Hitch Advice

[Mikesr]

Recently took delivery on a Keystone Outback 325BH with a dry weight of 8400# and a hitch weight of 950# and is 37 feet long per manufacturer specs. TV is a 2005 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD 6.0 gas extended cab and 6.5 bed 4x4 with a 10.5 K tow rating.
Previously towed with an Equalizer hitch that had a 10 K Rating and 1000 lb bars. That TT was 7 K
With the purchase of the new TT we updated to a Blue Ox Sway Pro with 1500 Lb bars as per Dealer and Blue Ox recommendations. As mentioned in a previous post by me the TV had a light front end and some loss of steering above 55 MPH. Was advised to go up another link (to 10 links showing) on the Blue Ox, which is not possible. In order to get it to 9 links the back of the truck is EXTREMELY high and shows separation of the leaf springs just to hook and unhook the tension bars which are loaded with so much tension I feel unsafe trying to remove them.
Yesterday I spend ALL day with the dealer and they made a couple adjustments to the ball height of the Blue Ox and corrected some of the steering issues (not all) but this heavy load on the bars is still there and I feel unsafe to hitch and unhitch. I also placed 2 calls to Blue Ox to double check what the dealer was doing and they agreed and assured me the hitch was correct for the TT and TV at the specs given.
At the end of the day I came home with no camper. Frustrated and worried about my safety. The service manager was very helpful but my piece of mind was not satisfied.
He has now offered an even trade for installation of another WDH of my choice.
That's why I'm back here for advice.
The dealer stocks Reese Stait Line Dual Cam and Blue Ox.
He can order anything I want.
After looking over the Strait Line I'm leaning that way now. The bars look longer then Blue Ox and it looks much more adjustable (though not as simple as the Blue Ox)
As mentioned I liked the Equalizer I had but now need a12K with the 1200 # bars.
I know this is a long post but I trust you guys for some sound and safe advice.
Could my TV be undersized for this TT ? It tows it with no problems even on grades. Braking is great with my P3 controller. It's down to the weight distribution setup that will work for me.
I do understand I'm at the near the max of the truck but there is some margin. Could the overal age of the truck be a factor? Suspension is stock and original.
Thanks in advance for reading this and I welcome any and all advice.

[DutchmenSport]

Mikesr wrote:
PROBLEM SOLVED ...

Great! Glad you're all set up. There are so many different types of systems evidently, based on your experience, the same one doesn't necessarily work on every tow vehicle / trailer combination. They all claim to be the absolute latest and greatest and better than everyone else, but in the end, it's really the one that works for you, or me, that turns out to be the "best" for each of us.

Happy travels! Thanks for providing your resolution!

[BarneyS]

For lubing the Reese Dual Cam, you only want to use a bit of Vasoline on the cams. That makes it silent on heavy hitch weight rigs.

As far as the chains go, all they do is hold up up the cam arms a they do not move at all so no need to lube there. The chains move some on the regular Reese hitch but not on the Dual Cam.

The rest of the hitch DOES need lubrication however. You should put oil or a bit of grease on the trunnion ends where they insert into the hitch head. If using a round bar hitch the ends of the bars where they insert should be heavily greased. Also the ball should have a coating of grease on it. You can download the instructions for the Strait-line hitch here.
Barney

[Hannibal]

That's great Mike! Glad they fixed you up. With tongue weight as heavy as yours, if the DC speaks up too much, you can use a little light lube on the cams and chains. If you don't like the results, it'll be dry again in short time. I use a drop of Mobil-1 on my chain ends to quiet them down.

[DinTulsa]

I pull a 38ft, 10,350lb TT with the blue of sway pro. I pulled it thru 35mph side wind and across mountain passes. Set the ball 24-26ish inches high from the ground and run link 9-10. That is link 9-10 in the bracket, not 10 links showing. The sway pro is a great hitch, there is no reason to spend the extra money on a "premium" hitch.

[BarneyS]

Mike,
If you ever need some help in adjusting your new Dual Cam hitch, take a look at this thread which is stuck at the top of this forum. It goes into great detail and includes pictures and diagrams that will help explain how the hitch works and how to adjust and set it up.
Enjoy your new found towing experience! 🙂
Barney

[Mikesr]

PROBLEM SOLVED
Dealer installed and setup a 12K Reese Strait Line Dual Cam and it tows great. The design of the Strait Line that works to keep the TT and TV inline at all times sold me and works as described. The loss of steering and light feeling in the front both gone. It recovers from bounce better then the Equalizer I towed with for years. As for the Blue Ox, I think the match of a long TT and a shorter stout TV kept this from working for my setup. Yes the Reese is more complicated to setup but I can see what's happening and understand the hitch. Much more adjustable too.
Thanks again for all the input

