Recommended Trailer Hitch for 2004 Ford F-150 Towing 5,500 lbs

Published 09/27/2018

Products Featured in This Question

Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2"

(87)

$305.60

etrailer Ball Mount Kit for 2" Hitches - 7,500 lbs

(1375)

$93.52

Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class IV - 2"

(31)

$397.25

Question:

HI! I bought an older 1997 horse trailer and intend on pulling it some weekends in short distances with my Manual Ford-F150 pickup truck. I am about to buy a towing hitch for it and I was wondering if you had any recommendations? My husband thinks that this towing kit would be the best Reese Towpower 51020 Class III Custom-Fit Hitch with 2 Square Receiver opening But, the horse trailer I have is a two load trailer, it is basic and small and weighs 3500lbs empty, the two horses I have are about 1,000lbs each, all together weight would be about 5500lbs +- In your professional opinion, do you think this would be okay?

asked by: Abigail

Expert Reply:

Hi!

Although we do not carry the hitch you referenced based on my research it looks like it has a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 lbs and a maximum tongue weight capacity of 500 lbs so you will not want to use it to tow your horse trailer and horses that are 5,500+ lbs. It is unsafe to use a hitch that does not have the correct towing capacity.

There are a couple of better options for trailer hitches that I highly recommend checking out. FIrst, if you are certain that your trailer and horses combine to weigh less than 6,000 lbs you can use the Curt # 13357 which is a Class III hitch with a 2" receiver rated for 6,000 lbs of towing capacity and 600 lbs of tongue weight capacity.

If you go to a weigh station and find out your load is above 6,000 lbs you will need to use the Curt # C14357 which is a Class IV hitch with a 2" receiver and 10,000 lbs of towing capacity with 1,000 lbs of tongue weight capacity.

I also recommend checking out Ball Mount Kit # 989900, which is for 2” hitches and may fulfill your towing needs in one tidy package; two ball mounts - one with a 3/4” rise or 2” drop and the other with a 2-3/4” rise or 4” drop - a 1-7/8” hitch ball, a 2” hitch ball, and a pin and clip.