Hello all, I need some help selecting a weight distribution hitch for my rig. I have been towing with a normal ball thus far and it has gotten squirely a couple times on short trips. I will be moving from Tacoma, WA to Killeen, TX in a few months and I'd like the rig to be a little more solid.

The tow vehicle is a 2001 Excursion, limited, V10, 4x4; I also just installed some Rancho 9000XL's. The trailer is a former toy hauler RV converted into a flatbed. The coupler is a 2-5/16 and has two 3,500 pound axles. For this particular trip the load will be a 1988 F-250 mud toy and two 150 pound aluminum loading ramps. For future trips I would be adding two Honda quads plus more gear probably.

I took the trailer (loaded with truck/ramps) to the scale yesterday and its loaded weight (attatched to Ex) is 6,620 pounds with the Ex OFF the scale. Because this scale house didn't have individual axle scales (one big scale) I had to back up to get the trailer axles off the scale; then i disconnected from the Ex with the tongue jack on the scale. I leveled the trailer with the tongue jack and then got another reading. The tongue weight reading is 1,020 pounds. This particular load and where I have it on the trailer makes this tongue weight 15.4% of the overall trailer weight.

I guess my question is which weight distribution hitch and how heavy should I get? Here's a picture of the rig right now. I forgot to take height measurements before I loaded up yesterday though. Thanks for any info y'all can give me.

 

Two things ... First do yourself a huge favor and replace the rear springs at least with F 350springs.
Second, get the Reese Dual Cam hitch set up. Actually helps prevent sway before it happen. I had this hitch on my 05 Ex before I did the springs, and the Ex drove straighter with the trailer than without... That was another reason I knew I needed to do my springs!
With both done (V/ Mod B and Reese Dual Cam) it would tow my 30ft bunkhouse travel trailer (7500lbs+) straight as an arrow up to Port Townsend, down to Tillamook, over to Ellensburg, all over the pacific NW.

The extra work and cost makes for a very pleasurable towing experience!
Here is a pic of my 05 with less than 1000 miles but towing the trailer with the Reese Dual Cam.


Good Luck!

Garry

 

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately I won't be able to do the spring because I am selling my house shortly and won't have time or space to do it before the move. I will look into the Reese Dual Cam. How much of a pain is it to set up?

 

The install is pretty easy. Just a couple holes to drill to bolt the cams to the trailer frame. Then insert the hitch into the Ex, back up and hook up, but leave the jack down with the truck and trailer level, then hook up the bars to the hitch, and swing them on to the cams. The hook up the chains to the cams and find the nearest link to go to the frame hooks, and the use a bar to swing the frame hooks into the lock position. Verify all is centered on the cams and Leve. Raise the jack, and reverify.

Once I'm happy with the setting, I mark the link that levels things, so I use the same link every time.

E-trailer usually hs the best deals on the Dual cam set ups, and usually free shipping too!

Hope this helps!

Garry

 

This is the style I use, works great. Can find cheap ones on eBay just make sure to get the one rated for 1,000-1,200 pounds of tung wt.

 

garryk6, do you happen to have the part number for the hitch you have? There's so much information online that my brain is getting fried.

 

This is the one that I have. It is rated for 1200 lb tongue weight


[URL="http://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Reese/RP66078.html"[/URL]

They have a heavier duty version for just a little more money...

[URL="http://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Reese/RP66130.html"[/URL]



When you order, make sure that you get the 2" slug that everything bolts to and slides in your receiver.

Let me know if I can be of any other help!

Merry Christmas

Garry