I'm having a hard time. I put money down on a camper that gross weight is about 4700 pounds. Dry weight is about 3700. The problem is the tongue weight. The dry tongue is 455 lbs. Needless to say going to be easy to go over the limit. Cant find a hitch replacement like previous gens. A reputable welding shop that also does hitches said he would weld the receiver to the cross member instead of relying on the bolts and he would weld a bracket on each side of wear the crossmember meets the frame. I dont want to damage my vehicle or void any warrenties. Please help. Thanks

If you use a weight distribution system it will increase the tongue weight rating (not the tow rating).

Koz

Two shops said that they felt that even with a weight distribution hitch, not hitch receiver, that it could put too much stress and cause it to twist receiver hole or crossmember. Any thoughts?

If you can shift weight (cargo) aft of the axle it will reduce tongue weight.

If max tow rating really is 5K a tongue weight of 500 should be ok.

There is a limit to how much more tongue weight is safe using the OEM hitch. With the appropriate WD system you should be OK. You should also look at where you put the cargo, as to take weight off the tongue. You can also look into the class III hitch that is on the GX. If it fits, you have to remember the tow rating will still be 5K lbs with the higher tongue weight rating.

Koz

I am interested to know what type of weight distributing system you guys are talking about? Is it the kind that has torque arms on chains attatched to the trailer? Thanks.

I would think any of these would work for the stock setup.

WD Only 400 - 800 lbs TW Weight Distribution | etrailer.com

Koz

Some trailers allow you to reposition the axle so that tongue weight is reduced.

Do you know how much weight you'll load the 4R with? You may be overloading the vehicle's gross weight capacity.

The brand is Equalizer. It doesn't have chains, so it works for sway control as well. The dry hitch of the trailer is 455, doesn't include propane, battery or any items that I need to put in the trailer forward of the axel. Overall the trailer gross is 4700 lb. I'd be hauling myself at 200, and other passengers combined at 440. No other stuff in the vehicle. Kayaks on top totaling 90.

I know this wasn't your topic, but do travel trailers have brakes? I'm a boat owner, and I wouldn't even consider towing 5K w/o trailer brakes. Huge mistake.

Also got to thinking -- the 4R is somewhat softly sprung -- you said passenger(S), implying someone in the back seat, plus with that much tongue weight, you may have a bit of sag too.

Agreed. He'll need to do something in back -- air bags or stiffer springs.

The cross member mounted hitch, which I believe is similar to the one on the 4th Gen, is not built or meant for use with a weight distributing hitch. The stress placed on it by the torsion bars will bend the cross member. Welding more metal to it won't increase your rating. If you're going to be over 500lbs on the tongue, which I suspect you will, you'll want to upgrade to a frame mount. Not sure who makes one for the 5th Gen.

You can shift some weight in the trailer rearward to lighten the tongue but you need to be careful doing this. Not enough tongue weight will make the tow vehicle unstable. Tongue should be approx 13% of trailer weight.

From late 04 the V8 T4R used a class IV WD hitch that mounted to the main frame rails and with the use of a WD system the tongue weight rating could be raised to approx 1000lbs.

Koz

Unfortunately, I've called about all hitch manufacturers and went to different shops that mount them. They dont make one for the 5th gen. It might be because they are standard, so no market. Looking underneath doesn't look like much room to mount w/o blocking my spare, loss of ground clearance and looking bad. The passengers would be the 85 pound Shepherd in the back along with front passenger and one in back seat. I'm wondering if I may need to trade for a Gen IV with V-8 with appropriate hitch. Wouldn't of thought it would be this tough. I like the set up of the Gen V and hope I can keep it but may not have another option. Also in regards to trailer breaks, alot of campers do, probably most except for some pop-ups. I think some manufactures and some states require it on anything over 1500lbs.

Koz, the 5th Gen has the same style as the old 4th Gen x-member mount. The frame mount is not available and wont fit the 5th Gen. On a side note the 4th Gen frame mount hitch is rated for 730lbs max tongue weight.

To the OP you can go to a hitch store and have a frame mount custom made but it will cost more.