Class III Hitch help 2" receiver opening

[Safarimeister]

I have been looking far and wide to find a "one-piece" all-welded 5000lb hitch for my Astro. BTW, what did the dealers install on them back in the day?

Draw-Tite makes a very nice plug and play 3500lb model 75122. It has great reviews, but living in MN, I may tow a boat or two on occassion that might be heavier.

Draw-Tite, Reese and Curt make universal 5000lb models. However, They are not "one-piece" and to be custom fitted and then bolted together. I am trying to avoid bolts with the risk they could fail, not to mention having to likely have to drill holes in the Astro Frame.

There was a member on here who had a "one-piece" "Hidden Hitch" 87516. It looks very robust and upon further research, it is rated at 5000lbs, but it got sold and they are nolonger available new.

So far I have not found any one-piece 5K units. Does anyone know of one? Or does anyone have one for sale?

Any help finding a 5000lb Hidden Hitch new or used would be great.

[markmitch]

Why not get the bolted one then take it to reputable welder and have it welded, leave the bolts in or not that may be the best option.

[Safarimeister]

Why not get the bolted one then take it to reputable welder and have it welded, leave the bolts in or not that may be the best option.

If I have to, I may. However, only after I have exhausted my resources of finding the Hidden Hitch one piece. I also cannot confirm that the bolted universal hitch will match right up. I have more than one reviews on Amazon stating it was a PITA to install because holes needed to be drilled in the frame....

[Wiley]

This probably doesn't help, but I def didn't have to drill any holes in my frame for my hidden hitch, but it is an 10 year old model, and was heavy duty. I admit I am not sure what a 1 piece is, if I have one, or what you are looking for, so only here to see how it plays out. Good luck

[Safarimeister]

I admit I am not sure what a 1 piece is,

A one piece is all welded together and whence, the term, one-piece. Reese, Curt and Drawtite make a "UNIVERSAL" hitch that is adjustable with extra holes to compensate for fit. The current model Draw-Tite is actually comprised of 5 pieces that bolt together.

Here is a pic of the 5000lb Class III Hidden Hitch that I am looking for:

Attachments

drawtight.jpeg (73.23 KiB) Viewed 892 times

[AstroWill]

Yep, the welded together ones are the way to go IMO. Best bet is probably just looking at junk yards, that is where I bought mine. I don't like the bolt together ones either, and the one-piece hitches are usually lower profile.

[Wiley]

I admit I am not sure what a 1 piece is,

A one piece is all welded together and whence, the term, one-piece. Reese, Curt and Drawtite make a "UNIVERSAL" hitch that is adjustable with extra holes to compensate for fit. The current model Draw-Tite is actually comprised of 5 pieces that bolt together.

Here is a pic of the 5000lb Class III Hidden Hitch that I am looking for:

Oh yeah that is nuts I agree with you and Astro will, go with 1 piece, that is def what I have.

The junkyards out here never have anything worthwhile, but I am going to try and find a 4x4 transfer case in the next couple days, so will keep the hitch in mind for you.

[Big_kid]

Mine came from Pick N Pull as well- both front and rear. The hitch on the front of my van was attached to the mustache bar that came with a VW bus engine I pulled some years ago. I held on to it thinking I'd use it somewhere, eventually settling on the front of the Astro.

[dcsleeper]

First of all, there are much shenanigans with hitch ratings.
There are NO tongue only pull 5000 lb hitches. That rating is for weight distributing hitches on those hitches.
for example:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016KA8KA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That is an all welded, custom fit, non universal hitch, rated at 6500lbs when using it as weight distribution.
And it is the cheapest. Know what you are comparing.
Don't buy a bolt together one.
That same hitch is sold as a different number with a lifetime warranty, and yet they are identical.
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B000E283VC/?coliid=I3PHRZH3DPNXKV&colid=6S2UTLMHCB34&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

If you think the hitch above is rated at HALF of the one you are after, you're nuts.

Both of the above have stickers on them stating 6000 lbs when used with wd hitches. 3500 lbs w/just tongue.

1/4" plate vs 1" plate, maybe. But that is not how it is.

To point a fine point on it, they're all the same. Adding the ability to bolt it to the bumper itself does not uprate it.

Last edited by dcsleeper on September 10th 2020, 11:36pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Leeann_93]

This is the hitch that came with my '93, got cleaned up and moved to my '99, then cleaned up again and moved to the '02:

That one is a Draw-Tite. In the horrible pic of the '05's hitch label, I can't see a manufacturer. Both are welded. Oh, and there's a heavy-duty welded hitch that came on the '00 with an 8-pin wiring connector and brake controller, but I've never taken a pic of that one. Again, it's raining its butt off or I'd go out and take pics.

