Weight Distributing Hitch Advice

[Der ABT]

Ok now that ive moved up to a gigantic box im in the market for a weight distributing hitch and hoping you guys can help with personal experience

Ive done the interweb, the google, and rennlist searches but wanted to hear from some locals

Basically the choice ive narrowed down is a Reese weight dristributing hitch....but what options
there is the base and the pro mode, main difference besides price is the sway control if i chose to get it from the start or upgrade to it later.

the base model uses friction plates for sway control
the pro model uses dual cam locks for sway control....ive read the camlock is a far better design.

Ill be towing a 26ft Haulmark box and around 7-8k lbs fully loaded by my guestimates.

In general the towing will be done with an F250 8ft bed (crew cab i think) SRW ....if not with this ill be in the market for something along the lines of an excursion.
I may tow it around town when empty with my ml500 but with the short wheel base its kinda sketchy near big trucks and the braking just isnt adequit..yeh its rated to 7500lbs but...though i drove it back from fredricksburg with the ML and it did suprisingly well....with no car in it but im not going to risk my transmission towing it with the car in it.


my main question is
do i really need sway control. is it that much nicer or just overkill?
camlock vs friction....any reason to spend the extra money on the cam lock.


thanks for any help....please suggest any other set ups if your not a fan of the reese ones.

Last but no least
Anyone in search of a nice aluminum trailer, will soon put my open ATC for sale.

[magnetic1]

I pulled a 24' loaded 10k # Pace trailer w/ a 2005 F350 long bed SRW.

I have the Reese WDH but never installed the sway control part. The camlock ones make much less noise.

I say you would be fine without the sway control, but it is always nice to have anyways. Mine is still in a box in the garage :P Now w/ the new GMC Denali-Lama 3500, I dont think I need it at all.

[Cliff Claven]

you can reduce sway by (1) inflating trailer tires to the max psi; (2) balancing the load properly (positive weight on tongue); (3) having a tow vehicle with some mass to it compared to trailer weight (F250 crew cab is a decent size/weight); (4) going up hill; or (5) accelerating. if you have to rely on 4 and 5, then the sway control is a very good idea. when you brake on a long downhill grade, you'll really find out whether or not you need sway control because that is when sway can become most problematic; of course that's a bad time to find out that you need it. obviously cam locks are better than friction, but either will do the job.

[Jase007]

I've towed my 24/26' box for years with pickem-up / Suburban and only a weight transfer hitch (bars & chain). Double axle electric brakes.

No issues with sway from here to NY/CT, Daytona/Sebring, Mid-O .. etc...

~ 5,000 lb truck + ~5,000 loaded trailer.

Get what you need now, upgrade later.

FWIW

[Der ABT]

Get what you need now, upgrade later.

FWIW

This is what im leaning towards,

but then the decision is go for the base or pro model to allow for camlocks later on. i think its like 100 bucks difference so it really isnt all that much (though when you add the camlocks its like 2-300 difference from friction plates)


i dont think ill ever go bigger on the trailer and if i did it would be a gooseneck...appreciate the quick input.

More comments welcome

[Trak Ratt]

More comments welcomeYou suck!!:p11




You getting an canopy? Would make it nicer when you newest best friend(s) comes by to get out of the rain or sun. A/C would even be more better :D

[Der ABT]

haha, no canopy came with it....not sure if ill get one (6-700 bucks or just get a pop up tent for 1-200)
and with 26 feet its like a NY apartment inside. room for a couch, TV, maid quarters, haha.

A/C ill probably get over the winter (has a vent and would just need to run electrical if its not already up there)

Now i just need to find a cheap golf cart and pit bike......free would be preferred

[BMAN]

Now i just need to find a cheap golf cart and pit bike......

How about a car to put the trailer? U fixed up or still pieces?

[Vicegrip]

I used to pull a 20 foot enclosed with a 6 cyl PU truck. Had a weight dist hitch with the friction type sway but stopped using it as there was no sway issues and it was just something else to have to fiddle with.

Add later if needed. right truck right setup on the loads and you are good to go.

[Trak Ratt]

haha... Now i just need to find a cheap golf cart and pit bike......free would be preferredhere you go:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41zQhNSlw2L._SL500_AA300_.jpghttp://harobmxbikers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/96.-girls-schwinn-rosebud-16-inch-bmx-bicycle_6554852_175.jpg

[Dr K]

Evan,
Because my owner's manual in one place (but not in several others) mentioned that the weight-distributing hitch required for >5000 lbs towing should also have sway control, I bought one very similar to this friction-control unit (lower GTW and tongue weight). It was about $100 more than without sway control, so I felt well worth it. I've needed to make urgent lane changes, and had NO sway at all. Haven't noticed any noise at all except when slowly pulling out of my driveway. I think it's a good compromise and I felt my safety was important, but I had far less towing experience than you do and that was also part of my issue.

[Fairfax 944]

I have a 24' enclosed trailer that loaded weights about 9,500 pounds. I tow with a a 2002 F-350 single rear wheel short bed with the 7.3 diesel. I have a tongue scale, and was running at 15% tongue weight. I even added a friction sway controller.

The trailer would sway a safe but annoying amount no matter what I did. It was not a lot, but it was annoying and made the drive tiring. People did not want to follow me to the track, because the trailer would get close enough to the edge of the road with the sway to kick up rocks.

This year, I upgraded to a hitch with integrated sway control. It's an Equalizer brand hitch. http://www.equalizerhitch.com/

I'm very happy with this hitch. I have now have no noticeable sway. If the price is not to different from what you are considering, I'd consider this hitch with the integrated sway control.

[Dr K]

Jim's hitch is very similar to the one I mentioned but forgot to link, made by Reese. Here's the link: http://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Reese/RP66082.html

The dual-cam one is not much more expensive: http://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Reese/RP66073.html

Both of these come with or without the shank (links are with, but also available without the shank for about $125 less) (I needed more adjustability for drop than the one Reese provided).

eTrailer gives a 5% discount if you mention the code, which I believe is 98XL3, but you could probably ask them and get the code (or someone else could PM a more recent one to you).

[Der ABT]

that is the basic of the reese one i was looking at, cept its the 12k 1200lb tounge or the 10k 800lb tounge which is like 10-20 bucks different.
I was considering the equilizer as well but i was trying to buy locally and support an advertiser with DV as his prices are very close to online anyways.....

looks like ill start with just weight distribution and move to sway if i need it

With my open trailer i had absolutely no need for sway or even weight distribution though im sure the weight dist. would not have hurt.....

thanks again everyone



DONT TEMPT ME ON THAT PIT BIKE....that thing is HAWT...though if you borrowed it i fear the metal wouldnt be strong enough:twisted:

[pjalexandre]

I have an http://www.equalizerhitch.com/

Bought locally at American Truck & Trailer Supply in Manassas.