anything before noon and always plan on being finished by 5.
I will never HAVE to be anywhere ever again!
Ah, I love overkill..well you can never over kill your tow vehicle right Still waiting on my hitch to arrive at the shop. WHo knew a F350 ambulance had an odd narrow frame? My old girl had a reese double bar but too many parts missing so I will start from scratch. I was going to forgo the WD since with 11.000 lbs of tow vehicel it did not seem it would have any benifit....but as CanoeStream mentioned, getting the sway control without the tow bars is a challange. You might plan on keeping the actual weight dirtribution low just to reduce stress on the Aairstreams frame.
Of course between the both of us campgrounds might strangely have no vacancy at the sight of our TVs
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Catmando
"There’s not much in life we can’t over-analyze”
You may want to check into an air hitch. I don't know enough to know but things I have read seem to indicate that trailer frame damage may occur from tow suspension being to stiff ?
MrCrowley.
You can buy a reciever from anu Drawtite dealer. I've got their catalog. You can also order on line. That way, you could cut the square hole and mount the receiver the way you want. Just a thought.
If you have the web site for the online ordering...
Mrcrowley, did you find said hitch? Finally got mine...got a bit creative but hitch receiver tucks perfectly under the ambulance step, which folds up to allow access to 7 pin etc. Have a plate to add to install sway bar as did not chose to use wd with the ton and a half. A bit easier on the AS frame.
In any case, let us know how it turned out. Bet the AS does not push you around with that towing
__________________
Catmando
"There’s not much in life we can’t over-analyze”
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Still waiting on my hitch to arrive at the shop. WHo knew a F350 ambulance had an odd narrow frame? My old girl had a reese double bar but too many parts missing so I will start from scratch. I was going to forgo the WD since with 11.000 lbs of tow vehicel it did not seem it would have any benifit....but as CanoeStream mentioned, getting the sway control without the tow bars is a challange. You might plan on keeping the actual weight dirtribution low just to reduce stress on the Aairstreams frame. 
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