Need hitch advice please.

[Kelpike]

I recently purchased a 2003 25' Coachman TT. I just bought a WDH for it due to quite a bit of sway. The drop I needed before the WDH was about 6 1/2". With the WDH I could probably get away with a 4. The 6 1/2" drop just doesn't look safe to me with the WDH. Any thoughts on what I have now and what you guys use would be appreciated.

[Grit_dog]

If you don’t want to use your home made adapter, don’t have enough drop with the adjustable height hitch head plugged in direct to receiver and can’t get the trailer level enough with the drop shank you have, then yes you need a longer drop shank.

[Kelpike]

Sjm9911 wrote:
Im not understanding this whole thing. You can take the extention bar thing off and put the wdh on normally. Or if the wdh can be put in upside down( mine can) then unbolt it and move it up to get less drop. What am i missing here?

I have the right height with the adapter. I don't get enough drop without the adapter no matter which way I put my wdh. I need to eliminate the adapter which means I have to buy a longer drop shank. I'm not sure if all drop shanks are universal in the spacing of the holes. Mine now are 1 1/4" apart.

[BarneyS]

In your photos of your setup, you have THREE components pictured.
1. The shank - that portion that inserts into the trucks receiver. In your case you have a double shank, possibly homemade. TorkLift also makes one very similar. You need one as shown by Mitch150.

2. Another shank - the portion that the hitch head bolts onto. This is the only shank part you need, only you need to get one with the proper drop to level your trailer.

3. The hitch head - the part that bolts onto the shank with two large bolts (usually torqued to around 260ft/lbs or so) and which the ball mounts onto.

What this whole thing amounts to is that you need to purchase a new shank with the proper drop to level your trailer, mount your hitch head on it in the proper position to level your trailer, install the ball and then attach the trailer and go camping! 🙂

Unless you have need for a multiple shank mount to carry a bike or other item while towing your trailer, I would sell or otherwise dispose of that shank you have now.
Barney

[jdc1]

Dump that extension. Use ONLY the WD hitch section. Sway is going to happen. It's a matter of minimizing it.

[Sjm9911]

Im not understanding this whole thing. You can take the extention bar thing off and put the wdh on normally. Or if the wdh can be put in upside down( mine can) then unbolt it and move it up to get less drop. What am i missing here?

[ppine]

get rid of the adapter, extension.

[dodge_guy]

You need one like Mitch150 posted. They make them in various drops. You should be able to find 6,8 and 10" drops.

[Kelpike]

Tal/IL wrote:
Looking at the photo, is the adapter upside down? Isn’t the reinforced adapter the tow receptacle and the one you are plugged in an accessory receptacle for things like a bike rack?

Yes, it is upside down. I had it reinforced so I could use it as a drop with my old hitch. I do not want to use it with the weight distribution system.

[Tal_IL]

Looking at the photo, is the adapter upside down? Isn’t the reinforced adapter the tow receptacle and the one you are plugged in an accessory receptacle for things like a bike rack?

[Kelpike]

My hitch is made by Valley Industries. Are the drop hole spacing universal throughout different brands? Mine are 1 1/4" apart.

[Kelpike]

KD4UPL wrote:
The adapter, all adapters, have to go. I highly doubt they are designed for use with a WDH. You should be able to adjust the WDH head to get things level with no adapter. If not, you need a different hitch head.

I still need 3 more inches of drop even if I lose the adapter and flip the WDH over.

[KD4UPL]

The adapter, all adapters, have to go. I highly doubt they are designed for use with a WDH. You should be able to adjust the WDH head to get things level with no adapter. If not, you need a different hitch head.

[MitchF150]

I'd ditch that adapter thing... Then do what was suggested above with setting your hitch head like this and go from there..



But, in the end, it's whatever works for ya!

Good luck! Mitch

[Kelpike]

guidry wrote:
You talked about sway then about your weight distribution; two different things. Get the trailer level and you want weight distributed to the front. Use sway control bars to control sway. You should have someone knowledgeable help you because if you get sway and there’s not enough weight to the front of your truck you’ll have problems. You’ll also need to know how to control the sway from your brake controller without losing control. Get someone from your local dealer to show you how to set everything up properly.

I feel pretty confident in setting everything up. I bought the weight distribution hitch to help with the sway. I wasn't getting crazy amounts of sway when I towed it, just occasionally and when trailer trucks would pass me.