Need help - Weight distribution hitch installation pics

[bobby7718]

Hi,

I have bought a Jayco travel trailer together with a Camco Recurve R3 Weight Distribution Hitch recently.

The ride has been bouncing and swaying. Second visit to the dealership this afternoon, the technician adjusted the hitch a bit, seems getting a little better, but still bouncing and swaying on the way back to home.

Here is the detailed info of the TT and TV.

- TT: Jayco 267BHS, 30 feet, dry weight 5975.
- TV: 2017 Ford F150 with towing package (checked with dealership via VIN, was told max payload is 3000 lbs, and max towing capacity is 14,000 lbs).

Please also see the attachments for the pictures I took after today's adjustments.
- the altitude of TT and TV
- how does the setup looks like
- measurements before and after W/D





I know I need to expect some swaying if there is big sized truck driving by, not sure how much to expect. The ride I feel uncomfortable and unsafe. Need some help before either upgrade the TV.

Can someone please help to take a look at the pictures to see if anything significantly out-of-line could explain the bouncing/swaying.

In addition to the camper dealerships, where are the places to get the WDH professionally installed ?

Thank you in advance.

[bobby7718]

Sorry - what's the stringer ?

The mileage is about 37K.

pitch wrote:
Looks to me like you are nose down on the trailer. Try flip your stinger and adjust to level your trailer. Also looks like you are in the outer hole on the stinger, possibly because your spare is in the way? Longer the fulcrum the more bob.

Also how many miles on the truck? Original shocks could be worn?

[bgum]

After your last post I would seek professional help adjusting the package.. it won't cost much and will be safer.

[bgum]

The ball should tilt slightly towards the trailer.

[bobby7718]

Actually came back from the test drive.

Inflated the TV's tire pressure to the max(50 PSI), the ride was very unsafe. Even worse than before. A lot of side-to-side movement on the high way. Not quite sure whether it's the TV or the TT swaying. Couldn't look too much on the posture of the TT as I had to 100% focusing on holding the steering :(.

Felt like losing traction, or driving on the snow .

[dodge_guy]

Have you loaded the trailer up for a trip yet? You may only have 10% for tongue weight.
You need a minimum of 12% for it to tow properly.
You’ll need to weigh it loaded for a trip and move stuff inside to get it to the 12% tongue weight.
I would also ditch that hitch and go with a Reese’s Dual Cam. Much better hitch.

[valhalla360]

I'm skeptical of the 3000lb payload...what does the door sticker say?

As you mentioned, swing by the CAT scale and get real numbers and compare those to the numbers on the door jamb.

Dry weight of the trailer is useless as no one travels dry (and the dry weight is often wrong)

The change in the fender height looks reasonable.

What is your experience towing?
- A passing semi pushing the stern over a bit is not sway. As long as the trailer gets back in line as soon as it's past, that's not a sign of an issue typically.
- Sway is when it keeps swinging back and forth after the semi is past.
- Soft tires will tend to make things a bit more bouncy.

[pitch]

Looks to me like you are nose down on the trailer. Try flip your stinger and adjust to level your trailer. Also looks like you are in the outer hole on the stinger, possibly because your spare is in the way? Longer the fulcrum the more bob.

Also how many miles on the truck? Original shocks could be worn?

[bobby7718]

thanks you all for chiming in. Brand new user of this forum. I updated this thread a few times with the pics, hopefully this time the pics should show properly. Attach the pics here in case the original one are still not refreshed.





Prior to the second visit to the dealership for the last adjustment, I have read through the sticky threads of WD hitch(which was super helpful)and was able to adjust the hitch a bit, but still bouncing on the way to the store.

My next attempt will be : try to adjust the tilt-head downwards a bit to produce slight more tension on the bar, hopefully will bring down the front fender(H2) a bit towards H1.

In the mean time, I also realized that the tire(or the tire pressure) might contribute to this after read ***Link Removed***.

I checked my tires and the pressure, which is what I have right now.
- 275/65R18 116T , Max Load 2756 lbs, Max Press 50 PSI.

I also noticed that my current 4 tire pressure are all 40 PSI, yes, I didn't max out the tire pressure before the towing. I will max the rare to 50 PSI, the front 48 PSI as the next try.

Will report back. Yes, will plan a visit to CAT scale get the weights.

[BarneyS]

Here is the sticky on setting up a WD hitch.

The one linked in post above is for how a WD hitch works but does not say much, if anything, about how to set it up.
Barney

[bob213]

There's a sticky on this forum that may help you:
wdh setup
Good Luck

I think Lynnmor's instructions will do it.

[Lynnmor]

To get the proper weight transfer, your owners manual says this on page 281:


Weight-distributing Hitches
WARNING
Do not adjust the spring bars so that
your vehicle's rear bumper is higher
than before attaching the trailer.
Doing so will defeat the function of the
weight-distributing hitch, which may cause
unpredictable handling, and could result
in serious personal injury.
When hooking-up a trailer using a
weight-distributing hitch, always use the
following procedure:
1. Park the loaded vehicle, without the
trailer, on a level surface.
2. Measure the height to the top of your
vehicle's front wheel opening on the
fender. This is H1.
3. Attach the loaded trailer to your vehicle
without the weight-distributing bars
connected.
4. Measure the height to the top of your
vehicle's front wheel opening on the
fender a second time. This is H2.
5. Install and adjust the tension in the
weight-distributing bars so that the
height of your vehicle's front wheel
opening on the fender is approximately
a quarter the way down from H2,
toward H1.
6. Check that the trailer is level or slightly
nose down toward your vehicle. If not,
adjust the ball height accordingly and
repeat Steps 2-6.
Once the trailer is level or slightly nose
down toward the vehicle:
•Lock the bar tension adjuster in place.
•Check that the trailer tongue securely
attaches and locks onto the hitch.
•Install safety chains, lighting, and trailer
brake controls as required by law or the
trailer manufacturer.

[NamMedevac_70]

If you should decided to ditch the hitch as a last resort then I have had very good experience with the Equalizer WD hitch. It is easy to use and set up with no chains to contend with.

[MitchF150]

I can't see the pics either, using Chrome. I checked out that hitch and it's a new design for sure! I think I saw a rig using it and thought, wow.. The hitch bars are upside down!

Anyway, you don't have to check with the dealer on what your trucks payload is... It should be listed on one of the stickers on your drivers side door jamb.. #3000 payload for an F150 is one of the "unicorn" HD Payload F150's that only seem to exist in brochures..

Anyway, sounds like you don't have enough tongue weight off the cuff without knowing anything else..

I can't see the pics, so just shooting from the hip on it..

Good luck! Mitch

[rdhetrick]

Photos showed up fine for me....

[BarneyS]

Your pictures area not showing up. Please upload your pictures to this site and then copy/paste the resulting URL into your post without making any changes to it -no additions and no subtractions.. This will then show your pictures and they will be properly sized for use in our forums.
Barney