New to TT and wanted to know if there was a real need to get a WD hitch or a sway bar system or both. Thanks for any help. There is just so much different info out there and Not sure what size system if any to get. 2013 GMC Sierra 2500HD, Ext Cab, Long Bed Pulling2015 Gulf Stream RV Kingsport 248BHa. Length 26 ft 5 in b. Hitch Weight 480 lbs c. Dry Weight 3625 lbs

Odds may be your "loaded" tongue weight and your 2500HD will not "have to" have WD. What ever draw bar you put on will have to be rated for the full "loaded" tongue weight. Many top out at 500# but they do make heavy rated ones, most are solid steel. That said you may want to consider adding a friction sway bar on if you are not adding a WD hitch with integrated anti sway controls. I will say this from my experience, my prior camper which is the same length as yours but a little heavier when I use to use it with my F350 while I had all the equipment to not have to use WD, the 1 ton truck towed better with the WD. In my case I had all the WD equipment and even the DC with it. So I used it. You did not say if your 2500HD was a gasser or the Duramax, if yours is a gasser, like mine, you may find the same thing. The truck will tow smother and the front end will not bob around so much. Someone with a big diesel up front has more weight to hold the front end down and may experience something different. Odds are high your loaded TW will rise to approx 700 to 800# and that is plenty to make a WD hitch help tow smoother with it. Hope this helps.Here is our prior camper with the F350 and a 800# Reese WD hitch and DC.

Yeah sorry, I was pressed for time when I wrote that post. Forgot to add the truck is 6.6 Duramax 4x4. Weight Dist isn't my biggest concern. Was more worried about hauling an empty, wind catching box that could start swaying behind me. G.

WD and especially sway control are just as much for the trailer as they are for the truck.Ideally/Normally a trailer should not sway without any sway control devices, and a sway control should be a "belt and suspenders" approach, insurance.Very likely you will only need sway control, but the best sway control is integrated into WD hitches such as the Reese Dual Cam, Equal-i-zer, and ones of similar designs.

An best advise for sway control is to have weight of things you pile in tt between truck an tt wheels.Too much weight behind trailer wheels all putyou closer to dangerous swaying.

You pay a fortune for your RV and TV. Why cheap out when it comes to hitching. Your life and the lives of your passengers are riding on it.

Bigger truck/smaller TT, WD hitch with w/o sway needed?

wintersun
Explorer II
Oct 17, 2014
With your truck you do not need a WD hitch and this is stated specifically by GM in the owners manual. No reason to have the sway control for your small trailer either. Check the factory hitch as it should be a Class V rated for 1500 lbs. tongue weight and towing up to 13,000 lbs. as this is what came with my 2011 2500HD truck with its tow package.

You will probably need a drop hitch to lower the height of the ball. Reese makes some inexpensive ones that are adjustable so you can get the exact height you want.
JBarca
Nomad II
Oct 16, 2014
Brisk wrote:
JBarca wrote:

Hi Guys,

That "sticker" is from my brother in laws 2005Chevy 2500HD. I thought that pic looked familiar...

Haha good old google images!

It's a small world isn't it? Glad a fellow camper found it!
Brisk
Explorer II
Oct 15, 2014
JBarca wrote:

Hi Guys,

That "sticker" is from my brother in laws 2005Chevy 2500HD. I thought that pic looked familiar...

Haha good old google images!
JBarca
Nomad II
Oct 14, 2014
Brisk wrote:
Bedlam wrote:
Brisk wrote:
The factory receiver is actually rated for 1000 pounds weight carrying. I have upgraded my hitch to a Curt rated at 2400lb weight carrying.

I probably should have said i was pushing the trucks limits for a reciever mounted trailer as it was sagging pretty good.

Thanks for the concern though ;-)

Although I agree a Curt XD is rated for 2400 lbs tongue weight, GM OEM receivers were not known for their strength. Most likely that 1000 lb rating was for WDTW on your 3/4t.

This is the same sticker mine had

Hi Guys,

That "sticker" is from my brother in laws 2005Chevy 2500HD. I thought that pic looked familiar...
Bedlam
Moderator
Oct 14, 2014
Brisk wrote:
This is the same sticker mine had

Thank you. I have not seen an OEM receiver with ratings like that on anything but a DRW - It's pretty awkward to come up to somebody and ask to ogle their receiver. Physical harm might be threatened at that point and if they are willing, that may be an even bigger hazard...
Brisk
Explorer II
Oct 14, 2014
Bedlam wrote:
Brisk wrote:
The factory receiver is actually rated for 1000 pounds weight carrying. I have upgraded my hitch to a Curt rated at 2400lb weight carrying.

I probably should have said i was pushing the trucks limits for a reciever mounted trailer as it was sagging pretty good.

Thanks for the concern though ;-)

Although I agree a Curt XD is rated for 2400 lbs tongue weight, GM OEM receivers were not known for their strength. Most likely that 1000 lb rating was for WDTW on your 3/4t.

This is the same sticker mine had
Bedlam
Moderator
Oct 14, 2014
Brisk wrote:
The factory receiver is actually rated for 1000 pounds weight carrying. I have upgraded my hitch to a Curt rated at 2400lb weight carrying.

I probably should have said i was pushing the trucks limits for a reciever mounted trailer as it was sagging pretty good.

Thanks for the concern though ;-)

Although I agree a Curt XD is rated for 2400 lbs tongue weight, GM OEM receivers were not known for their strength. Most likely that 1000 lb rating was for WDTW on your 3/4t.
Highway_4x4
Explorer
Oct 14, 2014
Yep, you do. I would look at the Blu Ox Sway Pro. Thinking about it for mine.
Brisk
Explorer II
Oct 14, 2014
The factory receiver is actually rated for 1000 pounds weight carrying. I have upgraded my hitch to a Curt rated at 2400lb weight carrying.

I probably should have said i was pushing the trucks limits for a reciever mounted trailer as it was sagging pretty good.

Thanks for the concern though ;-)
BarneyS
Explorer III
Oct 14, 2014
Brisk wrote:
Snip...

I was pushing the limits of my receiver for tongue weight but your truck has a much higher rated receiver.

Snip...

You better believe it! :E Have you ever looked at the sticker on your receiver to see what the "weight carrying" LIMITS are? The normal limit for receivers of that year truck are around 500lbs.
Barney