[Hannibal]

I don't think you can go wrong with the Reese Dual Cam or the Equalizer. To me the Reese is easy to hitch and unhitch and maintenance is a drop of oil here and there. If not for the Reese, I would have an Equalizer and no other.
If the dealer is willing to trade out the Blue Ox for a Reese Dual Cam, I'd jump on it and be done with it. Just my $00.02.

https://www.etrailer.com/question-116001.html

[ktmrfs]

with the blue ox is the front of the TV at the same ride height with the trailer hitched up as unhitched? If not get it at the same ride height. that may very well fix the light front end.

I had this same issue with my 2500HD duramax and outback 298RE. similar length and weight. Once I got the hitch adjusted to bring the front end down to unloaded ride height it tows like a dream. Do NOT get lower on the front than unloaded, you'll hit the front bump stops and have a terrible ride. I have the Reese dual cam, but IMHO the first key is to get the unloaded and loaded front ride height equal. then see how it works.

[RinconVTR]

samsontdog wrote:
The 4 point Equalizer is the best hitch that I have ever used even better than the Hensley that I have sitting in my garage.

First time in over a decade I've heard or read of someone making such a statement.

It is physically not possible for standard WHD's to outperform the Hensley or Propride when it comes to sway elimination...but to each their own.

[DutchmenSport]

Sandia Man wrote:
... in your situation I would stick with what has already proved successful.

Another 2x thumbs up!

If you have a product that has worked for you well in the past (whatever that may be), why reinvent the wheel?

[Sandia_Man]

I have a 3/4 ton Silverado and tow a 10K TT without issue all over the four corner states so I believe you have plenty of truck. We have the Reese version of an Equalizer with integrated sway control. I would also recommend you return to the Equalizer style WD/SC hitch, no chains or links to count, we just raise our TT using power tongue jack and pop in bars, lower and we are good to go. Sure you could opt for a Hensley or Propride, in your situation I would stick with what has already proved successful.

[samsontdog]

The 4 point Equalizer is the best hitch that I have ever used even better than the Hensley that I have sitting in my garage.

[DutchmenSport]

aftermath wrote:
Since you had an Equalizer before I would suggest you get the larger version. With the 1200 bars you should be fine. Your 900 or so pounds of HW is probably under stated. I really like mine and it remains easy to hook and unhook. I have also tweaked mine a few times to get it where I like it. Adding or removing washers is easy. Adjusting the L brackets is not difficult either and the directions from the company make sense and are easy to follow. I also like not having to snap those chains into place.

I also believe that you have plenty of truck to tow this trailer as large as it is.

Absolutely ... completely 2x agree!

Dealer set mine up right the first time. I've never had to make any adjustments.

FYI, my truck is a 3500 duly long bed and my camper is 35.5 feet long. I originally had a Reese (bars with the chains), from my previous camper-truck set-up. Hitch head bent (maybe my new trailer was just too heavy, don't know).... but got the Equal-i-zer and never had to adjust anything. AND, the Equal-i-zer is SO much easier to hitch than the Reese bars with chains! AND no extra sway bar to deal with.

2x ... agree. Stick with Equal-i-zer!

[dthfsa]

As an owner of the Blue Ox system, I am not convinced the Blue Ox is that great. I am pulling now with a F250 and pulling a 33 foot Laredo.
My brother is pulling a heavy unit with a 2500HD and an Equalizer and when comparing notes with him and others that are using the equalizer I believe the equalizer is a tighter feeling system when towing. I wish I have a way to set up both and tow with each hitch to compare.
When I set mine up on the 9th link it pulls okay, but on the tenth, link the front end feels more settled down on the road.
When I unhook, stand back because you could easily break a wrist when the tension comes off the bars.
Unloaded my truck ball is 1" higher than my trailer at level. If I move it up a hole I would be 2 1/2" higher than trailer when level. If I run the front of my trailer in the higher position it feels even looser going down the road.
Not sure if this adds anything to the discussion, but this is my experience with Blue Ox.

[aftermath]

Since you had an Equalizer before I would suggest you get the larger version. With the 1200 bars you should be fine. Your 900 or so pounds of HW is probably under stated. I really like mine and it remains easy to hook and unhook. I have also tweaked mine a few times to get it where I like it. Adding or removing washers is easy. Adjusting the L brackets is not difficult either and the directions from the company make sense and are easy to follow. I also like not having to snap those chains into place.

I also believe that you have plenty of truck to tow this trailer as large as it is.