Need help with hitch setup...

[ymehp]

Hello,

I tow a 2012 Dutchman 318RKDS with a 2006 Ford F-250 CC 4X4 6.0. I am running oversized tires and do have a small leveling kit installed. The trailer is rated at 7,358 lbs dry with a hitch Weight of 916 lbs. My current hitch setup is a cheap 10,000/1,000 lb Ultra Fab weight distribution hitch.

I never realized how bad it towed until this past weekend when I hooked up to a buddies travel trailer which is only 2' shorter and around 750 lbs lighter unloaded. I also used his E2 hitch.

Now my main issue is sway. I know his hitch is of better quality and I may have to do something different but this below are my experiences with my hitch.

Having the hitch setup to a completely level travel trailer at 6 links up I don't feel safe going more than 55 mph. At 5 links I feel safe to about 60 mph, when hooking the chains up at 5 links I basically have to completely extended the jack as the tension is insane. What seems to work best is moving the hitch up one notch in which the trailer is 1" high in the front. Seems to pull OK but not nearly as nice as his. I've got a cheap sway shock also I can use but wanting to know if it made sense to have the trailer 1" high in the front or are my bars not sufficient with the 30 propane tanks loaded, battery, electric jack, camping chairs and blocks in the pass thru storage? I never realized until now how much hitch weight the trailer actually had but his was also rated the same.

I'm looking for suggestions on adjusting my current hitch or what hitches I should look into.

Thanks so much!

[LarryJM]

Until you get some real actual weights, especially tongue and wts. transferred when WDH is on you and all the rest of us are purely guessing.

Larry

[ymehp]

Thanks. Yes it is a rear kitchen model!

[keymastr]

If that is a rear kitchen model they often struggle with getting enough tongue weight once they are loaded because nearly all the heavy stuff goes in the kitchen. Also pay close attention to where your fresh water tanks are and how full the tank is.

Your tongue weight should be closer to 1100 pounds when fully loaded. Read the sticky at the top of this section about getting cat scale weights. It takes 3 passes to get accurate weights that have all the info needed to really understand your weights and tongue weights. Try to weigh exactly as you are set up for camping.

Pass one is just the truck with all people and gear you take plus the hitch.
Pass 2 is truck and trailer with no bars attached.
Pass 3 is with bars.

You need all axle weights for all 3 passes.

[SoCalDesertRid1]

Possibly you have too much weight loaded aft of (behind) the trailer's axles.

[ymehp]

OK, moved it back down to the lowest position. Trailer pulls about the same with the sway controller. The front of the truck stays the same, the rear sags about 1 1/2"'s and the trailer is level.

Ideas?

[ymehp]

I just went outside to mess with it as I thought about lowering it another inch to see what I get for results, however, I'm already at the lowest position on my shank. I went ahead and moved it back to where I feel most comfortable. The trailer sits about an inch high in the front, the rear bumper has an inch of sag and the front rose 3/8". Guess I will roll like this until I decide to purchase another shank.

[TNRIVERSIDE]

Hopefully someone with more experience will come by. If your problem is sway have you tried anti-sway attachments? If not this might be all you need.