WD Hitch Size for Cherokee Grey Wolf 27RR

[Rhoadzie]

I am about to receive a new TT with a ship weight of 5762, and Ma GVWR of 7965 and a hitch weight of 965. My dealer said he was planning on installing an Equalizer 1000/10000 wd hitch. His price was way too much, so I am going to buy it myself. But, I think his choice of size is wrong. I thought it should be at least a 1200 if not a 1300 WD hitch.

What are your thoughts?

[handye9]

Part of what will drive your choice on the hitch rating, will be the brand you choose.

IE:

If you decide to buy a BlueOx Swaypro, their models jump from 1000 to 1500 lb ratings.

If you buy an Andersen hitch it only has one rating (up to 1400 lbs)

If you buy an Equalizer, they have models in 750, 1000, 1200 lb ratings.

[LarryJM]

lawrosa wrote:
Yes plus with your truck the 1000 bars are fine.... You have a heavy suspension..

IMO 1200 will be too much and will be counter productive as dodge guy stated.........

Well my two cents is to go with the 1200 system and I have the 12K/1.2K Equal-i-zer on my 8K loaded 950lb TW trailer for the last 7+ years and have experienced no downsides or objectionable handling issues. I'm pretty sure the folks at Equal-i-zer would agree that the 1200 bar system with their WDH would be fine also with a TW in excess or around 850 to 900lbs.

Larry

[lawrosa]

Yes plus with your truck the 1000 bars are fine.... You have a heavy suspension..

IMO 1200 will be too much and will be counter productive as dodge guy stated.........

[dodge_guy]

That trailer will have a loaded, ready to travel weight of approx. 7k lbs. a properly loaded trailer will have 12.5% TW, that would be 875lbs. so the 10,000/1000lb WD hitch will be more than sufficient! with a W/D hitch overkill could be a bad thing.

Even if you maxed the trailer to it`s 8k lb GVWR the properly loaded TW would be 1000lbs.

[Rhoadzie]

The receiver is rated at 1100.

[LarryJM]

Rhoadzie wrote:
Here are my specs and the specs of my trailer.

Cheverolet 1500 Silverado Ext. Cab HD Towing package
Gross Axle Wt Rating - 3950 lbs (3950.0 min/3950.0max)
Front Gross Axle Wt Rating - 3950 lbs (3950.0 min/3950.0max)
Rear Curb Weight - 3217 lbs (3217.0 min/3217.0max)
Front Curb Weight -2057 lbs (2057.0 min/2057.0max)
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Cap - 7200, 7000 lbs (7000.0 min/7300.0max)
Maximum Trailering Capacity - 10400 lbs (10400.0 min/10400.0max)

2015 Grey Wolf 27rr
Delivery weight 5762
GVWR - 7965
Tongue Weight - 965

That trailer appears to be a bumper pull toy hauler and generally those have an excessively high dry hitch wt. so that when the cargo area is loaded the hitch wt. goes down. The general rules about hitch wts. except that 13% you want when road ready do not apply reliably. I think I would go with the 1200lb if you are looking at the Equal-i-zer and an investment in a Sherline tongue scale would be highly recommended so you know what your real hitch wt. is before you get on the road since it would vary depending on your cargo load.

Something you need to consider is what your receiver is rated at since I could see this hitch wt. at times pushing 1300 or even 1400lbs on the outside with more around 1100 to 1200 being more normal, but these are all pure guesses.

Larry

[Rhoadzie]

Here are my specs and the specs of my trailer.

Cheverolet 1500 Silverado Ext. Cab HD Towing package
Gross Axle Wt Rating - 3950 lbs (3950.0 min/3950.0max)
Front Gross Axle Wt Rating - 3950 lbs (3950.0 min/3950.0max)
Rear Curb Weight - 3217 lbs (3217.0 min/3217.0max)
Front Curb Weight -2057 lbs (2057.0 min/2057.0max)
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Cap - 7200, 7000 lbs (7000.0 min/7300.0max)
Maximum Trailering Capacity - 10400 lbs (10400.0 min/10400.0max)

2015 Grey Wolf 27rr
Delivery weight 5762
GVWR - 7965
Tongue Weight - 965

[lawrosa]

Depends on the truck you have IMO...

I have 1000/10000 WD hitch and my camper is 4400 lbs wet. although I could load it to 5000 lbs i am sure..

My tongue is only 420. The thing is I have a weak spring truck. the 1000 lbs bars work well...

so..

1.What TT are you getting?
2. What truck do you have?

[BarneyS]

It is not unusual at all for the actual ready to go camping hitch weight to be several hundred pounds more than the "dry" hitch weight. I would look for a minimum of 1200lb bars - 1300 would not be out of the question.
Barney