Reese TowPower 51029, 300/3,500 weight carrying, 600/6,000 weight distributing, 3-yr warranty:

Code:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000E283VC/ref=au_as_r?_encoding=UTF8&Make=Chevrolet%7C47&Model=Astro%7C415&Year=2005%7C2005&ie=UTF8&newVehicle=1&vehicleId=1&vehicleType=automotive

Reese TowPower 44010, same rating as above with limited lifetime warranty:

Code:

https://www.amazon.com/Reese-Towpower-44010-Custom-Fit-Receiver/dp/B0016KA8KA/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=reese+towpower+44010&qid=1599775958&s=automotive&sr=1-1

Both the above are welded. You actually get better weight carrying (the lower numbers) than the welded hitches with the 'multi-fit' hitches. Both available Reese Multi-Fit (37042 and 37152) hitches are 500/5,000 lbs weight carrying, 600/6,000 weight distributing. My Draw-Tite is 300/3,500 weight carrying and 750/6,000 weight distributing.

(tongue weight/trailer weight)

The Reese TowPower 37152 is listed elsewhere as a Class IV hitch (Reese calls it a Class III) and Reese's specs say 'solid all-welded construction.' Odd.

Code:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/reh-37152

Reese Info:

Code:

https://www.reesetowpower.com/products/trailer-hitches/class-iii-iv-multi-fit/class-iii-trailer-hitch/WfzaCtfZMf2yqFNu2qbv2mVUgLERbRM!

[dcsleeper]

This is the 44010 one above



I literally don't believe the other bolt together hitch ratings are higher. My opinion.

[Leeann_93]

It’s weird. The 37152, if you look at the pics, is different from the 37042 which looks totally bolt-together.

I’d still choose fully welded, personally, but the 37152 is interesting. I’d like to hear feedback from anyone who has one.

[Safarimeister]

Draw-tite one-piece. I think I will just order this 75122 one for $160.

Attachments

[Sailing_Faith]

Just got a new one YESTERDAY at my (not-so-local) Pick and Pull.

Upgraded from my Class III to a Class V

The two hitches side by side.... Delilah gets an upgrade.

U Haul sold a Draw Tite Class V hitch that is a one piece unit.

Look in the pick and pull....

36197 Class III hitch

Taped off the Uhaul as it helps them say it’s ok

By the numbers....

Here is an explanation of what V-5 signifies;

“
What does V 5 Mean on a trailer hitch?
Class V hitches are weight carrying (WC) and weight distributing (WD) hitches depending on the vehicle and hitch specifications. A Class V hitch has a 2-1/2" square receiver opening. Your ball mount and hitch ball need to both be rated for Class V to safely tow these weight loads....”

Last edited by Sailing_Faith on September 11th 2020, 6:04am, edited 1 time in total.

[MechBob]

Fun stuff.I probably have been around,seen and installed more hitches than anyone here.and have never seen a problem with bolt together hitches,on any vehicle.I have seen the bolts to the frame fail,and frame sections fail,in bad accidents.Heck,5th wheel hitches are bolted together,and bolted on.

[dcsleeper]

zoom in on this pic
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61jGWhb6wdL._AC_SL1500_.jpg
this is the 37042
it says
Gross towing weight capacity – 5,000 to 8,000 lbs. | Tongue Weight Capacity – 500 lbs
but zoom in on the picture and it's 3500 / 350 just like all the others.
shenanigans!

the Reese Towpower 51029 & 44010 is identical to what you looking at, the Draw-Tite 75122 for a lot less
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B000E283VC/coliid=I3PHRZH3DPNXKV&colid=6S2UTLMHCB34&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016KA8KA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://smile.amazon.com/DRAW-TITE-75122-Draw-Tite-Max-Frame/dp/B000O5I6H0/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=75122+hitch&qid=1599824645&sr=8-1

[markmitch]

kinda odd to read this since I had the welded 5k hitch on parts van earlier this summer and offered it free you pay shipping back in like July to any member and no one wanted it so it went to scrap.

[AstroWill]

kinda odd to read this since I had the welded 5k hitch on parts van earlier this summer and offered it free you pay shipping back in like July to any member and no one wanted it so it went to scrap.

It happens, I was trying to give away an engine for the longest time and nobody ever wanted it. Once it was gone, then I had a few people ask if it was still available. Wasn't something I could just leave on a vehicle until it sold, as I had already replaced it with a v8.

[Leeann_93]

That's the same one I have now on my '02 and originally came on my '93. Mine never had a Uhaul sticker on it, though.

[Leeann_93]

Went out and took a pic of the '05 hitch label - it's a GM, V-5 Talon, #15084535