Question about towing??

[Chopper2122]

My girlfriend and I decided to upgrade from tenting to a hybrid travel trailer. I have a 2017 Silverado 1500 rated to tow just under 10000lbs conventional with a class 5 hitch and a tongue weight up to 1200. The travel trailer only weighs 2700 lbs and 16ft long. The dealer is claiming I need a weight distributing hitch. I’ve had a lot heavier trailers on my truck with very little squat. Do I really need that hitch? Or is a regular ball sufficient? Will I notice a lot of trailer sway without it? Dealer states I need to sign a waiver without it. Thank you for any help. Trailer is a k-z sportsmen 160rbt.

[Dave_H_M]

i am not going to get into the issue of weather you need it or not.

However it seems to me that the stealer just may be pimping you for the hitch.

Seems to me that selling stuff is his business and how you use it is yours.

i don't know. :h

[blt2ski]

JnJnKatiebug wrote:

Grit dog wrote:

Chopper2122 wrote:
Thanks, I suppose the 600 bucks might be worth the piece of mind.

No, but it will lighten your wallet giving you approx .2lbs extra payload capacity.
The common consensus on here is that ANY TT needs a wdh.
Don’t worry about it. Dealer waiver is code for get a little more profit out of the customer.
If you feel you need one after towing (you won’t unless the trailer is reaaaly tongue light) to control sway, either figure out how to get the right tongue weight or you can buy one then.

The reason for that being the common consensus on here is the fact that for a great number of them (me included) their vehicle/hitch will not handle 700 to 1200 lbs of tongue weight without a wdh. I am within all of my ratings but my hitch is rated for 12,000 and a 500 tongue weight.

If the OP has the truck/hitch to handle the load, he will not need a wdh if the trailer is loaded correctly. I would say that several on this forum, if not most, towing a TT do not have that truck.

Even some of us with the correct hitch and truck will recommend a WD or anti sway bar set up. If only for some of the reasons I mentioned earlier.
Reality is, no one does not need a WD system. It is more relaxing to drive with, generally speaking. Even if you have a dually, which I've had three.

Marty

[JnJnKatiebug]

Grit dog wrote:

Chopper2122 wrote:
Thanks, I suppose the 600 bucks might be worth the piece of mind.

No, but it will lighten your wallet giving you approx .2lbs extra payload capacity.
The common consensus on here is that ANY TT needs a wdh.
Don’t worry about it. Dealer waiver is code for get a little more profit out of the customer.
If you feel you need one after towing (you won’t unless the trailer is reaaaly tongue light) to control sway, either figure out how to get the right tongue weight or you can buy one then.

The reason for that being the common consensus on here is the fact that for a great number of them (me included) their vehicle/hitch will not handle 700 to 1200 lbs of tongue weight without a wdh. I am within all of my ratings but my hitch is rated for 12,000 and a 500 tongue weight.

If the OP has the truck/hitch to handle the load, he will not need a wdh if the trailer is loaded correctly. I would say that several on this forum, if not most, towing a TT do not have that truck.

[Grit_dog]

Chopper2122 wrote:
Thanks, I suppose the 600 bucks might be worth the piece of mind.

No, but it will lighten your wallet giving you approx .2lbs extra payload capacity.
The common consensus on here is that ANY TT needs a wdh.
Don’t worry about it. Dealer waiver is code for get a little more profit out of the customer.
If you feel you need one after towing (you won’t unless the trailer is reaaaly tongue light) to control sway, either figure out how to get the right tongue weight or you can buy one then.

[blt2ski]

You do not need a adhere or sway bar, UNLESS you have trailer setup incorrectly. You should be able to tow your trailer with out bars etc. If you need them to tow safely, you are towing an unsafe trailer. Fix issue, then put bars on.
The biggest issue I noticed pulling my TT with vs without. My rocked side to side more with crosswords with no bars, less with a WD system, less yet with a dual cam.
The only time I've had uncontrolled side to side movement like a fish tail moves, was when the trailer was loaded incorrectly. Usually, too little hitch weight. A 12k lb truck, will not stop a 6000 lb trailer from swaying! I can say this from experience!
My 02 on subject...

Marty

[campigloo]

If you haven’t given them the money I think you should demand that they install one at their expense. I’ve done that with all of mine, new or used. On new ones I also get a power tongue jack and slide toppers at their expense.

[samsontdog]

Chopper2122 wrote:
The only problem is the dealer is over an hour away from where I live. I suppose I could bring my tools and install the hitch up there or just white knuckle it Home then order a hitch. I work on my own vehicles and can turn a wrench so I’m sure I could figure it out. Just strange to me because I tow a 7000lbs dump trailer (loaded) and have never had an issue. I hate paying people to do something I’m more than capable of, but I’ll probably just keep the boss happy and have the stealership do it.

If your just going to pick the TT up empty and take it home I would not give it a second thought. I would hook it up on the ball and install a
hitch your self after you get home safe and sound. Thats what I have done many times over the last 55 years of towing RVs

[LanceRKeys]

$600! Buy used for sure. I would go ahead and use one, they seem to help make the drive easier and a little more stress free.

[GordonThree]

KD4UPL wrote:
I would pull that trailer anywhere without a WDH. I see no need whatsoever with such a small trailer. As for anti-sway, maybe, but if you properly load the trailer and have your hitch the proper height you shouldn't have sway.
WDH and anti-sway are both band-aids for too small tow vehicles or poorly set up trailers. I don't think you have either in this particular combination.

x2

[KD4UPL]

I would pull that trailer anywhere without a WDH. I see no need whatsoever with such a small trailer. As for anti-sway, maybe, but if you properly load the trailer and have your hitch the proper height you shouldn't have sway.
WDH and anti-sway are both band-aids for too small tow vehicles or poorly set up trailers. I don't think you have either in this particular combination.

[dodge_guy]

With that small and light a trailer I would try it just on the ball. 2700 dry should be approx 32-3500lbs loaded. That would give you a tongue weight of approx 530 lbs. that’s just over the weight carry rating on a hitch which is usually 500lbs.

I personally would go with a WD hitch with 600lb bars and a friction sway control.

[bikendan]

Chopper2122 wrote:
Thanks, I suppose the 600 bucks might be worth the piece of mind.

$600 for a WDH? Sounds high to me.
You can get a 4pt Equal-i-zer from RVW with free shipping for about $450.

The E2 is even cheaper and perfect for a hybrid that size.

[Chopper2122]

The only problem is the dealer is over an hour away from where I live. I suppose I could bring my tools and install the hitch up there or just white knuckle it Home then order a hitch. I work on my own vehicles and can turn a wrench so I’m sure I could figure it out. Just strange to me because I tow a 7000lbs dump trailer (loaded) and have never had an issue. I hate paying people to do something I’m more than capable of, but I’ll probably just keep the boss happy and have the stealership do it.

[ppine]

A simple anti-sway device would be fine.
It is not heavy enough to require weight distributing hitch.