Towing setup specialist

Greywolf26dbh wrote:
Hi everyone- thanks you for all the responses, I am feeing much better about my tow vehicle / trailer combination which I was getting a bit nervous about. I see everyone recommending a 12.5 to 13 percent tongue weight. Is 11 percent enough based on the 10 to 15 percent recommendations I've been reading. Two of the hitches I've been considering are the equalizer and propride. My understanding is that I am would be okay right at the 10% lower limit with the propride (maybe even 9%). Any thoughts on the two hitches with my trailer / vehicle combination?

You don't get to pick, nor can you change the tongue weight, without drastic modification to the trailer. The numbers others have provided are best-guess calculations based on specs for your trailer and how you might load it. You can tweak the tongue a bit depending on loading cargo before or after the axle, relocating the battery, traveling without water, etc. Most camper floor plans I've seen have the axle pretty far back, purposefully making it difficult to decrease the tongue through improper loading.

A weight distributing hitch does not reduce tongue weight, nor does it increase the payload capacity of a tow vehicle. It is just a mechanical tool for transferring some of the weight from the rear axle to the front axle.

Your tire and payload sticker will tell you how much weight the vehicle can carry (that weight has to include passengers, luggage etc, plus tongue). Sometimes there's a more detailed sticker that states how much each axle can carry. That information combined with a trucker's scale reading gives you real numbers on your trailer and your truck.

I'd say starting out, don't give yourself nightmares of running overloaded, if it turns out that way. The world won't end, your truck won't explode. You'll have a good time, and rack up miles and experience. After driving a few thousand miles, you can make the decision to continue overloaded, or buy a bigger truck. It is YOUR decision, this forum has a lot of valuable advice and knowledgeable people. It also has a lot of worry-worts that wouldn't tow a row boat with anything less than a 1-ton dually diesel.

Not everyone can afford a $60K+ truck starting out. When I started with my little 20ft trailer, I was towing it with a station wagon. I logged 10,000 miles and had a great time. I found my station wagon didn't want to tow the trailer in the mountains. I sold a sports car I loved so I could buy (what I thought was) a bigger truck (but it's still just a grocery getter.)

10% is the minimum recommended by anyone, but it isn`t ideal for a TT. for a TT a minimum of 12% is what I would consider correct, even with the Pro Pride.

Hi everyone- thanks you for all the responses, I am feeing much better about my tow vehicle / trailer combination which I was getting a bit nervous about. I see everyone recommending a 12.5 to 13 percent tongue weight. Is 11 percent enough based on the 10 to 15 percent recommendations I've been reading. Two of the hitches I've been considering are the equalizer and propride. My understanding is that I am would be okay right at the 10% lower limit with the propride (maybe even 9%). Any thoughts on the two hitches with my trailer / vehicle combination?

If you go by your estimated loaded weight number of 7000lbs, (which will be very close to what it will weigh loaded for a trip), then 12.5% of that number will be 875lbs for tongue weight. Now go weigh the Expy as it would be loaded for a trip and see what you have left over for hitch weight. You will be close if not a bit over. I have no issue with going over GVWR by 2-300lbs, as long as you stay under the axle ratings you will be good to go!

Calculating tongue weight at your stated 7000 lbs * 13% gives you 910 lbs for tongue weight. You need to know the payload number of your Expedition. Check the door for a sticker that says maxim weight of cargo and occupants not to exceed XXXX lbs.

Also consider getting the both weighed at a CAT scale - Google Cat scale locator. Load up the TV for camping including people and cargo.

Good luck

Hi,

Trailer is grey wolf 26DBH with dry weight of 5,622 (figuring 7,000 lbs) loaded. The tow vehicle is a Ford Expedition EL with tow package. The expedition has max tow capacity of 8,700 and Max tongue weight of 900 lbs. the tongue weight is my real limitation.

duplicate.

If you've come to the forum already, you are 1/2 way to getting it right. There is some excellent info. in stickies in the towing forum. If you are meaning the weight distributing hitch, the best thing you can do is learn how to do it yourself and it's not all that difficult. Above all, do not let a dealer do it or advise you.

Chances are, even if an "expert" sets it up, you may need to tweak the amount of weight being transferred to the steer axle on your tow vehicle by adjusting bar angle or number of chain links (from loading the TV and TT with more or less weight than usual).

Some take more effort to install and set up like the Reese dual cam WDH. You have the option of getting a basic WDH without sway control and adding friction sway bars or getting something with integral sway control (Blue Ox, Equal-i-zer, etc.). In most cases, you'll want sway control.

In addition to the WDH, there are other considerations like the brake controller, appropriate tire pressure, payload ratings, etc.

Info on your trailer and tow vehicle would help.

You're getting some good advice here IMO and setting up, adjusting, and understanding how your WDH and sway system works is one of those areas that I feel one should be familiar with and learn to do it mainly yourself. This is because you need to be knowledgeable to recognize if things change and what is needed to do to readjust as necessary w/o relying on outside assistance only. Just like adjusting and using a brake controller this is one of those areas one needs to be proficient in for the most part.

Larry

Greywolf26dbh wrote:
Hi everyone,

Does anyone know of any towing setup specialists that they would recommend in the Connecticut or mass areas? I have read a lot about can-am but they are obviously too far being that they are in Canada. The more I speak to the dealer I purchased my trailer from the less confidence I have in their ability to properly recommend and setup my vehicle and trailer for towing.

Thank you in advance.

Unless you want to tow that 26bh with a sports car. Can-am is not needed. They can modify / rebuild most anything to tow. But you will pay for it.

For your TT, all you need is a Full sized SUV, or truck, and a WDH. Follow the instructions for the WDH, and you should be fine. Do you have any friends that camp. Get them to help. It is not rocket science, but you do need to get it right, but you don't need to rebuild your truck.

BTW. the salesman you talk to at your dealer is NOT the one that will setup your WDH. It will be the service dept, and they will set it up for an empty trailer. Once you load it, when you get it home. You will have to tweak it. Usually by pulling one more link in the chain.