Recommended Trailer Hitch And Weight Distribution For 2001 Dodge B1500 Van  

Question:

Expert Reply:

From my research I found that the towing capacity for your van is 7,600 lbs.

If you do not have a trailer hitch on your B1500 van and you have a factory step bumper I recommend the Draw-Tite Max Frame # 75140. If you have the standard bumper I recommend part # 41533. Both of these hitches are Class lll and have a 2 inch receiver opening.

Since you plan on doing some towing you might be interested in etrailer ball mount kit # 989900. It comes with 2 ball mounts; one with a 3/4 inch rise or 2 inch drop and one with a 2-3/4 inch rise or 4 inch drop. It also includes a 1-7/8 inch ball, 2 inch ball, hitch pin with clip, and a storage bag.

If the ball mount kit does not include a ball mount with the right rise or drop to tow the trailer level, check out the link I have included that explains how to measure to choose a ball mount to tow the trailer level.

The best way to determine what system will work for you is to know what your total tongue weight is. The total tongue weight is the tongue weight of your fully-loaded-ready-to-tow trailer added to the weight of any cargo you place behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle. You will then want to find a system where your total tongue weight falls near the middle of the tongue weight range for the system. Getting a system that is too small will be useless, but getting a system that is too big will result in a stiff, uncomfortable experience.

If your total tongue weight and cargo behind the rear axle is around 750 to 800 lbs I recommend the Equal-i-zer Weight Distribution # EQ37100ET. This system is designed for tongue weight between 600 and 1000 lbs. The system has built-in sway control that helps when passing big trucks on the highway or when you are battling high winds.

If you need trailer wiring I recommend part # 18252. This comes with a circuit tester that helps you identify the wiring on your van.

expert reply by: Jeffrey L

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