Trailer towing???

[CoastyAV8R]

I just bought a 24', 4500 lbs camp trailer and have a few questions. First, what is the best trailer brake controller for the money? Also, I have heard it is fairly easy to hook up for my truck since it has the tow package. Is there an existing plug that I plug the controller into? I seem to remember there is one but I can't recall. Also, it was recommended to get a weight distributing hitch, what is a good brand? Any other tips or suggestions would be appreciated.



Pat

2001 ETH, QC, 4x4, tow package, camper package

 

[Fireman Dave]

Pat,



Congrats on your addition. I just got my TT in March, so I'm fairly new to it too. The brake controller can be wired up to the pigtail you should have gotten with the truck. Then it just plugs in under the dash - a snap. I did mine myself. Beware, the wires have a specific color order to be hooked up. It's a little backwards. My trailer dealer gave me the info on which went to which.



I have a Tekonsha Envoy - works well. Tekonsha has a new model out - Prodigy - supposed to be really great. Some dealers think Tekonsha is junk, but they seem to be popular with many of the guys on TDR. There are a lot of brands out there.



I have a Reese weight distributing system with a sway control. I use the factory hitch - since my trailer is only about 6,000 lbs. It works great. I towed 5600 miles on a trip in June. The Equalizer brand hitch is said to be really good, too. The Hensly Arrow is supposed to tow like a 5th wheel set-up - very nice, but it's pretty expensive. I'm sure some more experienced guys will post on here with their answers, too.



Dave

 

[boathead]

weight equalizer

Pat,

I think with 4500 lbs. you 'll be fine without the eqaulizer as long as your tongue weight is less than 1000 lbs. I know they recommend it over 500 lbs. but I think that's overkill if the trailer doesn't sway. I know my '95 LIKES a good amount of weight on the hitch, seems to tow well with 950 lbs. (trailer weight =13,800 lbs. ). also, I'm using a reese brake controller, which I really like, but I'll bet they are all comparable. I did have to run the wiring all the way back to my 7 prong plug however-what a pain in the A%^! But I think that running 10 awg back there is better anyway, I'm pretty sure the factory wiring isn't that heavy-mine didn't have the plug you mention-

Good Luck and Good Towing

Paul

 

[CGoyette]

get the wt distribution hitch not because your trcuk needs it to to but because a trailer is a big box read sail flaping in the wind and ever 18 wheeler that zings by you is gonna make your sail flap and your truck move around.



I was in a wreck with a travel trailer before I bought my 5th wheel. My friend who trailer and expedition we wrecked had a wt distibution hitch but no sway control.



Every one I have talked to on TT towing tells me the same thing wt distibution and sway control.



Get the equalizer (500 bucks and does both) Hensley arrow best but at 2500 bucks way over priced also for your 4500lbs trailer overkill

my nickle on the subject.

 

[Forrest]

sway control

This is mainly what made me make the change to a 5th wheel. One of the stories is when I was towing over the Sierras & was passed on a curve by a Greyhound Bus. It was only a 20' trailer & never swayed before! I remembered what the mobile home boys do. Apply the trailer break only & floor it! Stopped swaying!



As soon as I got home, I went & picked up the pieces to a load equalizer setup with integrated sway control. End of problem!

 

[Dkevdog]

COngrats on the new trailer!! Have fun with it!! First off- I would reccommend running your own brake wire and charge wires. I recently reran my entire setup and it had the factory wire package. I think someone else had goofed it up, I tapped in to the loom heading back to the rear for whole setup and installed relays- It's safer that way and nothing dims out. (I have auxillary lighting on all of our trailers) And as for the brake controller itself... ... Save yourself the aggravation and contact Jordan Research talk with Jordan yourself- but that controller is the best one I've towed with yet. I've had the Drawtite controllers and the Tekonsha, the Tekonsha is better than the drawtite but the Jordan Ultima 2020 is by far the smoothest and the best.



Good Luck,

Kev

 

[RustyJC]

Originally posted by Dkevdog

And as for the brake controller itself... ... Save yourself the aggravation and contact Jordan Research talk with Jordan yourself- but that controller is the best one I've towed with yet. I've had the Drawtite controllers and the Tekonsha, the Tekonsha is better than the drawtite but the Jordan Ultima 2020 is by far the smoothest and the best.

What Kev said. I've towed with the Reese Brakeman I, the Tekonsha Sentinel and the Jordan Ultima 2020. The Tekonsha inertial is better than the single-output Reese, but the Jordan is a truly proportional controller. The first stop with the Jordan made a believer out of me!



Rusty

 

[RedRamer]

Congrats on your new home away from home.

I just started this year also with a 24' - 4. 5k trailer - 6k loaded.

The Teconsa controler was pluged into the harness under the dash and it works great. It's inertial so the faster you apply the brakes, the more it applies to the trailer. I've never had to adjust it yet.

As far a hitches go, you might want to take a look at the Pull-Rite hitch also. Not too expensive considering everything you'll ever need is there and I can garrantee you, the trailer will never sway.

Mine doesn't, no matter what.

happy trails.

 

[CoastyAV8R]

Thanks for all the replies. I went with the Tekonsha brake controller and the Reese hitch. Now I just have to hook everything up. Doesn't look hard at all, but I've said that before. Can't wait to take it out camping. The wife and I were getting tired of sleeping in the mud.



Pat