New GM Hitch "Heads Up"

[FlashG]

The new GM 3500 trucks now have a larger receiver with a sleeve as a filler for the standard stinger.

I removed my ball "stinger" from my GM 3500 when I hitched my fifth wheel to the truck last weekend.

After traveling 80 miles and having parked the fifth wheel at the RV park we stopped at a restaurant.

Evidently I forget to remove the sleeve with the hitch.

NOTHING was holding the sleeve in the receiver hitch!

I forgot to put in the pin or remove the sleeve.

I know, kinda STUPID. But easy to do!

The sleeve slides in and out with very little or no friction holding it in.

That sleeve is heavy and could have killed or injured someone if it have gone through a windshield.

[Jolu]

FlashG,
I agree with you, there could be a danger if that sleeve is not removed or pinned. Not to mention the rattle it can cause. I haven't found a reason why GM went to that large receiver. Perhaps there is something out there we don't know about that plugs into that sucker. As far as I am concerned it is more of a pain than what it is worth to me. JB

[Rondo]

I like the new hitch set up! I have a 2007 Chevy 2500 HD. I pull the sleeve out with the receiver or ball receiver and leave the sleeve and pin in it! That way I never have to hunt up the sleeve and pin and it does not get rusted into place! I then keep the receiver with all attached in the box at the front near the cab or if I'm going to use it in a day or two I leave it in the box next to the tailgate! Of course I have a rolling cover that goes over the whole box so nobody can see the receiver and etc! I asked about the larger hitch holder and the dealer said since it is a heavy duty they built it on incase someone tows with a hitch like the construction trailers have (the "C type hitch or whatever it is called)! It's built stronger than the regular smaller hitch mount!

[Jolu]

That smaller hitch you mention the 2" x 2" square receiver. I had one on a 12,000GVW flat bed 3500 pickup and I towed a flatbed construction trailer with the largest Case skid loader with a pindle hitch plugged into it and it was certainly strong enough to handle it. JB

[Rondo]

I don't know but that was what the dealer rep told me about the new hitch..I know the pindle hitch is set up for the larger loads but don't know why they needed to go to the bigger receiver set up like you said! Just another something to loose if we don't pay attention!

[rames14]

Where do you get the sleeve? I have just been using the standard 2" bar to tow my boat, but I don't like it.

[Delaine and Lindy]

The sleeve comes with the Truck. I had a Chevy Kodiak 4500 and it came with the Tow Beast 2-1/2" hitch. The 2008 has a 2-1/2" hitch but has a sleeve to use the standard 2'. I have a 30' inclosed Car hauler and it has a 2-5/16" ball and a 2-1/2" drawer bar and the new hitch on the 2008 is very handy. It needs to have the pin in at all times or you much remove it or it will be lost. A lot of people don't know about the sleeve and have lost them. GBY....

[rames14]

Mine didn't come with the sleeve. Time to call the dealer, I guess.

[Rondo]

Mine came with the 2500 but it came under the back seat with the pin in it and all wrapped up in a plastic bag. If you didn't get one, get ahold of your dealer and ask them why! Just a little bonus for the big bucks!! I've been using my three way ball hitch on it and it works great for all three of my trailers which incidently use three different balls to tow! Don't know why I put myself through all these problems!!

[rames14]

Time to go out and look under the back seat.

[bsmeaton]

From the title of this thread, I thought it was about introducting a new "heads up" display on windshield of the GM trucks, and I was going to be one jealous Ford owner.