Hi all,Looking at new travel trailers and wonder if I need a WD hitch? I have been pulling a little Fun Finder 139 without.We are looking at trailers in the 21-24 total length (including tongue) range and with GVWR in the 5000 lb range. TV is a 2014 Ram 1500 CrewCab 6'5" bed, 8speed, 3.92 gears, tow package, 10500 towing capacity.Should I go with a WD hitch?

You'll probably need one based on the ratings of your truck's receiver. At 5000lbs, the tongue weight darned well better be over 500lbs, and the receivers on most 1500 series pickups are only rated to 500lbs without a WD hitch.The trailer will probably weigh between 6000 and 6500lbs loaded and ready to camp, with a tongue weight of 700 to 750lbs. That's WD territory for a 1500 series pickup.Get one with built in sway control. It's good insurance against unknown sources of sway, and really helps with the push-pull from large vehicles passing by.

You are about to get a lot of opinions both ways. But the truth is that the answer isn't a matter of opinion from afar AND that it depends entirely on factors not so far discussed.

mkirsch wrote:You'll probably need one based on the ratings of your truck's receiver. At 5000lbs, the tongue weight darned well better be over 500lbs, and the receivers on most 1500 series pickups are only rated to 500lbs without a WD hitch.The trailer will probably weigh between 6000 and 6500lbs loaded and ready to camp, with a tongue weight of 700 to 750lbs. That's WD territory for a 1500 series pickup.Get one with built in sway control. It's good insurance against unknown sources of sway, and really helps with the push-pull from large vehicles passing by.The loaded weight will be around 5000 lbs. Perhaps I used GVWR incorrectly?

I assumed you used GVWR incorrectly. Most people when shopping for RVs go by the "dry" weight and don't take into account the stuff they need to do more than sit in their own filth in the middle of the floor, cold, naked, thirsty and hungry all weekend.Even at 5000lbs, your tongue weight better be at least 550lbs if not closer to 600. This will exceed the rating on the receiver, and require a WD hitch. Would an extra 100lbs break your receiver? Probably not, but do you want to chance it?The WD hitch will still help with handling even if you don't absolutely need it.

In the 5000 lbs GVWR range there is a good possibility the use of a WDH is required by the truck manufacturer due to your receiver rating. But even if not, the use of a WDH will in general reduce the wear and tear on the suspension system of your truck, and increase the "comfort of the ride". The only reason not to use one is to save $350.00 at the expense of replacing the shocks sooner (the remote chance of breaking a spring) and a more seesaw ride. I would but you have to decide for yourself if it's worth it.

Do I need a WD Hitch | Good Sam Community

Ivylog
Explorer III
Jun 28, 2017
theoldwizard1 wrote:
IMHO, as soon as your trailer exceeds Class II rating (> 3,500 lbs) you need a WD hitch.

So my F350 dually needs WD to pull a 4000 lb trailer. :S
shades9323
Explorer
Jun 28, 2017
Any thoughts on the EAZ-Lift system? That is what the dealer sells for hitches. I could get by with towing the hour back home to have an equalizer installed local to me though. Equalizer is 2x the price. How are the Husky and Equalizer to install at home?
Hannibal
Explorer
Jun 28, 2017
You might find that the EAZ-Lift hitch works fine. They're pretty popular. The bar type sway control may be all you need. The drawback is, you need to remember to remove the friction bar before backing into a spot requiring sharp turns to avoid overextending it and breaking it. I installed my Reese HP at home. Not a bad job but does require big sockets and torque wrench. My torque wrench goes to 250 ft/lbs so the ball isn't torqued to it's 450 ft/lbs. Went to 250 and then a breaker bar for a little more. The Equalizer would be about the same for me. I asked the dealer and he said they do the same. The Equalizer can be ordered with the ball pre-installed. I like that the Equalizer doesn't require drilling into the trailer's frame.
mkirsch
Nomad II
Jun 28, 2017
mowermech wrote:
With the trailer hooked up, will your low beam headlights blind oncoming drivers?
If the answer is "YES!", you need a WD hitch to bring them back down where they belong.
If the answer is "No.", you may get by without one.

How will he know?
mkirsch
Nomad II
Jun 28, 2017
Ivylog wrote:
theoldwizard1 wrote:
IMHO, as soon as your trailer exceeds Class II rating (> 3,500 lbs) you need a WD hitch.

So my F350 dually needs WD to pull a 4000 lb trailer. :S

No, you need to stop taking things out of context, to the furthest extreme. Nobody said anything about an F350 dually. The truck in question is a half ton. theoldwizard1's PERSONAL RULE OF THUMB, as indicated by the "IMHO" pertains to towing with half ton trucks.
mowermech
Explorer
Jun 28, 2017
mkirsch wrote:
mowermech wrote:
With the trailer hooked up, will your low beam headlights blind oncoming drivers?
If the answer is "YES!", you need a WD hitch to bring them back down where they belong.
If the answer is "No.", you may get by without one.

How will he know?

Measure from the ground to the center of the headlights without the trailer hooked up.
Hook up the trailer. Measure again, in the same place. If the lights are quite a bit higher, a WD hitch is needed to bring them back down to an acceptable level.
Or, hook up the trailer, then at night drive your car as if it was meeting the truck on a highway. Do the headlights on the truck blind you? If so, you need the WD hitch.
Or, take the truck to a shop that has headlight aiming tools, with the trailer hooked up. If the tool says the low beam lights are too high, a WD hitch is needed.
Or, find the diagram of the headlight aiming template online. Put it on the garage door with tape. Park the truck the recommended distance from the door, with the trailer hooked up. Where do the low beam "hot spots" hit the door? If they are high, a WD hitch is needed.
BarneyS
Explorer III
Jun 28, 2017
mkirsch wrote:
mowermech wrote:
With the trailer hooked up, will your low beam headlights blind oncoming drivers?
If the answer is "YES!", you need a WD hitch to bring them back down where they belong.
If the answer is "No.", you may get by without one.

How will he know?

Take a hint from all the people flashing their bright lights at you as you meet them on the highway.

My new truck was grossly misadjusted when I took delivery. Fixed it myself while in the campground this winter.
Drove up to a blank building wall, marked the wall with tape. Backed up the correct number of feet (can't remember now exactly what it was but found it on the internet), and adjusted my lights perfectly. Very simple process on the Ram with a nut driver or 1/4 in drive socket through an adjustment hole on the top inside of the front fenders.
Barney
mowermech
Explorer
Jun 29, 2017
25 feet.
mkirsch
Nomad II
Jun 29, 2017
So the RV dealers are now letting you test tow trailers OVERNIGHT now? No, they aren't.

See, both of your suggestions can only be done AFTER you purchase the trailer and tow it home, so you can't roll the cost of the WD hitch into the financing...
BarneyS
Explorer III
Jun 29, 2017
No need to purchase a trailer to get the headlights aimed correctly.
Barney

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