WD ? For new member and first TT owner

[RCPajich]

Hello,

I'm a new member and also a first time TT owner. Just picked up a 2014 ST270BH TT and need info on WD and sway control, more so sway control. Just weighed everything yesterday, TT gvw 6250lbs 90% loaded (just need to add food and clothing), Tongue weight is 940lbs. Primary tow vehicle is 2014 Ram 2500 6.5' bed w/ 6.7 cummins and airlift air bags. Backup vehicle is 2009 Chevy suburban 1500. Would like a system to work with vehicles, definitely for the suburban is a must. Would only use suburban for short trips once in a while, 2 hours or less. What I've read so far is that I should be looking at a hitch with a 1200 lbs tongue rating, right? A 1000 lbs would be maxed out, right? I also could add some weight to rear of TT to lighten tongue up, have nothing in rear now. TT pulled awesome from dealer with Ram but only went 15 miles or so. Should I wait and see how it does on our first trip next weekend? We are going on a test run about an 1 1/2-2 hrs away. My real concern is sway control right now because of height of TT. I'm used to towing, not a problem there, do it almost everyday with my job, landscape construction company part owner. My ram pulls dump trailers and loaded flat beds all the time up to 18,000 lbs. just never go far enough to go 65 mph on an highway with those trailers. Thanks in advance for the help and recommendations.

Ross

[sleepyT]

Ross
Can't help with your question, because I own a fifth wheel...I am replying just to welcome you to the forum and RV ownership...Stay safe and most of all have FUN...

[KingFisher]

I looked up capacities for a 2009 Suburban 1500 and it says 5100-5400 pounds, so you'd be exceeding your capacity with that rig by quite a bit.

WD hitches are set up for each individual vehicle as to height and number of chain links used so it would be a pain to pull it with 2 different tow vehicles even if the suburban was capable. You'd need an extra receiver head/assembly for the suburban, or if the dodge one had enough adjustment for height you'd have to take it apart and set it to a different height. It would just be bothersome, I wouldn't want to go through it every time.

I try not to store much in the back end of my trailers since that's where the most bounce is. I also don't think it's a good idea to lighten your tongue weight, you need a good percentage of tongue weight to prevent fish tailing. Right now your tongue weight looks to be almost 15% and that's a good number.


I have one sway control bar on my sunset trail 250rb, trailer goes 5700 empty so I'm probably pulling it at 6500 pounds or so, and it does ok. I should probably have 2 but have got by with one. Looks like this:



I have 2 of these on my 3001W windjammer because it's heavier and 34.5 ft long and at the limits of my Silverado.

[KingFisher]

Also, I forgot to say:

Welcome to the forum.

[dedmiston]

Hi Ross. Welcome to the forum. Before we bought our fifth wheel we towed a heavy toy hauler for 12 years. I used the Reese Dual Cam sway control and weight distribution system and absolutely loved it. We didn't have any trouble with sway.

[ewbldavis]

We have an Equalizer. I had roundbar with sway bar shown by King Fish.

Equalizer is much better. With 940# tongue weight, I'd recommend 1200# bars.

As stated, setup will be very different for the 2 vehicles, and while the 'burb would probably be OK, it will be night and day from the Ram. I'd recommend using the Ram unless an emergency comes up, and still use the WD hitch simply because it really stabilizes the setup. Your Ram won't hardly notice a 270BH.

[RCPajich]

Thank you everyone for welcomes... I do agree and see how WD hitches are setup to vehicles, so I will have to buy another shank and head. My suburban manual says I'm good up to 7900lbs with 1000 lbs tongue. So pretty close to max on that, but will only use maybe once a year or every two years. I'm looking into the Reese strait line with cam sway or the equalizer. Both in 1200 lbs specs. Thanks again for the tips.

Ross

[ewbldavis]

Sidebar tip: Check Craigslist or related. I scored my Equalizer used for $275. Even came with bracket jackets and lube.