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Brandon32689's avatar
Brandon32689
Explorer
Aug 10, 2014

Towing a 8.5x20 enclosed advice

Hey guys new here, I've been researching all day and ran across this site. Well to start off I just got a new 8.5x20 enclosed trailer. It's going to be a prOject of mine to make kind of a custom toy hauler for my rzr and our dune trips. Well I am pulling that big sucker with a half ton, I know it would be better with a 3/4 but I wasn't planning on getting a trailer or a rzr when I bought my truck and need to hold on to it for at least another year so that's not a option.

Well why I am here is I am wanting some advice on safely pulling this thing. I drove 5 hours to get it and 5 hours back on the way back was a long hard drive I did not have tow mirrors and didn't realize I would not be able to see anything so that's the first thing I am getting. Other then that it towed real easy. I am know looking into weight distribution hitches, I added a brake controller today as well. I am looking at the eaz lift brand and the equal I zer brand. Both have good reviews and seem to be good but 200 dollars different in price. My problem is that my trailer is a v nose and I don't have allot of tongue. To woRk I with so I am wondering if anyone has eIther hitch and got any measurements. Or real reviews or advice for me.

My truck can hall 9700 pounds the trailer is barley 3k and I won't have over another 3 when all said and do em with a toy in it so I am well within what my truck is capable of. Well thanks guys
  • Brandon32689's avatar
    Brandon32689
    Explorer
    Aug 10, 2014
    Bedlam wrote:
    I run an inexpensive Harbor Freight WDH on my 20' enclosed, I don't have a v-nose, but my buddy uses the same hitch on a 16' v-nose. Since I already have considerable weight on my rear axle, I use that WDH to move that tongue weight around to the other axles. Although I have a friction anti-sway bar, I have not not installed it because The trailer has tracked fine without it (even when passed by semis). Your truck is much lighter than mine (maybe half the weight), so the trailer may try to push it around more. In this case an anti-sway device would help you.

    I don't understand why Wells Cargo would not allow a WDH unless they have weak tongue design that damage it. My 20' has three beams coming together to the coupler to create the tongue and is rated for just under 10K lbs.

    I have 17K lb rated hitch on my truck. When I do not have the truck camper, I can tow without the extension and WDH safely. I would not try this with your OEM hitch even if you were under your rear axle rating.



    Yeah I'm not to sure about wells cargo mine is a contenintal cargo made by forest river.

    I am looking at either the eaz lift or the equal I zer brand still havenet decided
  • Bedlam's avatar
    Bedlam
    Moderator
    Aug 10, 2014
    I run an inexpensive Harbor Freight WDH on my 20' enclosed, I don't have a v-nose, but my buddy uses the same hitch on a 16' v-nose. Since I already have considerable weight on my rear axle, I use that WDH to move that tongue weight around to the other axles. Although I have a friction anti-sway bar, I have not not installed it because The trailer has tracked fine without it (even when passed by semis). Your truck is much lighter than mine (maybe half the weight), so the trailer may try to push it around more. In this case an anti-sway device would help you.

    I don't understand why Wells Cargo would not allow a WDH unless they have weak tongue design that damage it. My 20' has three beams coming together to the coupler to create the tongue and is rated for just under 10K lbs.

    I have 17K lb rated hitch on my truck. When I do not have the truck camper, I can tow without the extension and WDH safely. I would not try this with your OEM hitch even if you were under your rear axle rating.
  • Brandon32689's avatar
    Brandon32689
    Explorer
    Aug 10, 2014
    That's the point I am just wanting to get one to be on the safe side I have only hauled this empty so far have never had a load on it yet. But I figured it won't hurt to have one and a anti sway
  • Bipeflier's avatar
    Bipeflier
    Explorer
    Aug 10, 2014
    If you can properly distribute the load in the trailer to get the right hitch weight, way do you think you need a WD hitch?

    Wells Cargo will tell you they don't recommend WDH on their trailers. If you need one, you aren't loaded correctly or overloaded.

    A toy such as you have shouldn't be an issue.
  • Brandon32689's avatar
    Brandon32689
    Explorer
    Aug 10, 2014
    Grandpere wrote:
    I have used the equalizer brand hitch on all my travel trailers since 1974, and my dad has used them from 1970. They are the best hitch on the market, in my opinion, and are designed to have the stabilizers built in and not as an add-on item as Reese hitches do. You will not have to be concerned with tongue length. In case you do not have a class III or IV receiver hitch all ready on your truck, go to U-Haul and have one installed. They do a great job of installation and they are one of the top brands to have. If you need anything else, feel free to send me a private message as i do not usually follow a single topic for very long.



    Thanks,for the input, yes I have a hitch the dealers put on when I bought the truck it is the z71 package so it also has the better shocks.
  • Brandon32689's avatar
    Brandon32689
    Explorer
    Aug 10, 2014
    msredneck84 wrote:
    Travel Trailers (bumper pull units) as well as fifth-wheel and all other recreational vehicles are engineered from the ground up to perform their task safely and efficiently.
    That said your biggest problem will be figuring out weight distribution, ex. water tank, black and grey water storage tanks, not to mention your toys which normally ride in the very rear of trailer. All of these represent weight and if not configured properly, well it will be disaster waiting to happen towing on highway.
    Hopefully this enclosed trailer has dual axles, if not then forget your project.



    Yes it's a dual axle I don't think you can even get a 20 footer in a single axle, that would be a disaster empty haha.
  • Grandpere's avatar
    Grandpere
    Explorer
    Aug 10, 2014
    I have used the equalizer brand hitch on all my travel trailers since 1974, and my dad has used them from 1970. They are the best hitch on the market, in my opinion, and are designed to have the stabilizers built in and not as an add-on item as Reese hitches do. You will not have to be concerned with tongue length. In case you do not have a class III or IV receiver hitch all ready on your truck, go to U-Haul and have one installed. They do a great job of installation and they are one of the top brands to have. If you need anything else, feel free to send me a private message as i do not usually follow a single topic for very long.
  • msredneck84's avatar
    msredneck84
    Explorer
    Aug 10, 2014
    Travel Trailers (bumper pull units) as well as fifth-wheel and all other recreational vehicles are engineered from the ground up to perform their task safely and efficiently.
    That said your biggest problem will be figuring out weight distribution, ex. water tank, black and grey water storage tanks, not to mention your toys which normally ride in the very rear of trailer. All of these represent weight and if not configured properly, well it will be disaster waiting to happen towing on highway.
    Hopefully this enclosed trailer has dual axles, if not then forget your project.

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