When to go to WDH?

[sayoung]

Daughter just bought an older 22ft TT that she will tow with 09 Tahoe.dont know wieght but was wondering if a WDH is a needed safety item.Tahoe didnt sag after attaching to bring home.
I have never used one as always had way bigger trucks than needed even before fifthwheel.i see advantage with long heavy trailers ,just need some education.

[wintersun]

You will want to look for the trailering guide for your daughter's SUV as it is different depending upon the vehicle. Different for example for a 1-ton pickup than it is for a 1/2 ton pickup truck from the same manufacturer. The difference is the strength of the frame and the suspension on the vehicles.

Although the Tahoe is considered a "truck" and has a truck frame I would downrate it compared to a pickup truck to be safe and still check for a GM towing guide or the owner's manual for this vehicle.

The WDH improves handling and this would be especially helpful with any SUV.

[Ron3rd]

handye9 wrote:

APT wrote:
I recommend a WDH with integrated sway control Like Equal-i-zer 4pt, Reese Strait Line, or Blue ox Swaypro, all in the $450-500 range. I would say the EQ is a little easier than the Reese to adjust correctly. I have no experience with the BlueOx to compare.

I have a Blue Ox Swaypro and an Andersen hitch. Both have integrated sway control.

I find the Andersen much cleaner, quieter, and easier to use. It requires no lubrication of any kind. No grease = less dirt.

The Blue Ox requires lube on the ball and internally in the hitch head itself. The internal greasing is done with a grease gun. Grease guns tend to leak and storing them can be a mess.

The Andersen hitch total weight is 60 lbs, including head, chains, and trailer brackets. I can pick up the hitch head and slide it into the truck receiver, with one hand, and stay clean while doing it.

The Blue Ox total weight is 115 lbs, including head, bars, chains, snap up brackets. Deffinately takes two hands (preferably strong ones) to put this one in the receiver. While doing that, my shirt will clean the old grease off the ball.

I would agree that for a smaller trailer like the 22ft in the OP's post, the Anderson might be a good choice.

[Ron3rd]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

sayoung wrote:
One more questions ,sway control in addition to the WDH?i may be misunderstanding but if you add this then it must be removed to back up,
she doesn't need any additional stuff to take care of at this point

You will have some people say you have to remove a WD or sway to back up, but in 35 years I have never removed mine to back up. The sway either. Never any problems.

X2, but I've only been doing it for 10 years so I'm still kind of a newbie.

[fx2tom]

I have the equal-i-zer there is no need to unhook anything to back up.

[handye9]

APT wrote:
I recommend a WDH with integrated sway control Like Equal-i-zer 4pt, Reese Strait Line, or Blue ox Swaypro, all in the $450-500 range. I would say the EQ is a little easier than the Reese to adjust correctly. I have no experience with the BlueOx to compare.

I have a Blue Ox Swaypro and an Andersen hitch. Both have integrated sway control.

I find the Andersen much cleaner, quieter, and easier to use. It requires no lubrication of any kind. No grease = less dirt.

The Blue Ox requires lube on the ball and internally in the hitch head itself. The internal greasing is done with a grease gun. Grease guns tend to leak and storing them can be a mess.

The Andersen hitch total weight is 60 lbs, including head, chains, and trailer brackets. I can pick up the hitch head and slide it into the truck receiver, with one hand, and stay clean while doing it.

The Blue Ox total weight is 115 lbs, including head, bars, chains, snap up brackets. Deffinately takes two hands (preferably strong ones) to put this one in the receiver. While doing that, my shirt will clean the old grease off the ball.

[APT]

I recommend a WDH with integrated sway control Like Equal-i-zer 4pt, Reese Strait Line, or Blue ox Swaypro, all in the $450-500 range. I would say the EQ is a little easier than the Reese to adjust correctly. I have no experience with the BlueOx to compare.

[bikendan]

sayoung wrote:
One more questions ,sway control in addition to the WDH?i may be misunderstanding but if you add this then it must be removed to back up,
she doesn't need any additional stuff to take care of at this point

if you get the old tech chain-style WDH with the friction anti-sway bar, you probably will need to disconnect the anti-sway bar to back up.

with newer tech WDHs with integrated sway control, this is not necessary, such as the Equal-i-zer. i find it very simple to use and love it.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

sayoung wrote:
One more questions ,sway control in addition to the WDH?i may be misunderstanding but if you add this then it must be removed to back up,
she doesn't need any additional stuff to take care of at this point

You will have some people say you have to remove a WD or sway to back up, but in 35 years I have never removed mine to back up. The sway either. Never any problems.

[Ron3rd]

Equalizer, Reese Dual Cam, Blue Ox Pro all have big followings. The purpose of the WD hitch is to restore weight to the front axle when you apply tongue weight, ie, you can unload the front axle with a trailer.

[sayoung]

sayoung wrote:
Daughter just bought an older 22ft TT that she will tow with 09 Tahoe.dont know wieght but was wondering if a WDH is a needed safety item.Tahoe didnt sag after attaching to bring home.
I have never used one as always had way bigger trucks than needed even before fifthwheel.i see advantage with long heavy trailers ,just need some education.

Found wieght per title,not wieghed yet. 4700lbs per registration.heavier than I thought.
What's an easy to use model?

[sayoung]

One more questions ,sway control in addition to the WDH?i may be misunderstanding but if you add this then it must be removed to back up,
she doesn't need any additional stuff to take care of at this point

[APT]

The receiver on all 2007+ GM full sized SUVs is rated for 600 pounds in weight carrying. A 22' TT will be close on that number. My opinion is that about 400 pounds a WDH becomes helpful in the amount of weight restored to the front axle o half tons. That's any tandem axle TT.

[Dog_Folks]

sayoung wrote:
Daughter just bought an older 22ft TT that she will tow with 09 Tahoe.dont know wieght but was wondering if a WDH is a needed safety item.Tahoe didnt sag after attaching to bring home.
I have never used one as always had way bigger trucks than needed even before fifthwheel.i see advantage with long heavy trailers ,just need some education.

According to Edmunds, that vehicle can tow 8200 pounds more or less, depending how it is equipped.

Based on 40 years of towing, I would worry more about sway, than the Tahoe handling the weight, although it has a reputation for a "softer" suspension.

If the TT weighs more than 3500 pounds, I would get a WDH with sway control, such as a Reese Dual Cam.

Hope this helps.

[eHoefler]

Look at the capacity of the receiver, you are beyond its capacity without the WDH.