Trailer Hitch for Itasca Class C Motor Home on Ford E-450 Chassis to Pull Horse Trailer

Question:

I have an older Itasca class c motorhome on a Ford E 450 chassis. My bumper pull trailer is 2910 lbs empty but will carry another 2200 lbs of horses. What hitch would be best and should I get air bags or helper springs or weight distribution? It does drag going into some driveways even without a trailer.

asked by: Rod W

Expert Reply:

The trailer hitch most likely to fit your Itasca Class C motor home is the Curt Adjustable Width Trailer Hitch Receiver for RVs # C13702. This hitch is designed to weld or bolt on to RV frames 18 inches to 51 inches wide. When used with a weight distribution system, this hitch offers up to 6,000 pounds of towing capacity with 600 pounds of tongue weight. Without weight distribution, it carries a 5,000 pound towing capacity with a max 500 pound tongue weight. I suggest checking with your motor home's manufacturer to ensure that your Itasca is rated to use a weight distribution system.

The top of this hitch crossbar will sit only 1-1/2 inches from the bottom of the RV's frame. This will help provide the best ground clearance for your RV. However, if this will not provide enough drop for a weight distribution shank to clear the other components on your motor home, such as the bumper, Curt offers an Adjustable Trailer Hitch Receiver with a 2 Inch Drop # C13701. This hitch fits the same size frame and offers the same towing capacity. I've attached photos of these hitches for you to see how the drop is achieved on the # C13701 hitch.

The Curt Adjustable Trailer Hitch # C13701 and # C13702 are the only RV trailer hitches that offer enough capacity for you to tow your approximately 5,110 pound trailer, but you will need to use a weight distribution system with the hitch.

To choose the best weight distribution system for your trailer, it is important to take the trailer's loaded and ready to tow tongue weight into consideration. With a loaded gross trailer weight of 5,110 pounds, like you referenced, the trailer's loaded and ready to tow tongue weight should be somewhere between 511 pounds - 766 pounds.

With this tongue weight range, I recommend using a weight distribution system such as the Fastway e2 Weight Distribution System # FA92-00-0800 because it offers both weight distribution and sway control. This system works with trailers that have tongue weights up to 800 pounds and gross towing weights up to 8,000 pounds. To complete the system you will want a hitch ball such as # 63840 with 2-5/16 inch diameter ball. A review video of the e2 system is linked for you.