Did your Tundra come with the tow package or is it an aftermarket hitch? If it cam with the tow package, then yes it can handle way more than the 7,500 lb boat you have. If it was aftermarket, then you will have to look into that on your own. If you push it by 1,000 lbs you might be okay, but I wouldn't I surely wouldn't tow 15,000 lbs with a hitch made to pull 10,000 lbs.

 

The truck came with the hitch.

 

What makes you think you have a class 3 hitch? The Toyota Hitch is rated for atleast 10,800 lbs. So I think your good.

 

I are an engineer, too. Yes, all hitches are given a "margin for error." However, we've found that many OEMs don't take weight distribution or sway control hitches into account. These hitches place forces on the hitch that some OEMs failed to test. I don't believe Toyota is guilty of this, however. As far as I know, we've never received a complaint about a Toyota receiver.

That being said, I wouldn't go over the rating of the receiver. Remember, you'll be putting years of stress on this thing. Metal fatigue and corrosion will weaken the receiver over time. Err on the side of caution.

 

I'm not sure what safety factor they build into the design but ALL engineered products have them. I wouldn't think it would be 50% over the capacity due to the ever increasing push to get more from less material.

 

After hauling a 8,000 lb trailer with a weight distributing hitch for a few hundred miles, I noted that the hole for the receiver pin is a bit out of round, like it got pushed upwards.
This is the Class IV 10,000 lb plus hitch.

 

I'm sure there's a margin there, but I would not exceed the rated capacity. The margin is there for dynamic load handling (bouncy roads and such). I have personal experience with the legacy Tundra hitch failing at its rated load in weight distribution mode.

Tom

 

After hauling a 8,000 lb trailer with a weight distributing hitch for a few hundred miles, I noted that the hole for the receiver pin is a bit out of round, like it got pushed upwards.
This is the Class IV 10,000 lb plus hitch.

i have noticed the same thing with my hitch and i tow a similiar weight trailer. Has anybody taken this to their dealer and if so what did they say?