Standard for WD Hitches with Sway Control

[sportsman_500]

Back in 2005 when I purchased my first trailer besides the Hensley Arrow the Reese Dual Cam hitch was the standard used by many on this forum. 10 years later and I now have a different truck and trailer but the same hitch. I am having head aches getting this set-up to tow the way I want. If I consider switching hitches is there a new standard that most TT members are using besides the Hensley? I am sorry but the Hensley is not in my budget. Besides, if I were to spend that much on a hitch I would really consider trading my TT for a fiver.
My current set-up is a 2008 RAM 2500 Cummins pulling a Raptor 3018.

[sportsman_500]

I installed the Arrow over the weekend and then the u bolts I needed to complete the install arrived today. My biggest worry was if the 2" drop/rise hitch bar was going to work. I pulled out of my drive and headed for a side street to find a level spot to check my set-up. Visually it looked good so I headed up to the highway. Wow! What a difference in towing now. The trailer was super stable and I was able to change lanes and pass slower vehicles without even a wiggle. I stopped at the shop to take some measurements. I am 3/4" nose down on the trailer and the truck is a 1/2" nose high. Not bad for my first time out. With the way it drove and handled I don't think I am going to change anything right. When I got home I took some white paint and marked the weight distribution bar jacks so I should be all set for the first trip in about a month.
Thanks again for all the great posts.

[sportsman_500]

Thanks for all of the great replies. It gave me plenty to think about but in the mean time I did end up buying a used Hensley Arrow. It was a local purchase so no shipping and it came with 1,400 lb bars I need. It was a lot cleaner then the pictures on Ebay and I ended up negotiating a very good price.

I will be sure to keep everyone updated after I complete the install and test run.
Thanks again for the awesome input on this subject.

[BarneyS]

mosseater wrote:

fla-gypsy wrote:
I am still using the same Reese Dual Cam I installed 7+ years ago and still extremely satisfied with performance.

Snip... Once I went to the J Barca Dual Cam University, I had complete understanding and got my issues resolved. Life's been good ever since.

Love it!!! :B Great name for the excellent advice given out by John. 🙂
Barney

[mosseater]

fla-gypsy wrote:
I am still using the same Reese Dual Cam I installed 7+ years ago and still extremely satisfied with performance.

Same here. The Dual Cam is all about the setup, agreed. But once it's right, it works very well. Once I went to the J Barca Dual Cam University, I had complete understanding and got my issues resolved. Life's been good ever since.

[hawkeye-08]

My experience was extra bouncing and instability when my WDH bars were 1000lb and my TW is 1300-1400lbs. I made several changes at once, new receiver on truck, new shank, new WDH (15000 with 1500lb bars). No more bounce, very stable towing experience.

Best wishes on getting it dialed in, it is a pleasure towing when it is right.

[Broccoli1]

sportsman 500 wrote:

What is the trailer weight?

10020+1475=11,495

Have you weighed the trailer just by itself?

I run a regular Husky WD 1400 bars with 2 Friction sway bars and it tracks good.


Just wondering if your TW is too light.

[sportsman_500]

What is the trailer weight?

10020+1475=11,495

[real4u2c]

Partner, da wife and I decided that due to my pre-disposition of being hard on my tools that the EZ2 WDH system would and should outlast my tool use, and I am here to tell all, the WDH is built for newbies and pro's alike for its durability. I have yet to find terrain or weather that decreases its performance. I do the speed limit, my trailer weighs upwards 9000lbs loaded, and there is no vertical movement that I have noticed or swinging about to date. Now I do stow our gear for weight distribution in our trailer too, everything big and little helps. but that's my 2 cents.

[Broccoli1]

sportsman 500 wrote:

I'd also be curious to know with your setup when you are having problems. Any chance your trailer is loaded with the tongue too light? I know that can be a common cause or problems.

Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason to it. I will be cruising down the highway at 65 and the trailer just feels like it steps out on me.
I think I notice it the most when changing lanes. Changing lanes on a curve even worse. The more I think about how it behaves it is almost like I don't have enough weight transferred to the front end.

I weighed the set-up last year before going on a trip. here is what I have: steer - 4040 drive - 4660 trailer axles - 10020 total - 18720
I used a Sureline tongue scale at home and measured 1475 on the tongue.
My tongue wt. does fluctuate. 1475 is the highest I have scaled and I have scaled it at 1200 depending on how I am loaded and if it is before a trip or after. The only flaw I can find in my set-up is I am running 1200 lb. bars on the hitch. I am thinking maybe I should try jumping up to the next size bar.

What is the trailer weight?

[sportsman_500]

For you Hensley guy's. I have been watching a used Arrow on Ebay for a week. It is local so no shipping. What are the pitfalls of buying a used Hensley? This thing looks old. Do they wear out? If I would need spring bars or other items can they get pricey since I have to buy from direct from Hensley?

[sportsman_500]

Yes, I have thought about trying a different truck. My buddy has a F350. Maybe I will give that a try.

[mtofell1]

Those numbers look reasonable. Not sure if it's possible but maybe you could try pulling the trailer with another TV and/or hitch setup to try and isolate out what the problem is. Nothing in your #s looks off to me.

[sportsman_500]

I'd also be curious to know with your setup when you are having problems. Any chance your trailer is loaded with the tongue too light? I know that can be a common cause or problems.

Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason to it. I will be cruising down the highway at 65 and the trailer just feels like it steps out on me.
I think I notice it the most when changing lanes. Changing lanes on a curve even worse. The more I think about how it behaves it is almost like I don't have enough weight transferred to the front end.

I weighed the set-up last year before going on a trip. here is what I have: steer - 4040 drive - 4660 trailer axles - 10020 total - 18720
I used a Sureline tongue scale at home and measured 1475 on the tongue.
My tongue wt. does fluctuate. 1475 is the highest I have scaled and I have scaled it at 1200 depending on how I am loaded and if it is before a trip or after. The only flaw I can find in my set-up is I am running 1200 lb. bars on the hitch. I am thinking maybe I should try jumping up to the next size bar.

[mtofell1]

I don't even know what my setup is called but it's been pretty much flawless for me over the last few years. My truck is a 2500 Ram and my trailer is about 8500# wet. From looking up the specs on your Raptor it looks like you may have a few thousand more pounds.

Mine just has the two L-shaped bars that come out of the hitch with the chains on the end to set the tension. The sway is a friction plate that mounts to a small ball on the hitch and goes to one side of the trailer.

I really like the simplicity and function of the setup. I know there are super expensive setups that allege to do more but I sure do read a lot of complaints from people having trouble fine tuning them.

I'd also be curious to know with your setup when you are having problems. Any chance your trailer is loaded with the tongue too light? I know that can be a common cause or problems.