Reference · Towing
Hitch classes
The truck’s chart and the hitch stamped on the receiver are both limits. The lower one wins.
Receiver hitches are sold in classes. Class I and Class II are the light receivers, commonly discussed at 2,000 pounds of trailer and 200 pounds of tongue weight, and 3,500 pounds and 350 pounds of tongue weight. Those are category labels. The stamp on the hitch you bought is the rating that counts.
Class III, IV, and V diverge once weight-distribution hardware is in the picture. A single class maximum would be a guess. Read the label for weight-carrying and weight-distributing separately, then compare it with the truck’s chart for that cab, axle, and package.
A truck rated to tow 13,500 pounds does not upgrade a hitch rated for less. A hitch rated higher than the truck does not upgrade the truck.