Forum Discussion

rainy029's avatar
rainy029
Explorer
May 05, 2014

What to look for weight distrubation hitch and bars

http://york.craigslist.org/rvs/4454672609.html

We are going to look at these tomorrow night. Sorry, do not know how to paste the pic in here. The guy does not know what they are weighted for. He compared them to the set he is using to pull his same size camper now. Said they look the same. Does anyone have any idea what we should look at to find the weight? Or to know if they will work for us. What are your thoughts. We have been towing the camper without them and haven't had no problem with sway. But we also have not traveled highways yet either. The lady at our local camper sales said a 800lb one will work for our camper.

6 Replies

  • jerem0621's avatar
    jerem0621
    Explorer II
    May 05, 2014
    I will steer you away from this hitch for one particular reason.

    The lower trunnion socked is incredibly thin.

    Here is a zoomed in picture of the hitch head you are looking at. Pay attention to the thickness of the lower trunnion socket.



    Now look at a modern trunnion hitch heads lower trunnion socket.



    This is important because the lower trunnion carries an incredible amount of pressure and if the lower sockets are worn the trunnions could literally pull out of the hitch head. Sounds crazy, but it happened to me.

    Thanks!

    Jeremiah
  • jfkmk's avatar
    jfkmk
    Explorer
    May 05, 2014
    Make sure all the parts are there. I didn't see the part that mounts to the trailer frame. Also be aware you will have to set the hitch up for your particular setup. If you need to modify the setting you will need a 250 ft lb torque wrench.
  • oughtsix's avatar
    oughtsix
    Explorer
    May 05, 2014
    That is a weight distributing hitch. It does not do anything for sway control and it does not look like it has provisions for sway control. What it WILL do for you is move some of the hitch weight from the rear wheels of your tow vehicle to the front wheels of the tow vehicle making the tow vehicle better balanced.
  • Hondavalk's avatar
    Hondavalk
    Explorer II
    May 05, 2014
    The bars may have there weight capacity stamped on them, otherwise theres no way of telling. Also from the picture it doesn't look like it includes the snap up brackets which would be another expense. You need to be careful when sales people talk about weights. Lots of time they will give you dry weights and figure 10% for tongue weight. This is a weight distribution system to transfer weight to the front of the TV and does not have sway control on it.
  • rbpru's avatar
    rbpru
    Explorer II
    May 05, 2014
    You might try the manufacturues website or dealer for the information you need.

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