Hello all,I am brand new to the forum, thanks! :)I have what is possibly a dumb question, but am looking for some advice.I am getting a Reese Dual Cam Hitch.I have a toy hauler that weighs 10,000 with toys but without water and 11,000# with water, and toys. that's actual scale verified weights.My question is:Do I just get the 1200 pound dual cam setup, that's 12000 trailer weight and 1200 tongue weight.Or do I buy a tongue scale (I didn't even know they existed until today) and weigh the setup before buying? In case I am over 1200 tongue weight?I've heard that sometimes toy haulers can have more than 10% tongue weight, so I am not sure if it'd be worth the 120 bucks for the scale to verify before I buy the hitch?I AM a bit cheap, so I'd rather skip that if possible. Plus I haven't gotten the tow vehicle yet, so I won't be able to weigh it till after, and then i'll want to have the hitch post haste.I will be buying a Dodge dually 3500 with the 5.9L diesel.Thanks for any help or insight, I'm just a bit at a loss as to whether I need the 1200 pound one or the 1500 pound one, or one of the others (they seem to make 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700) I was planning on just getting the 1200 one until I found out about the other sizes and the hitch scale.thanks!Dan

I personally always try to have the next size up when it comes to the dual-cam. If I have 800 lbs of tongue weight, I buy the 1,000 - 1,200 lb bars. I like the stiffer control and logically it drives the sway control harder with the stiffer springs.Brian

That's good to know. I'd read somewhere where there was an apparent issue with getting too big of bars, as they didn't flex and caused damage to some other component? So I wasn't sure if going bigger was necessarily better?The 1500 set isn't much more............ maybe I should just do that....thanks for the input.dan

Dan,I would go for the bigger capacity hitch. The "too stiff" comment may apply to lighter weight trailers that have smaller frames but with the size of the trailer you have it won't make any difference. You could well have 1500lb tongue weight or more and the frame should be designed to take that amount.I would get 1500lb bars if it were me.By the way, WELCOME to the forums! Glad you are here and I hope you post often and get all your questions answered. :)Barney

I've heard that sometimes toy haulers can have more than 10% tongue weight, so I am not sure if it'd be worth the 120 bucks for the scale to verify before I buy the hitch? Toyhaulers are designed to carry toys mostly behind the axles. This tends to increase the percentage of tongue weight relative to the total toyhauler weight when empty (no toys). I would go bigger (but not excessively bigger) on the hitch bars. Use gross weight of the toyhauler for your calculations (not actual loaded weight). By the way, nice ride you have selected for the tow vehicle. It will get the job done in spades. Join the TDR and tour the Cummins plant and you will never want anybody elses engine in any truck you own.

I would not recommend the dual cam for a Toy hauler. It is far too picky about adjustment of the detent in the bars centered over the lobes. Varying weight of toys/water between trips will require adjustment.Get the EQ 4-pt. For and 11k TH, I bet you have 1500 pounds of TW. A tongue scale should be great, or spend $14 at a CAT scale to size the WDH.

Reese Dual Cam Size with a toy hauler??? | Good Sam Community

28 Replies

Jayco23FB
Explorer
Apr 22, 2014
I would go with the 1500# bars. You can also visit etrailer.com and they will make a suggestion for you. They also have some very good info on thier site.
jnjloo
Explorer
Apr 22, 2014
jmtandem wrote:
I've heard that sometimes toy haulers can have more than 10% tongue weight, so I am not sure if it'd be worth the 120 bucks for the scale to verify before I buy the hitch?

Toyhaulers are designed to carry toys mostly behind the axles. This tends to increase the percentage of tongue weight relative to the total toyhauler weight when empty (no toys). I would go bigger (but not excessively bigger) on the hitch bars. Use gross weight of the toyhauler for your calculations (not actual loaded weight). By the way, nice ride you have selected for the tow vehicle. It will get the job done in spades. Join the TDR and tour the Cummins plant and you will never want anybody elses engine in any truck you own.

The gross weight rating of the trailer is 11,000
the 1200 of the dual cam would cover the gross weight, but not the tongue weight if it's higher, but that's ok?
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Apr 22, 2014
I would go with the 1500# bars
APT
Explorer
Apr 22, 2014
I would not recommend the dual cam for a Toy hauler. It is far too picky about adjustment of the detent in the bars centered over the lobes. Varying weight of toys/water between trips will require adjustment.

Get the EQ 4-pt. For and 11k TH, I bet you have 1500 pounds of TW. A tongue scale should be great, or spend $14 at a CAT scale to size the WDH.
jmtandem
Explorer II
Apr 22, 2014
I've heard that sometimes toy haulers can have more than 10% tongue weight, so I am not sure if it'd be worth the 120 bucks for the scale to verify before I buy the hitch?

Toyhaulers are designed to carry toys mostly behind the axles. This tends to increase the percentage of tongue weight relative to the total toyhauler weight when empty (no toys). I would go bigger (but not excessively bigger) on the hitch bars. Use gross weight of the toyhauler for your calculations (not actual loaded weight). By the way, nice ride you have selected for the tow vehicle. It will get the job done in spades. Join the TDR and tour the Cummins plant and you will never want anybody elses engine in any truck you own.
BarneyS
Nomad
Apr 22, 2014
Dan,
I would go for the bigger capacity hitch. The "too stiff" comment may apply to lighter weight trailers that have smaller frames but with the size of the trailer you have it won't make any difference. You could well have 1500lb tongue weight or more and the frame should be designed to take that amount.
I would get 1500lb bars if it were me.

By the way, WELCOME to the forums! Glad you are here and I hope you post often and get all your questions answered. :)
Barney
jnjloo
Explorer
Apr 22, 2014
That's good to know. I'd read somewhere where there was an apparent issue with getting too big of bars, as they didn't flex and caused damage to some other component? So I wasn't sure if going bigger was necessarily better?

The 1500 set isn't much more............ maybe I should just do that....

thanks for the input.

dan
VintageRacer
Explorer
Apr 22, 2014
I personally always try to have the next size up when it comes to the dual-cam. If I have 800 lbs of tongue weight, I buy the 1,000 - 1,200 lb bars. I like the stiffer control and logically it drives the sway control harder with the stiffer springs.

Brian

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Reese Dual Cam Size with a toy hauler???

28 Replies

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