Thanks, everybody. You all are going way higher than I intend to use it for, but re-reading my question, I guess it sounds like I was asking as if I were going to max it out. Like I said, the heaviest things that I believe (right now) that I'd ever pull is either my bike (2003 Indian Chief, which, with the trailer would be at or under 1000 lbs.) or maybe my welder on it's trailer, which is probably less than the bike set up. I mean, it's mainly the stress it would put on the frame, since these bolt directly to existing holes in the frame.
http://www.tbrtengineering.com/61030---1-2-ton--gm--47-54--std.html I definitely understand about the meager brakes these things have, but I'm not installing an electric brake system for what I'm going to be doing. (Unless I decide to pass the Smoky's or Rocky's, anyway). This IS my daily driver, so I'm not going to destroy it just to pull something. As a matter of fact, I'm looking at a 5'x 10' aluminum trailer to help lower the load weight to pull my bike, kayaks and any building materials I may not be able to fit in the bed, although I'd rather have a 16' lowboy than a 10'. When I buy steel for small projects that I do sometimes, it comes in 20' pieces, and a 10' trailer won't cut it. Anyway, thanks for the replies, especially you guys who gave me examples of what you've pulled without problems. I found the hitch in someone's post on here last year. I bought the material to make one, but I'd rather buy one and use it, then make another one and sell the 'store bought' hitch to somebody else to use. They're $310 including shipping. I paid about $65 for the material, and figure it will take me a day or less to fabricate. The only downfall is that I'll have to put a '54 rear bumper on the truck so that the license plate slot will open a spot for the hitch to stick out. That or pay more for one that hangs below the original bumper, but I don't want something hanging down that far. Anybody else have an opinion on the pulling capacity, or ideas that might help? I'm listening!
