WD Hitch Measurements - Need help with fine tuning
Hello all,
I spent a very rough afternoon yesterday setting up my WD hitch. I have some physical limitations from my life being a mechanic, but I managed to get it all together. What a pain in the butt.
I have some questions and I need help from the experts.
My TT is a 2005 Keystone Zeppelin Z261, TW 600lbs, total GVWR 6000lbs. My truck is a 2017 Ram 1500 4x4 Hemi reg cab, short bed. I have about 300lbs payload against the cab in the bed forward of the rear axles. My hitch is a Eaz-lift with friction sway control separate from WD hitch. 1000lb TW. I bought the 1000lb tongue weight because I had thought I would have more weight in the bed. It looks like I’ll be closer to 800 lbs total TW with the bed fully loaded and me in the truck. I will be full-timing so I will be driving a lot of miles.
Unhitched measurements:
Front wheel arch: 36”
Rear wheel arch 37.5”
Trailer measurements taken at level front to rear
Front TT at Frame n front of saddle 19.5”
Rear bumper height 18”
After fighting with the **** thing for 4 hours, and readjusting a couple times after realizing I “mathed” wrong. I’m hoping I got it right, or at least as close as possible.
Anyway, my hitch ball is at the lowest mounting point on the drop mount that came with my hitch, and the head is angled slightly rearward towards TT. I have 6 links between the bars and the saddle when hitched. The bars are parallel when hitched.
Measurements when hitched (without moving, so, TT didn’t move, truck hasn’t moved)
Front wheel arch 36”
Rear wheel arch 36.5”
Front TT at frame in front of saddle 20.5”
Rear bumper height 18”
Overall the rear of my truck squated 1”, the front frame TT height weight up aprox 1”, but the front and rear measurements stayed the same. The TT is ever so slightly nose high on the leveler.
This is as close as I could manage yesterday. Are these measurements and information abut my set-up correct? Do I need to get a lower drop bar (I might have one lying around somewhere)?
And finally, my WD hitch came partially assembled. The only bolts I need to know torque specs for are the ones that attached the hitch head to the drop bar. I read somewhere online 250lbs (which sounds awful high) for the bottom bolt, 50lbs for top adjustable. The bottom bolt on mine has a lock washer. I tightened that bolt hard, put my body weight into it (all 280lbs of me). The lock washer is as compressed as it can be. However, if I know exact specs (that weren’t provided in my instructions) I can use my torque wrench to be exact.
I spent a very rough afternoon yesterday setting up my WD hitch. I have some physical limitations from my life being a mechanic, but I managed to get it all together. What a pain in the butt.
I have some questions and I need help from the experts.
My TT is a 2005 Keystone Zeppelin Z261, TW 600lbs, total GVWR 6000lbs. My truck is a 2017 Ram 1500 4x4 Hemi reg cab, short bed. I have about 300lbs payload against the cab in the bed forward of the rear axles. My hitch is a Eaz-lift with friction sway control separate from WD hitch. 1000lb TW. I bought the 1000lb tongue weight because I had thought I would have more weight in the bed. It looks like I’ll be closer to 800 lbs total TW with the bed fully loaded and me in the truck. I will be full-timing so I will be driving a lot of miles.
Unhitched measurements:
Front wheel arch: 36”
Rear wheel arch 37.5”
Trailer measurements taken at level front to rear
Front TT at Frame n front of saddle 19.5”
Rear bumper height 18”
After fighting with the **** thing for 4 hours, and readjusting a couple times after realizing I “mathed” wrong. I’m hoping I got it right, or at least as close as possible.
Anyway, my hitch ball is at the lowest mounting point on the drop mount that came with my hitch, and the head is angled slightly rearward towards TT. I have 6 links between the bars and the saddle when hitched. The bars are parallel when hitched.
Measurements when hitched (without moving, so, TT didn’t move, truck hasn’t moved)
Front wheel arch 36”
Rear wheel arch 36.5”
Front TT at frame in front of saddle 20.5”
Rear bumper height 18”
Overall the rear of my truck squated 1”, the front frame TT height weight up aprox 1”, but the front and rear measurements stayed the same. The TT is ever so slightly nose high on the leveler.
This is as close as I could manage yesterday. Are these measurements and information abut my set-up correct? Do I need to get a lower drop bar (I might have one lying around somewhere)?
And finally, my WD hitch came partially assembled. The only bolts I need to know torque specs for are the ones that attached the hitch head to the drop bar. I read somewhere online 250lbs (which sounds awful high) for the bottom bolt, 50lbs for top adjustable. The bottom bolt on mine has a lock washer. I tightened that bolt hard, put my body weight into it (all 280lbs of me). The lock washer is as compressed as it can be. However, if I know exact specs (that weren’t provided in my instructions) I can use my torque wrench to be exact.
