Class IV or V receiver Hitch

[Stevensmith2859]

Opinions are like, well you know but I want some opinions. I have a 2020 Keystone Outback 301UBH travel trailer. Stock tongue weight was about 900 lbs. Dry Weight was about 7200 lbs. With having the second AC added and all of the stuff the wife has in it, I figure I'm roughly 8500 lbs going down the road. That being said, in Feb, we upgraded from out 2017 ram with a max towing set up of 8,300 lbs to a 2021 rated for 11,500 lbs. (3.92 gearing, mega brakes, etc. Ram air suspension ) The difference between the 3.21's and 3.92's is night and day as well as the other towing extras the 2021 came with. That being said, came with the factory Class IV, and i'm assuming like all class IV's its rated for 1,400 lbs max tongue with bars. Curt makes a Class 5 rated for 1,700 lbs with bars, what say you? An upgrade I should consider? We are planning a trip to South Carolina this August (About 500-ish miles) from my house, but for the most part, we always stay within a 100 mile radius of the house when camping.

[chuckster57]

Me personally, I would just run with the class IV. If you upgrade to a class V you’ll have to get a sleeve for the hitch head.

[markcee]

Originally Posted by Stevensmith2859

Opinions are like, well you know but I want some opinions. I have a 2020 Keystone Outback 301UBH travel trailer. Stock tongue weight was about 900 lbs. Dry Weight was about 7200 lbs. With having the second AC added and all of the stuff the wife has in it, I figure I'm roughly 8500 lbs going down the road. That being said, in Feb, we upgraded from out 2017 ram with a max towing set up of 8,300 lbs to a 2021 rated for 11,500 lbs. (3.92 gearing, mega brakes, etc. Ram air suspension ) The difference between the 3.21's and 3.92's is night and day as well as the other towing extras the 2021 came with. That being said, came with the factory Class IV, and i'm assuming like all class IV's its rated for 1,400 lbs max tongue with bars. Curt makes a Class 5 rated for 1,700 lbs with bars, what say you? An upgrade I should consider? We are planning a trip to South Carolina this August (About 500-ish miles) from my house, but for the most part, we always stay within a 100 mile radius of the house when camping.

GVWR of your trailer is 9500 lbs so in theory even loaded to max capacity your tongue weight will 'only' be 1235 lbs at 13%.

I think with that load (9K and almost 35') your truck's payload capacity and rear axle rating will be bigger concerns. Tow rating is pretty meaningless when it comes to travel trailers. I've BTDT with a max tow F150 and my 9500 GVWR trailer.

[notanlines]

I also would run with the class IV and let it go at that.