Need weight dist hitch, now which one?

[CoastyAV8R]

I have a 18' toyhauler that weighs 5000 empty and has a max weight of 8500 according to the owners manual. I know the heaviest the trailer has weighed was 7500 lbs according to a truck stop weigh scale and I really couldn't imagine putting anymore in it. I haven't measured what exactly the tongue weight is but I figure the 10% rule so anywhere from 500 - 750 lbs. I haven't used a weight distributing hitch with this trailer but I'm going to buy one as soon as I figure out the correct one. I notice they come in different weights for tongue weight (500, 750 and 1000 lbs) as well as the corresponding gross weights (5000, 7500 and 10,000 lbs). My question is I see alot of 1000/10,000 combo's on sites like ebay but I'm wondering if getting one that is rated higher than what it will be used for will compromise the positive effect of getting one, or should I get a 750/7500 combo?



Thanks,

Pat



PS: if anybody has one they are looking to sell at a reasonable price, let me know...

 

[nps]

I've got a Husky and am happy with it. You can spend much more for a Hensley and get a better hitch I'm sure, but for the $ (mine was under $400 new from the RV dealer) and the 8-10 times a year I use it, the Husky does just fine.



On my setup, the draw bar is the same but the spring bars are weight rated. So if you go up in trailer weight, you get bigger bars - not a whole new unit.



I've pulled 2 trailers with my 1000 lb bars. The first trailer weighed in at 8500lbs. Traded it in on a bigger one that is 10000lbs+. The ride is actually better with the heavier trailer. The reason being that the spring bars resist the up and down articulation between the trailer and truck. With the lighter trailer, the ride was like the rear springs were much stiffer. With the heavier trailer, the ride is smoother because the spring action is softer. What I also added with the heavier trailer is a second sway bar, and the rig pulls straight and true with no wagging even when passing an 18 wheeler.



My recommendation is to get bars as close to the actual weight of the trailer rather than as big as you can get. Getting bigger won't hurt anything, but your trailering ride will suffer.

 

[SSage]

The Equal-i-zer is a great choice if you don't want the Hensly or the Pull Right. Easy to set up, sway control built in. Simple hook up, and very easy to adjust the bar setting for different trailer weights. Its not the cheapest or most expensive.

 

[wcjp]

Torklift has a setup that wasn't bad on price if I remember correctly. My towing needs changed so I never invested in them. I think it's the Curtis Brand.





http://www.torklift.com/

 

[DLausche]

I'll second the Equal-i-zer hitch choice. Easy to set up, hitch up, and very effective. I would recommend going with the higher rated unit. I have the 12,000 lb unit for use with my 7,000 lb TT and it works perfectly. I figured I would get the larger hitch just in case we ever upgrade the trailer to a heavier one. Either the 10,000 or 12,000 lb units would will work fine for your application.



Equal-i-zer



-Deon

 

[RDelissen]

for my 18' Jeep hauler I use a Valley Industries wdh (70230)

http://www.valleyorders.com/Public/Applications/Default.htm

 

[GAllen]

I use the Reese Dual Cam (built in sway control) with mine and have good results. I have the 12,000 / 1,200 pound unit. Pic in gallery.



p. s. They've upgraded the design since I purchased mine 3 years ago.

 

[CoastyAV8R]

Thanks guys, you've once again been more than helpful. I'm sure I'll post more about setting it up once I get it...



Pat

 

[HBarlow]

Pat,



Actually the tongue weight figure that I think is most often used by trailer manufacturers, hitch manufacturers, and many others in the RV/trailer industry is 12 to 15% of tongue weight for proper trailer balance. Your tongue weight will probably be a little higher than the estimates you were using.



I think you can safely and effectively use a hitch with 1000# bars. The bars can be tensioned for heavy tongue weights and relaxed for lighter trailers.



The next consideration is whether you will want weight distribution capability ONLY with your hitch assembly or weight distribution AND sway control. Some hitch types offer weight distribution only, a couple of hitch types offer both.



The two oldest and best known hitch brands in the industry are Eaz-Lift and Reese. They both date back to the 1950s or at least the 1960s. Eaz-Lift hitches offer weight distribution only and an additional friction sleeve assembly must be added for sway control. You can review their website. Reese offers, in my opinion, the best hitch assembly on the market in it's dual-cam weight distribution hitch assembly which combines both weight distribution and sway control features in one hitch. You can observe the hitch and see how it works on the Reese website. Prices are comparable and both are readily available.



Other hitch brands are mostly either minor players in the market or more recent brands that copy the old tried and true brands. In some cases they look identical to older, better known brands but with lots of towing the owner will discover that they are made of different metal. Points of high stress will wear more quickly in some of the brand X hitch assemblies compared to an Eaz-Lift or Reese. Yep, they are little cheaper and lots of them are in use. The difference shows up over time with high mileage and heavy use. You get what you pay for with trailer weight distribution hitches. The Hensley (sp?) hitch stands alone in claimed effectiveness, complexity, and cost. It is probably a fine hitch but not widely used.



I don't sell them, don't have any stock in any of the companies, and don't care which one you buy. I own a fifth wheel now but owned traditional travel trailers and used wd hitches and sway controls from November 1972 until I bought a fifth wheel less than two years ago.



You know the old saying..... "you pay your money and take your choice. "



Harvey

 

[CoastyAV8R]

I wound up buying a Eaz-lift hitch that is rated for the 1,000/10,000. I appreciate all the info and especially to Harvey for taking the time to write an all inclusive post, thanks.



I have towed it for a year with no weight distributing hitch or sway bars and I have never had a problem with the trailer swaying since it's only 18' long so I'll forgo the sway bars at this point.

 

[GAllen]

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