Upgrading hitch on Spartan + Weight distribution

[marka]

Howdy,

We just finalized a deal on a '99 Newmar Dutch Star on the Spartan chassis. It has a 5k hitch. I can't remember the exact numbers, but the GCWR is 10k over the GVWR. I also talked to a CSR at Spartan Chassis to see if a 10k hitch was a problem... He assured me that was no issue, and recommended I go to a local hitch shop.

Looking around online, I can't find anything built specifically for the Spartan chassis and all the generic motorhome hitches are 5k lbs or less. Does an off the shelf solution exist, or will it all be custom?

I can weld and fabricate, so if I need to go custom I'd just as soon build it myself. I'd rather buy one that had a sticker on it that said 10k lbs though. :-)

Any advice on this? Anyone have any good pictures of 10k lb hitches on a freightliner or spartan chassis?

Related, we've always used a weight distributing hitch and sway control towing our enclosed trailer (24' box) with our truck. Is there anything I should know about WD setups for a motorhome? Almost all the hitches on motorhomes I see either don't spec a weight in WD use or spec the same weights as in straight weight carrying use... Regular truck hitches almost all spec higher WD weights vs. weight carrying... What am I missing?

Thanks for any pointers!

Mark

(and yes, I'll call Spartan back and see if I can get some more details or buy a hitch directly from them)

[Gary RVRoamer]

You need a Class IV receiver, which should be rated at 10,000 or more. I know Reese and Putnam and Valley make them. A good hitch shop should be able to fix you up with one. You might have to fabricate a bracket to match it up top the chassis, though.

Here is one by Valley:
Amazon.com: Valley Tow 82810 Class IV Receiver Hitch: Automotive

[Route 66]

Duplicate post.

Other post here.