So I just purchased a new travel trailer. I want to tow it home 50 miles with just a regular ball hitch and set up a weight distribution when I get home. Going to go with Blue OX Sway Pro. Its a Winnebago 2100BH. 3800 dry with 420 tongue weight. 21 feet long 7 feet wide. Being towed with a 2018 F150 Screw 3.5 eco 4x4 157 WB.It is under the weight limits of my truck 500/5000. Will I be ok towing under 55 MPH or will it be a disaster? Also was 25K a bad price OTD, 22,795 sale price a bad deal?

ive done worse. your call in the end. I would make the dealer set it up for you but I think you will be fine. where did you get the 500/5000 limits?

Jebby14 wrote:ive done worse. your call in the end. I would make the dealer set it up for you but I think you will be fine. where did you get the 500/5000 limits?It was off the hitch and the owners manual

Chewydog wrote:Jebby14 wrote:ive done worse. your call in the end. I would make the dealer set it up for you but I think you will be fine. where did you get the 500/5000 limits?It was off the hitch and the owners manualThe 500/5000 sounds right for a 1/2 ton truck without weight distribution.Enjoy the new TT.

No problem that I can see. It may even pull fine that way.Congrats on the new TT!

I would have the dealer install the WD Hitch. I watched and had them explain the process during our walk through.If your hitch receiver is rated 500# no WD 5000# with WD that pretty much tells your how much tongue weight you should carry.However as pointed out, a lot of people have done worse but in the end it is your call. I prefer to have the folks who do this for a living handle the job.

Bringing home new travel trailer. | Good Sam Community

20 Replies

Takamine
Explorer
May 15, 2018
Where I bought my trailer, there is a hitch dealer right across the street. They've been installing hitches for years and are highly reputable. I just dropped my truck off at the hitch place and the RV dealer pulled the trailer across the street. Once the hitch was installed and the trailer was hooked up, the guy that owned the place took me for a test drive, showed me how to adjust the trailer brakes and gave me a few tips on how to tow the trailer. Being a newbie, it was extremely helpful.
afidel
Explorer II
May 15, 2018
crazyro wrote:
Should be fine. I did it with our first rig.

Only thing I'd highly recommend, if your truck isn't equipped with one, is getting a brake controller before you bring the rig home. That was the only thing I added to my truck before its maiden voyage.

With a trailer that heavy I wouldn't just recommend it, I would advise that it's a legal requirement in all 50 states to have functioning trailer brakes which for a tt means a brake controller in the tow vehicle AND a charged battery in the tt.
ppine
Explorer II
May 15, 2018
I agree that a nice light trailer may pull fine the way it is. You should be cautious going home and you will learn a lot about your rig. Watch out for grooved pavement and rough, lumpy sections.

Currently I have light hybrid trailer around 3,000 pounds. It pulls fine with a simple sway control device on one side that is adjustable by controlling the friction on the sway arm. Light and easy to install.
Fordlover
Explorer
May 15, 2018
I towed mine home about 1,100 miles, although I did it with a 3/4 ton truck. The wind was a bit of a pain in some areas, but never got scary. I think you'll be fine for 50 miles.
campinia
Explorer
May 15, 2018
You probably won't have any problem getting home, but, I have the Blue Ox Sway Pro and it would be easy to set up by yourself at the dealer, unless there just isn't any room to do it. The hitch is easy to set up and you could ask the dealer to torque the bolts for you which is the biggest issue I had. I had to borrow a very expensive torque wrench to get the high torque required.
jakes29
Explorer
May 15, 2018
DavidP wrote:
rbpru wrote:

I prefer to have the folks who do this for a living handle the job.

This does not apply to RV Dealers. If you want your WDH installed/Setup wrong have the dealer do it. Borderline laughable.

x2. My dealership never took any measurements when installing mine to see if was properly set up. Do it yourself so it's done right.
bowebow
Explorer
May 15, 2018
I have never seen a delivery driver with a wdh. I have reset every hitch a dealer installed or set up, on purchase. Different reasons for each. First fifth wheel trailer towed so bad I almost returned it and went back to tt right then. I would tow home and install hitch have fun!
ScottG
Nomad
May 14, 2018
DavidP wrote:
rbpru wrote:

I prefer to have the folks who do this for a living handle the job.

This does not apply to RV Dealers. If you want your WDH installed/Setup wrong have the dealer do it. Borderline laughable.

Absolutely true. Every time I bought, the dealer "tried" to set it up and totally botched it.
When I bought the previous trailer the dealer had the springs so tight that he lost control of the bar you use to set it and launched it across the parking lot. It was funny because it didn't hurt anyone or anything. It could have taken someones head off.
The last one was just as terrible.
I have no idea how these clowns that install them everyday are so incompetent but they are.
samsontdog
Explorer
May 14, 2018
I have towed many TT home with just the ball hitch. The TT is empty , no water in tank, septic empty. I would not hesitate to tow it home on the ball
jwandvassie
Explorer
May 14, 2018
Chewydog wrote:
So I just purchased a new travel trailer. I want to tow it home 50 miles with just a regular ball hitch and set up a weight distribution when I get home. Going to go with Blue OX Sway Pro.
Its a Winnebago 2100BH. 3800 dry with 420 tongue weight. 21 feet long 7 feet wide.
Being towed with a 2018 F150 Screw 3.5 eco 4x4 157 WB.

It is under the weight limits of my truck 500/5000.
Will I be ok towing under 55 MPH or will it be a disaster?

Also was 25K a bad price OTD, 22,795 sale price a bad deal?

No problem