Janitor308

Ok - hopefully this'll be the most ignorant thread any of you run into today.

In a couple weeks, we're picking up our first RV trailer. It's not a huge heavy thing - 22' length (to ball) w/ a claimed dry weight of 3700 lbs. Empty and new, I'm not positive what the tongue weight will be - they list a dry tongue weight of around 430 lbs.

Not being sure what the tongue weight will be once the LP tanks are filled and a battery is on the tongue, I was thinking of starting right out with a WD hitch as clearly I'll end up over 500 in no time. I've not read much of anything good on the one the dealer carries (Eaz hitch) and was going to pick up an Equalizer.

Here's where I get a bit lost. I can get the hitch quickly enough to get it mostly assembled before I go pick up the trailer. But I have no idea how I'm going to get it set up enough to tow the rig home.

-> Do I bring tools, etc to the dealer and take up space on their lot while I sort out how to get it installed on the truck/trailer combo? FWIW - it's a *very* crowded/busy lot.

-> At the time I pick it up, I'm guessing it will still be a *bit* below 500 lbs TW. Could I just assemble the WD hitch "head" (for lack of a better term) and use it as a straight up ball hitch to get the rig home? The drive home is only about 15 miles, and I can do it all on sub 50mph roads.

-> Should I go to the dealer ahead of time and try to get the hitch height measurement?

Thanks for reading this.

11screw50

I would go get the measurement and get the hitch set up as best you can before you go. It tends to be a fine tuning thing anyway so unless you get lucky, the first setup probably won't be the final setup.

massspike

I'd just drive it home without the WDH. It isn't far and the hitch weight is not going to be much over 500 (and probably under). If the dealer fills your propane tanks, you can always carry them in the truck to keep it close to your dry hitch weight.

You can then take your time installing the WDH. But I wouldn't try to setup the WDH until your TT is close to its loaded weight.

Janitor308

Thanks for the replies.

Kind of what I was leaning towards (including putting the LP tanks into the forward end of the truck bed). Now, to spend some time fussing over how I'm going to get a ball on the truck to tow it home.

Could I put on the WD hitch and just leave the spring bars off of it to just do a 'straight' tow?

BarmanBean

iTrader: (1)

Yes, you could tow with now spring bars to get it home. You WILL likely need to set the hitch up just a bit before leaving just to get the starting height set so you aren't towing the trailer with significant nose high/low issues.

clarkbre

Yes. Most (if not all) hitches will have a weight rating to use without the WD bars installed. It's likely right about 500 or 600 tongue weight.

And, you should be fine getting it home without the bars and then setting it up at home. If the trailer had a tongue weight of say 800+ pounds, I would have a different suggestion for you.

Another hitch to look at similar to the Equalizer is the Husky Centerline TS. Here's the link: It is a very basic, but functional hitch that includes a 4 point sway control system. For your size trailer it would be very adequate.

Meetthetwins

Simnut

This. And if your dealer doesn't want to set you up properly......they are not doing their job.

Janitor308

Thanks!

I was thinking I should get 1000lb bars with the hitch. The calculator on the Equalizer site puts it on 1000lb bars with only 150lb in the truck behind the back axle and a trailer gvw of 4,500lbs. I'm fairly certain the tongue will be @ 500lb before I have anything loaded into the trailer.

All that said- at this point, other than a couple fly rods {that don't weigh hundreds of pounds) and possibly a couple hundred pounds of water I'm unsure what exactly I'll be wanting to stow in the trailer itself (in front of the axle). On the extremely outside chance it's not obvious, this is all brand new to us.

Janitor308

Oh - they offered to set up one of the hitches they sell - for a 1.5 hour labor charge.

I'm sure it will take me more than 1.5 hours to do it myself, but if I don't like the hitch they sell ...