We took delivery of our 2013 Dutchmen 261BHS Friday. We loaded it with almost everything we had in the old camper while at the dealer. The Dutchmen came with a Huskey 800-1000lb WDH. It must have been used with a 4x4 because it was 8 inches to low. We flipped the shank and adjusted it with a tape measure and the old "eyeballing it" method. We left from the dealers lot for our first weekend trip. On the way home I hit the scales. With the current setup, the TT is 1 inch higher in the front than the back, The front axle of TV is the same height and the rear dropped 1 1/4 inches. Making the TV level front and rear. The weight bars are pointed slightly up towards the frame. Using the 6th link.TV without TT, Steer axle 3500 Drive axle 3860 Total 7360TV with TT and WDH, Steer axle 3520 Drive axle 4660 TT axle 6620 Total 14800I think the numbers look good, but need to drop the ball height.What do ya think?How critical is it to have the WD bars level with the TT frame?Is the tongue weight 800lbs?

Drop the hitch head one hole on the shank and adjust the angle back one notch to help level the bars.

Your numbers look good to me and the bars look ok also. You have 6 links under tension which is good and the bars are just slightly off level. As long as the chains don't crash into the snap up brackets during turns (and they shouldn't based on what I see) you should not have to make any farther adjustments in my opinion except to lower the hitch head one hole to level the trailer.If you decide to tilt the hitch head to level and lower the ends of the bars you are probably going to have to use 7 links under tension or you will have too much weight transfer taking place. Nothing wrong with that either.Barney

SC camper wrote:I think the numbers look good, but need to drop the ball height.What do ya think?How critical is it to have the WD bars level with the TT frame?Is the tongue weight 800lbs?Yes, the numbers look good. And, it would be good to drop the hitch head.As Barney stated, it is not necessary for the WD bars to be parallel to the TT's frame as long as the bars cannot contact the frame when turning.The indicated tongue weight is approximately 1060# with 240# being transferred to the TT's axles.Ron

Big thing, how does it feel? If it feels good, I would leave it.

I agree with most of the above. Drop the ball one notch, add one washer. Also, can you move the bracket a little toward the front to straighten the chains? I pull one of a similar size to yours with that same hitch and use two sway bars as well as 1400# bars. It sits almost perfectly level to the truck, slightly nose down. Pulls great.

WDH adjustments after hitting scales | Good Sam Community

mkirsch
Nomad II
Sep 23, 2014
AFAIK no such thing as a "left hand" sway bar.

You just put a "right hand" sway bar on "backwards" so the lever is facing out.
SC_camper
Explorer
Sep 22, 2014
Thanks for all the input.

If I tilt the head, do I need a special washer or can I use one from hardware store that is the same size?

I would like to add a second friction sway bar. Is it real important to get a left hand one or will a right side work? I think the tightening lever will be between the frame and sway bar. Will it hit or just be a bit inconvenient?
campigloo
Explorer
Sep 22, 2014
I agree with most of the above. Drop the ball one notch, add one washer. Also, can you move the bracket a little toward the front to straighten the chains? I pull one of a similar size to yours with that same hitch and use two sway bars as well as 1400# bars. It sits almost perfectly level to the truck, slightly nose down. Pulls great.
ChooChooMan74
Explorer
Sep 22, 2014
Big thing, how does it feel? If it feels good, I would leave it.
Ron_Gratz
Explorer
Sep 22, 2014
SC camper wrote:
I think the numbers look good, but need to drop the ball height.
What do ya think?
How critical is it to have the WD bars level with the TT frame?
Is the tongue weight 800lbs?
Yes, the numbers look good. And, it would be good to drop the hitch head.

As Barney stated, it is not necessary for the WD bars to be parallel to the TT's frame as long as the bars cannot contact the frame when turning.

The indicated tongue weight is approximately 1060# with 240# being transferred to the TT's axles.

Ron
BarneyS
Explorer III
Sep 22, 2014
Your numbers look good to me and the bars look ok also. You have 6 links under tension which is good and the bars are just slightly off level.

As long as the chains don't crash into the snap up brackets during turns (and they shouldn't based on what I see) you should not have to make any farther adjustments in my opinion except to lower the hitch head one hole to level the trailer.

If you decide to tilt the hitch head to level and lower the ends of the bars you are probably going to have to use 7 links under tension or you will have too much weight transfer taking place. Nothing wrong with that either.
Barney
bguy
Explorer
Sep 22, 2014
Drop the hitch head one hole on the shank and adjust the angle back one notch to help level the bars.

Forum Discussion

WDH adjustments after hitting scales

About RV Tips & Tricks

Related Content

How to adjust LED headlights?

Hit the scales again this morning, PERFECT!

arctic fox slide adjustment

Finally hit the scales

Hitting the Road!