I am moving from Alaska back to Oklahoma to be close to my family in a few months. The short sad story is my husband of 20 years passed away unexpectedly in 2011. I love it here but my kids need to be near family and it's time to go.
I have a 17 foot enclosed trailer I am loading up with the last of our belongings. (My kids are flying down) A friend is going to be flying up to help me drive it home but due to time constraints I need to get it all packed and ready to tow before he gets here.
He had me get a Prodigy brake controller for my truck but doesn't know anything about weight distributing hitches. I called around and the only brand i have found for sale so far is a Husky rated (I think) 8,000-12,000 lbs. Sway control kit is extra $.
A second issue is my dad and I are looking into buying a used 2004 Jayco Jayflight 27BH in OK and the kids and i will be staying in it temporarily as well as camping and taking trips before school starts. It's in great condition and I think a good price $6,500.
I have towed a trailer before but it was a 1957 Shasta (just sold it last week) and was only 12 feet long so this will be a different experience for me. ๐
BTW, I don't know if there is a scale nearby, I am near Anchorage.
Tow Vehichle:
2005 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab LS K1500 4x4, V8, 4.8L, rear axle ratio 4.10, HD Towing package, locking differential rear axle
7,000 GVW
Owners manual says Max tow amount is 8,400 and GCWR is 14,000
Truck has a cap on the back so I imagine that adds to the 7,000 gvw.
Enclosed trailer:
Eagle brand by Jenkins
18 foot v nose
GVWR 7,000 (I don't have an empty weight and it's already 1/2 packed)
This will be waiting for me in OK:
Jayco Jayflight 2004 27bh
29 feet long, empty weight 5,000 lbs, GVWR 7,500
It looks to me like I will be ok for both trailers? On the Jayco I will have to be careful not to go over the GCWR. I would like to get a weight distributing hitch that I can use for both trailers that would be easy to switch back and forth as needed.
I saw that many people recommend Equalize and Reese but I haven' been able to find those here. Also the one trailer place is booked up till end of July with work and wouldn't be able to attach it. (there is another place I could go but I'm not to keen on them) The guy I talked to said it was easy and I could put it together and adjust it then bring it back in and they would tighten the bolts. I would have to drill holes in the frame though to attach it. Is this something I could do? I am very handy with tools it just scares me to have to drill holes in the frame. I haven't called 6 Robblees yet, they may have the other brand of hitches.
Anything else I should be aware of? First order of business is to get to OK in one piece. Second is to be able to tow the Jayco once I get there. ๐
Thank you for any advice you can give.
Happy Tuesday, ๐
Amy