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Community Alumni's avatar
Community Alumni
Mar 08, 2014

Need advice on travel trailer and W/D hitches

The wife and I have looked at several small TTs and we think we may have found the right one for us. We are seasoned motorhome RVers, but we know very little about TTs. My experience in towing consists of pulling a toad behind a 40' DP and occasionally pulling a 19' runabout boat behind a SUV.

My tow vehicle will be a 2007 Jeep Commander 4X4 with the 5.7L Hemi engine. This vehicle has a 7,200 lb. towing capacity, 720 lb. tongue weight, and 1,290 lb. payload capacity. I have no idea what axle gear ratio the Jeep has.

We like the Forest River Flagstaff Micro Lite 21DS, which is identical to the Forest River Rockwood Mini Lite 2104S. The dry weight is 3,865 pounds and the tongue weight is 468 pounds. The only drawback I've seen so far in this TT is the modest 943 lb. CCC. However, this should not be a problem for us since this TT will be used for short trips and we will not be taking our entire house with us like we used to do when we went on 8,000 mile trips in our moho.

I must confess I'm a bit apprehensive about towing a TT, and I want to make sure that I do it in a safe manner and avoid white-knuckle experiences. I want to use a weight distribution system with built-in sway control that is easy to set up and that it will keep the TT from swaying when big rigs pass me by or by high winds.

Suggestions on the right W/D system for my TV/TT combo will be greatly appreciated, as well as any comments (positive or negative) about the TV/TT combination. I want to make sure that if I buy this TT I won't have to replace the Jeep with another TV.

Besides asking for two batteries, should I ask the dealer to throw something else in the deal? I noticed Group 24 deep batteries are standard in TTs. Should I ask for larger size batteries, and will they fit in the same spot as the 24s?

Thanks in advance for your advice and suggestions.

11 Replies

  • fla-gypsy's avatar
    fla-gypsy
    Explorer
    Mar 09, 2014
    Hondavalk wrote:
    Equal-I-zer or Reese Dual Cam


    X2. Two proven and reasonably priced systems. Both will work well
  • aftermath's avatar
    aftermath
    Explorer III
    Mar 09, 2014
    First of all, your TV should be able to handle the trailer you are looking at. Whenever someone comes here with a question like yours you can bet money that before the thread runs its course you will be told to get a big diesel and spend thousands for a hitch.

    Having a hitch with built in sway control and a good proportional controller are good ideas. There are many hitches out there and many have been around for a long time. I bought an Equalizer when I got my first trailer that was about the size of the one you are looking at. I towed it with a 4Runner and I really liked how it felt. Of course, I have never had a different brand so I can't tell you anything about the others. But.....when people want to criticize the Equalizer, I really don't believe much of what they are saying. Go to the Equalizer website and enter your numbers. They will come up with a suggested size. If you have further questions give them a call and they will help.

    I have a prodigy 2 and it works great. I am not sure if I would like one that applies the brakes whenever I am going down hill. I could imagine a problem with that. The Equalizer, as most others, has a manual lever to engage the trailer brakes independently. I have mine set for normal towing but when I get into the mountains I simply adjust the "boost" feature and it helps on the grades coming down.

    Equalizer and Prodigy have both been around a long time. They are tested and both work very well. They are not the cheapest options but the Equalizer is no where near the price of the top of the line hitches out there.
  • AH64ID's avatar
    AH64ID
    Explorer
    Mar 09, 2014
    Equal-i-zer says you can go up one size, so you could run the 800/8,000 or 1,000/10,000.

    The bigger setup allows more room to grow, and can be ran with less preload if needed. You just want to make sure you don't take too much weight off the rear axle of the TV.

    As for controllers you defiantly want a proportional deceleration sensing unit. I have ran the P2 with great results, I also hear good things about the P3.

    If you can find a max brake they are by far the best, but very pricey.
  • Community Alumni's avatar
    Community Alumni
    Mar 09, 2014
    Thank you so much for your replies. I know I can trust your opinions and suggestions in this forum, unlike the biased suggestions made by some salespeople.

