Forum Discussion

CampinginCanada's avatar
CampinginCanada
Explorer
Mar 27, 2019

Just bought a Jayco Octane 272. Hitch questions.

I just purchased my first toy hauler. I pick it up on 5 April on my way to Florida.
2018 Jayco Octane 272
Length 35’
Dry weight 7545
Gross weight 10500
Dry hitch weight 1020
Expected loaded hitch weight will be 1420 (13.5%)
The dealership is trying to sell me a WD hitch that has 12k max tow and 1200 max tongue weight. Dry it will be fine but loaded it won’t be. I will need a bigger WD hitch and bars. Probably a 15k and a1500 max tongue weight.

My truck is a 2017 Ram 3500 diesel SWB SRW and rear airbags for leveling.
My max payload is 3480 and towing is 17k.
Do I need a WD hitch? If so, do I go with a 15k or 12k one?
Can I just use a class v hitch and ball?
Do I have to worry about the trailer trying to wag its tail or is the truck big enough to control the wag?

Thanks
Fred
Toy Haulers
  • buffaloKev's avatar
    buffaloKev
    Explorer
    Apr 01, 2019
    Bought a Dutchmen Endurance 3706, 9600lbs Dry and 14000lb GVWR. We will not need that GVWR mark, 4 bikes and an occasional trip with the golf cart(bought it more for the layout and golf cart). Dealership sold me a 12k/1200 equalizer hitch, had 2 different people assure me 12k was enough. I was looking at the 14k equalizer hitch
  • nayther's avatar
    nayther
    Explorer
    Mar 27, 2019
    as for type get the Equilizer type the one with the spring bars set in brackets, not the kind with chains. The Equilizer type is built in sway control, much better than the add on sway controls. That is a BIG tag trailer so for sure you need WDH and sway control, even with 3500 IMHO. I'd say their numbers are OK but if there's a step up I'd go there.
  • MFL's avatar
    MFL
    Nomad II
    Mar 27, 2019
    We have no idea what you are going to put in your TH garage, or how the rest of the trailer will be loaded. You are starting out with a heavy hitch wt to offset your likely load. IMO, you are figuring too high on loaded hitch wt, but for a trailer that size I would use a WDH, with built in sway control. You have a stout truck, and I think the 12K WDH will work.

    Jerry

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