My wife and I are not new to the RV world, but new to travel trailers and considering one. Our towing vehicle is a 2016 GMC Yukon Denali with the 6.2L which has the integrated braking controller, rear air leveler, and can tow up to 8500lbs. We are looking at the 2020 FOREST RIVER RV FLAGSTAFF MICRO LITE 22FBS. Which is 23ft 10 inches long and weighs 5004lbs, which I have been told should work nicely. My question is...Do I need a WDH (weight distribution hitch) for this length travel trailer or will I be fine just towing tongue to hitch. I've owned motorhomes and 5th wheels, but this is my first travel trailer. Looking at a 20ft as well so same question on that one.Any thoughts and recommendations would be appreciated.

Just recently looked at that exact trailer at RV show,very nice floorplan.The stated weight is the UVW and doesn't apply to us that tow....you'll be around or slightly above 6k towing but your still in good shape with TV.To many advantages of a WDH not to warrant its use. ImoThe biggest is safety and piece of mind,eliminates sway and keeps the trailer and TV level. I towed virtually the same size trailer for 10yrs using a Reese DC WDH.Your looking at roughly a 600# tounge weight.....the rear of Yukon will sag.

kellem wrote:Just recently looked at that exact trailer at RV show,very nice floorplan.The stated weight is the UVW and doesn't apply to us that tow....you'll be around or slightly above 6k towing but your still in good shape with TV.To many advantages of a WDH not to warrant its use. ImoThe biggest is safety and piece of mind,eliminates sway and keeps the trailer and TV level. I towed virtually the same size trailer for 10yrs using a Reese DC WDH.Your looking at roughly a 600# tounge weight.....the rear of Yukon will sag. Thanks for the post. Will it sag even with the upgraded towing package I have with the "premium Smooth Ride Suspension with the Rear Air Leveler?" I tow a 30ft Triton on a trailer that is longer and when I load it up it always kicks on and levels the back end out.

HawkTX wrote:Do I need a WDH (weight distribution hitch) for this length travel trailerYes, I'd recommend a WD hitch.I tow a 12' cargo trailer and use a WD hitch.The Nash in my signature is pretty small. I tow it with a dually. I've towed it with and without the WD hitch. The combo rides like krap without the WD hitch, so I always use the WD hitch now.

Sorry,I missed the air level and yes that will prevent sag.I'm still an advocate for a WDH with antisway, hard for me to advise against. Dealer will likely throw one in during negotiation.

The Air bags will level but they won't distribute the weight.

Travel Trailer Newb question RE: WDH | Good Sam Community

Vintage465
Nomad
Jan 30, 2020
Weight distributing hitch all the way for sure.
HawkTX
Explorer
Jan 30, 2020
Thanks Folks! Appreciate the feedback and thoughts.
Terryallan
Explorer II
Jan 30, 2020
HawkTX wrote:
kellem wrote:
The Equalizer is very nice and likely the most popular.

Unless you're doing a lot of boondocking I wouldn't worry about a top end battery.

If you can keep your trailer plugged in at home,they'll last for years.

We do quite a bit of boondocking. That's why I was thinking the deep cycles would be a good idea. Even thinking about throwing some solar on the roof.

I would also go with the deep cycle. If you are like us. Even when we camp with full hookups, We use the battery to raise and lower the tongue jack, and sometimes put out the slide. We also use the fridge on propane in route, and have it on before we leave. So a deep cycle does a better job. And with the solar charging it, will last a good long time.
HawkTX
Explorer
Jan 29, 2020
richardcoxid wrote:
HawkTX

We also “dry” camp 99% of the time, in fact when we sold our 20yr old 5W I am not sure that the refer. would even work on 120VAC! Almost never used the AC.

Our new Outdoor RV, Timber Ridge, 24RKS came with 170W roof factory mounted solar and a external receptacle for a additional portable panel and a 30A controller. Just one of the things that we like about the 24RKS is the 80gal FW tank with 2- 40gal gray tanks and a 40gal black tank! Since why are still in the looking stage check out their web site. Then check their dealers in TX.

We will be doing the Oregon Coast later in the spring, have a appointment for a factory tour when we go thru La Grand, OR. May have the factory install their factory 4- 6V batt holder.

I actually just spoke with a local RV shop about installing 200W of solar on the roof. Probably overkill, but I only want to mess with it once.
richardcoxid
Explorer
Jan 29, 2020
HawkTX

We also “dry” camp 99% of the time, in fact when we sold our 20yr old 5W I am not sure that the refer. would even work on 120VAC! Almost never used the AC.

Our new Outdoor RV, Timber Ridge, 24RKS came with 170W roof factory mounted solar and a external receptacle for a additional portable panel and a 30A controller. Just one of the things that we like about the 24RKS is the 80gal FW tank with 2- 40gal gray tanks and a 40gal black tank! Since why are still in the looking stage check out their web site. Then check their dealers in TX.

We will be doing the Oregon Coast later in the spring, have a appointment for a factory tour when we go thru La Grand, OR. May have the factory install their factory 4- 6V batt holder.
djsamuel
Nomad
Jan 29, 2020
Timtation wrote:
Get an Andersen hitch. Easy hitching, smoothest riding and quietest hitch I have ever had. A quick search on any forum will result in lots of hits.
Good luck

I'll second this. I tow my 5,000 lb GVWR camper with a Ram 1500. I can tow it fine without a WDH but with the Andersen the towing is much better; the truck and trailer feel much more like one unit. In addition to weight distribution, the hitch also provides sway control as well as dampening of porpoising when going over things like bridges, bumps, etc. The weakness of the Andersen is its inability to provide large amounts of weight distribution, which you don't need a lot of. It is very good in the other areas. It is also light and easy to set up.
HawkTX
Explorer
Jan 29, 2020
kellem wrote:
The Equalizer is very nice and likely the most popular.

Unless you're doing a lot of boondocking I wouldn't worry about a top end battery.

If you can keep your trailer plugged in at home,they'll last for years.

We do quite a bit of boondocking. That's why I was thinking the deep cycles would be a good idea. Even thinking about throwing some solar on the roof.
kellem
Explorer
Jan 29, 2020
The Equalizer is very nice and likely the most popular.

Unless you're doing a lot of boondocking I wouldn't worry about a top end battery.

If you can keep your trailer plugged in at home,they'll last for years.
HawkTX
Explorer
Jan 29, 2020
Got the Equilizer E4 Weight Distribution Hitch thrown in and the dealer is installing. Any thoughts on this hitch? Good? Bad? I don't pick it up until Friday so still time to make changes. Looks like a $600 hitch setup based on google search.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Jan 29, 2020
Terryallan wrote:
Grit dog wrote:
Terryallan wrote:

Why not? My Expedition had a switch in the passenger side foot well beside the fuse panel to turn it off. Just reach down and turn it off.

Excellent. This thread isn't about Fords.

I guess Ford just has better ideas. Another reason to drive Fords.

But honestly. I figured since Ford has it. Gm would also be that advanced. Guess not.

Yeah idk.
I do know the older GMs are essentially useless except empty without the air. Rear coils are very soft. Not sure if the torsion bars are the same as the pickups or softer as well.
I suspect t bars are softer, as our old Tahoe with auto ride was saggy in front on one side and I had to put a lot of turns on the torsion bar preload adjuster to get 1/2-3/4” of height, but the older pickups you could do a redneck leveling kit and raise them 2” or more easily by adjusting the preload.

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