    A salesperson that sells Airstreams and other high-end TTs highly recommended the Equalizer. I could tell this salesperson was a straight shooter and wasn't trying to steer me to any particular product or brand. On the other hand, the salesperson selling the TT I'm interested in buying recommended the only system they carry, which is a basic one. The basic system he carries retails on etrailer.com for about $300 and the price I was quoted by the dealer was over $800.

    Another thing that bothered me was the salesperson said I could use the bars that he carries, which are rated from 800 to 1,200 pounds, even though my tongue weight will never exceed 700 pounds. If I'm not mistaken, some of you have mentioned heavy bars will cause a stiff and uncomfortable ride. Is that correct?

    I also noticed in this forum many of you highly recommend Prodigy brake controllers. I was surprised to see how many different models are available. I noticed one or more models have a feature that will automatically apply the TT brakes when the TV decelerates without having to apply the TV brakes. I think a feature like that would be great for me since entering or leaving So Cal usually requires going through some steep downhill grades. Any suggestions on a particular model that I should consider for my application?

    Thanks again!
  • AH64ID's avatar
    AH64ID
    Explorer
    Mar 09, 2014
    From what I have read the Anderson transfers very little tongue weight back to the front axle of the TV, and the trailer axles. With such a small cargo capacity you don't want to get shorted on putting weight back on the trailer.

    I have been using the Equal-i-zer for 6 years and 2 different TT's and it's a great hitch. I have never experienced sway and the weight transfer is excellent.
  • handye9's avatar
    handye9
    Explorer II
    Mar 09, 2014
    Ron Gratz wrote:
    gemsworld wrote:
    If you use most of the CCC of the 21DS, the TT might weigh around 4700# and have a tongue weight around 600#.

    Given the Commander's 1290# payload capacity, you'll need to be very careful about adding additional vertical load to the receiver.
    The ProPride hitch, which is reported to weigh in excess of 200#, combined with the TW of the TT likely will consume in excess of 800# of the 1290# payload capacity. That would severely limit the amount of weight you could carry in the Commander.

    IMO, the Andersen WDH would be a better choice for your combination. It weighs about 60#.
    It's load distribution capability is far less than you would expect from a WHD with a 1400# TW rating, but should be sufficient for a 600# TW and a relatively short TT.

    Ron


    X2 on the Andersen. It will save you a few pounds on payload, with a few added benefits.

    1. Sway control is built in.
    2. No moaning and groaning noises from trunion bars. There are none.
    3. No grease. The Andersen requires no lubrication, anywhere. Cleaner.
    4. The lite weight makes it easier to hitch up.

    You'll have cleaner hitch up along with a quieter / smoother ride.

    I use one on a much bigger trailer.
  • Ron_Gratz's avatar
    Ron_Gratz
    Explorer
    Mar 09, 2014
    gemsworld wrote:
    If you use most of the CCC of the 21DS, the TT might weigh around 4700# and have a tongue weight around 600#.

    Given the Commander's 1290# payload capacity, you'll need to be very careful about adding additional vertical load to the receiver.
    The ProPride hitch, which is reported to weigh in excess of 200#, combined with the TW of the TT likely will consume in excess of 800# of the 1290# payload capacity. That would severely limit the amount of weight you could carry in the Commander.

    IMO, the Andersen WDH would be a better choice for your combination. It weighs about 60#.
    It's load distribution capability is far less than you would expect from a WHD with a 1400# TW rating, but should be sufficient for a 600# TW and a relatively short TT.

    Ron
  • Unyalli's avatar
    Unyalli
    Explorer
    Mar 09, 2014
    The big thing to understand is sway. There are all sorts of sway "resisting" hitches out there then there is the sway "eliminating" hitch. The shorter your TV wheel base the more you want eliminating.

    The Propride 3P is the generation II version of the original Jim Hensley design with many upgrades and the one you want.

    Check out this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FsRXjI8W6o.

    Here is an independent video series on the Propride http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkyPoVpTRvM.


    Jeff
  • jujububbajr's avatar
    jujububbajr
    Explorer
    Mar 09, 2014
    If price is not an issue I would get a propride 3p. If your budget conscious I would opt for the Equalizer brand hitch. There is some grease involved, but it controls sway very well, provided you have adequate tongue weight. 10-15% of your Loaded trailer weight. People have also reported success using the Andersen no sway hitch for lighter tongue weights. No grease on that one.

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