Factory Hitch Ratings

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maestro
I am smitten with my van
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2012 2:25 pm

Factory Hitch Ratings

Post by maestro »

So I finally have my '93 Extended AWD licensed and on the road, replacing my '91 shorty. It's time now for me to get it ready to tow the travel trailer around so I have ordered a Hayden 679 tranny cooler and am pulling off the stock rusty hitch to have it sand blasted and powder coated. They are only charging me 50 bucks to do it. :) The funny thing about this hitch is that it has a lower 'dead weight' rating (200 lbs) than the aftermarket hitch I had on my '91 (350 lbs) which was definitely NOT as beefy as this one. The factory hitch on the '93 has a 3 inch main tube for crying out loud! Check out the factory ratings on the sticker in the photo. Yes, it says its a V5.

So I want to know if I can load more dead weight on this thing, should have a 500 pound rating for sure like the Hidden Hitch which doesn't even run two bolts into the main frame on each side like this one does. Any input? Can anyone post a photo of their sticker or type in the rating?

I've also uploaded a photo of my old '91 showing my trailer hooked up running 'stock' fibreglass springs and no weight distribution. I bought a nice pair of coil-over rear shocks for the '91 but never got around to putting them in so they are now going into the '93. :) Monroe SensaTrac: http://www.monroe.com/products/Sensa-Tr ... -Absorbers They add another 1200 pounds of support over the stock suspension. :) I am thinking of getting an Andersen W/D, anti-sway set up for it. http://www.andersenhitches.com/Catalog/ ... hitch.aspx
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astro1_driv_side_and_rear.jpg
1993 astro hitch.jpg
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LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

Re: Factory Hitch Ratings

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

I don't know for sure about the dead tongue weight but if it has the 2 extra mounts that go into the frame near the bumper, I know on all of my van with that style hitch we could load way more than 200# on them with no issues.

As for the Anderson hitch, I like that hitch. Was actually thinking of selling the off-brand one I have and buying an Anderson. I would love to see how it performs for you. :supz:
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
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