Hitch set up help
Hi everyone. Hoping for some clarification, guidance and ultimately some peace of mind on my hitch set up. I've read the set up procedure but seem to be running into a few problems. 2011 Ford Exp...
Forum Discussion
A little bit of info, 2 washers worth of head tilt back towards the trailer comes close to 1 chain link of tension.
So if you find 5 links gets to just a little too much weight transfer, then take the head apart and add 2 washers if you can and go back to 6 links under tension. This then gives you good weight transfer on the front and more parallel bars.
The amount of parallel you have now is very good. Odds are low you can get it tape measure perfect, but slight up or down is acceptable. I myself if I found 5 links worked great on the WD, I would the 2 washers to the head if they fit and go back to the 6 links.
That gives me a quick future addition of weight transfer if I needed it for large changes in tongue weight for a particular camping trip. If you are maxed out at 5 links, then there is no more quick adjustments left.
Also, front end fenders height will change just driving around the block... seriously. You can easily get +/- 1/8" just driving around the block as the truck springs settle at slightly different places most all the time. So what is 1/4" now may be 3/8" after a trip around the block. Next time your out check it. If you consistently are higher then you want, you can stand some more weight transfer.
I 100% agree with Barney, once you get tape measure close, go to a truck scale and weigh the front axle with the camper hitch and WD engaged and with the truck only. Then you can see what you are doing. Scales tell all. The tape measure gets you close. And while you are at the scales, get these numbers Ron G talked about. here from those 3 weight sets you can check all your towing and axle setups.
See here what the truck scale will look like
And you will get 3 weight slips for the various combinations. Here is my first set, truck and camper loaded with WD engaged.
Then do not even move the truck, just unhitch the WD bars and let the raw tongue weight hang on the ball (tongue jack off the ground) and take a 2nd weight. Then hook up, drive off, unhitch the camper and weigh just the truck. Those are the 3 weight sets. We can help crunch the numbers for you.
If you look in your owners manual, Ford does a pretty good job on what they declare your truck should be set for when towing with a WD hitch.
Good luck and happy camping
John
So if you find 5 links gets to just a little too much weight transfer, then take the head apart and add 2 washers if you can and go back to 6 links under tension. This then gives you good weight transfer on the front and more parallel bars.
The amount of parallel you have now is very good. Odds are low you can get it tape measure perfect, but slight up or down is acceptable. I myself if I found 5 links worked great on the WD, I would the 2 washers to the head if they fit and go back to the 6 links.
That gives me a quick future addition of weight transfer if I needed it for large changes in tongue weight for a particular camping trip. If you are maxed out at 5 links, then there is no more quick adjustments left.
Also, front end fenders height will change just driving around the block... seriously. You can easily get +/- 1/8" just driving around the block as the truck springs settle at slightly different places most all the time. So what is 1/4" now may be 3/8" after a trip around the block. Next time your out check it. If you consistently are higher then you want, you can stand some more weight transfer.
I 100% agree with Barney, once you get tape measure close, go to a truck scale and weigh the front axle with the camper hitch and WD engaged and with the truck only. Then you can see what you are doing. Scales tell all. The tape measure gets you close. And while you are at the scales, get these numbers Ron G talked about. here from those 3 weight sets you can check all your towing and axle setups.
See here what the truck scale will look like
And you will get 3 weight slips for the various combinations. Here is my first set, truck and camper loaded with WD engaged.
Then do not even move the truck, just unhitch the WD bars and let the raw tongue weight hang on the ball (tongue jack off the ground) and take a 2nd weight. Then hook up, drive off, unhitch the camper and weigh just the truck. Those are the 3 weight sets. We can help crunch the numbers for you.
If you look in your owners manual, Ford does a pretty good job on what they declare your truck should be set for when towing with a WD hitch.
Good luck and happy camping
John
