gadgets

Here's the answer to my eMail to Dodge about exactly what is the rating of the alledged class IV receiver:

"Dear Rene:

Thank you for your email regarding your 2003 Dodge Ram.

Your vehicle came equipped with a Class IV receiver hitch. For weight
carrying, it has a maximum tongue weight rating of 500 pounds and a
maximum trailer weight of 5000 pounds. For weight distribution, the
highest tongue weight rating is 1000 pounds and the maximum trailer
weight is 10000 pounds.

Thank you again for writing.

Sincerely,

Andrew Miller
Senior Staff Representative
DaimlerChrysler Customer Assistance Center"

So, unless you've got the WD setup, don't be towing anything over 5K, or putting more than 500# on the ball with that class IV.... :

Rene

Hoss

From Dodge 2003 Ram Truck Diesel Owner's Manual, page 237:

"With a Class III Hitch, your vehicle can be equipped to tow trailers with a Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) of 2,268 kg (5,000 lbs.) maximum. Factory installed rear step bumpers are rated a Class III hitch. Tongue weight must be equal to at least 10% of the gross trailer weight (GTW), but no more than 15% of the GTW.

A frame mounted hitch of up to Class IV rating, as rated by the hitch manufacturer, is supplied as part of the trailer tow prep package. With the Class IV Hitch, you can tow a trailer with a Gross Trailer Weight of up to 4,536 kg (10,000 lbs.) maximum depending on your vehicle equipment. Tongue weight must be equal to at least 10% of the gross trailer weight (GTW), but no more than 15% of the GTW."

If what you're saying is true, then Dodge sees no difference between a Class III and a Class IV. That's not what the Owner's Manual, supplied to me by DC when I bought the truck, says. I'm not doubting YOU, but what they're apparently telling you doesn't jive with what they're telling everyone buying the '03 trucks.

I don't see anywhere in the manual that it says the 10,000 pounds only applies if you use a weight distributing hitch. Probably won't ever be an issue for me...but it sounds like they're making themselves liable if someone doesn't go to the trouble of sending them an e-mail to find out for sure.

bulabula

I go with the book rather than Mr. Ed.

TXRAM2

They may have an out with the "depending on your vehicle equipment" statement.... :you know them slippery suckers

Hoss

True....but if there's nothing in the manual saying it's 10,000 only with WD...and there's no stamp or sticker on the hitch saying it's 10,000 only with WD....then how is a person to know?? It goes back to that "reasonable person" thing. What would the reasonable person think?? Well....they'd read the manual and see that they're okay for 10,000 pounds. After all, there's nothing to indicate otherwise now is there?? :-