WD hitches on trailers with aluminun frames
Ran across an interesting 30ft. travel trailer recently. It is an unsold 2011 EARTHBOUND bumper pull. The frame ( and tongue )is all aluminum. I'm wondering about the effects that a weight distributin...
Forum Discussion
Hi BT,
Your question on A frame strength is a good one. I tried to go on the Earthbound site and it is not working. I can get the main page but can't go anywhere http://www.earthboundrv.com/ Maybe their site is down tonight
Suggest maybe doing this.
Find the VIN number of the camper and call Earthbound direct. Not the dealer as they are not the ones to back the warranty. Be straight up with them you have concerns and explain you are very interested in the camper and want to know the max loaded tongue weight and the max size WD bar that is intended to use on this model and what they will warrant the TT for. Also tell them what suspension truck you are going to use.
Odds are high that they agree that 10 to 15% loaded tongue weight of the GVW up to GVWR is the industry standard as a towing recommendation. If they do not agree with that, that is even more of an issue.
If they give you the run around and don't know, now you know what you are up agasint. Ask if the can mail you the response or email if they actually give you a weight. An answer of, We have not had any problems with this from other customers does not answer the question.
These light weight campers may or may not have issues pending what kind of analysis was done. Aluminum done correct with the right structural shape and reinforcement is not a problem. The question is, what analysis and field testing did they do?
We had another forum member try this on another brand they gave him the run around. I'll leave him and that company name out of it. This was after he bought it. So now it is up to him to figure it out.
I have seen A Frame redesigns go bad. Years back weight was not so much an issue and TT's at times had heavier frame rails and header support. It may have been thought to be overkill until they took the strength out and problems arose.
Hope this helps
John
Your question on A frame strength is a good one. I tried to go on the Earthbound site and it is not working. I can get the main page but can't go anywhere http://www.earthboundrv.com/ Maybe their site is down tonight
Suggest maybe doing this.
Find the VIN number of the camper and call Earthbound direct. Not the dealer as they are not the ones to back the warranty. Be straight up with them you have concerns and explain you are very interested in the camper and want to know the max loaded tongue weight and the max size WD bar that is intended to use on this model and what they will warrant the TT for. Also tell them what suspension truck you are going to use.
Odds are high that they agree that 10 to 15% loaded tongue weight of the GVW up to GVWR is the industry standard as a towing recommendation. If they do not agree with that, that is even more of an issue.
If they give you the run around and don't know, now you know what you are up agasint. Ask if the can mail you the response or email if they actually give you a weight. An answer of, We have not had any problems with this from other customers does not answer the question.
These light weight campers may or may not have issues pending what kind of analysis was done. Aluminum done correct with the right structural shape and reinforcement is not a problem. The question is, what analysis and field testing did they do?
We had another forum member try this on another brand they gave him the run around. I'll leave him and that company name out of it. This was after he bought it. So now it is up to him to figure it out.
I have seen A Frame redesigns go bad. Years back weight was not so much an issue and TT's at times had heavier frame rails and header support. It may have been thought to be overkill until they took the strength out and problems arose.
Hope this helps
John
