Question On set up

[agillings]

Hello everyone,
I am new to camping and new to this site. I want to make sure I set up my TV and trailer for safety! With the below configuration I could never get the spring bars setup properly. What I mean is, I could never get the spring bars Parallel the frame. Truck wheel measurement was within 1 inch, tire to fender well. After hookup there would be a slight dip in the rear of the truck and spring bars where not parallel they were up in the back

Here is what I have for the original configuration.

2005 Ford F150
Super Crew Cab
4w drive
5.4L Triton V
Short bed
Star Craft Aruba 28RLS
Factory Trailer Hitch
Reese Load distribution Hitch.


New equipment and configuration:
2005 Ford F150
Super Crew Cab
4w drive
5.4L Triton V
Short bed
Starecraft Aruba 28RLS
Factory Trailer Hitch (will be removed)
Reese Load distribution Hitch (New)
Firestone Ride-Rite Air helper Springs (New)
Reese Dual Cam High-Performance Sway Control (not installed) (New)
Curt Trailer Hitch for the 2005 F-150 by Ford (not installed) (New)

How should I proceed with new install?
Thanks
Art

[agillings]

Thanks. Ok so maybe all I have to do is tilt the head of the WDH. Would it need to be Tilted toward the TV or Trailer?

[Ron_Gratz]

Ron3rd wrote:
....also, your wd bars do not have to be "exactly" parallel to the trailer frame.

That's correct. In fact, I looked at the online Reese installation instructions for both round bar WD and trunnion WD and found no statement requiring either type bar to be "parallel" to the A-frame.

It appears the only requirement is to have at least five chain links under tension.

Ron

[Ron3rd]

....also, your wd bars do not have to be "exactly" parallel to the trailer frame.

[agillings]

Thanks Barney
I have Square Spring Bars and the info plate states:
550 weight Dist
10,000 Max Gross Trailer weight
550 Max Hitch Weight

I am guessing that my StarCraft Aruba 28RLS is more than 550lbs.I dont have any other weight in the trailer than orginal configuration, I think my problem is the spring bars need to be upgraded to a larger size.

[BarneyS]

You need to tilt the hitch head some more to correct that. As I mentioned before, that will require you to change the number of links under tension lest you transfer too much weight forward.

If you have the round bars, and have 5 links under tension, then you must have a larger A frame than normal if that is making the bars rise at the ends. The only other possibility is that your bars are not of the right weight class for your tongue weight. They may be too weak and are bending too much.
Barney

[agillings]

Thanks I am set on 5 links now with the basic set up with WDH. I will have to check angle of the hitch. I read all the articles and followed the instructions and still have the issue with the Spring bares not Parallel, but pointing up.

Thanks Art

[BarneyS]

Hi Art,
If you have not done so already, I urge you to read and study this hitch setup thread which is stuck at the top of this forum. There is a great deal of information there on the Dual Cam hitch that will help you.

Probably no need for the air bags as the WD hitch will do that job for you. They will come in handy if you carry a heavy load in the bed without using the WD hitch. They will complicate the WD setup if you try using them with the WD hitch.

If you have the round bar hitch, you need to tilt the hitch head back towards the trailer some more in order to get the bars parallel with the frame. You may have to add another link or so under tension as this will make more weight transfer to the front axle of your truck, depending on how much more you tilt the head.
With a round bar hitch and a normal 6 inch A frame you should have a minimum of 5 links under tension and then adjust the amount of weight transfer by tilting the hitch head. You need a minimum of 5 links under t4nsion between the bars and the snap-up hook.

If you have a trunnion style hitch, then you still need a minimum of 5 links under tension but the bars should point downward slightly at the rear instead of being level. They should never point up at the rear with either style of hitch.
Barney