I bought a TT and now more questions

[stevec22]

Thanks for the advice in this thread http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28030465/gotomsg/28030860.cfm#28030860

I ended up buying a 24 foot KZ Sportsmen TT, Dry weight is 4500 pounds , So I am within the range recommended in that discussion. Now I am looking for more advise.

would you guys recommend an equalizer/ sway control hitch? My TV is a 2005 Yukon 4x4 5.3L. So it is a bit of a short wheel base.

What about the side mirrors? What is recommended?

I got a Tekonsha Prodigy P2 brake controller.

How do you keep your wives from overloading the TT?

Thanks,

[stevec22]

How do load leveling air shocks on my Yukon effect the sizing and ride with a WD hitch?

[aftermath]

NO, you are not. Without a hitch it will be hard to take your trailer to get it weighed. To get a hitch they want you to weigh your trailer. Sounds like an Alice in Wonderland kind of thing to me.

I think most folks use the GVWR of the trailer to estimate the tongue weight just like you have. Decide on what kind of hitch you would like and then come back here with all of your information. Kind of TV, kind of trailer, GVWR of trailer and then ask about what sized bars you should be looking at.

My trailer is rated at 7200 pounds max but my tongue weight is closer to 1000 pounds so I went with an Equalizer 10K hitch because it is rated for 1K tongue weight. It works for me even though some have said I should have a lighter hitch because of the aluminum body of the Airstream. When you ask for advice be ready for lots of it.

[stevec22]

Thanks again for comments, I check in often.

Regarding WD hitch. Looks like it needs to be matched to tongue weight. Every one tells me I need to weigh the trailer to size the Hitch, but if I don't have a trailer to load and weigh, I don't know which hitch to buy to bring the trailer home from the lot.

It looks like I have a 6000 pound max trailer. Loaded Yukon with likely 800 pounds of cargo/passenger/dog.

At 10-13% distribution on tongue, say 600- 780 pounds. That would put me at a 750 rated hitch, correct? Am I missing something?

[aftermath]

Get a WD hitch with built in sway control. There are many brands of these and they fit into three general categories.

1. Propride and Hensley. These are believed to be the "best" by many on this forum. They are engineered differently and are quite expensive.

2. Mid level hitches that will cost you less than half of those in #1. The big three have already been mentioned, Reese and Equalizer have been around a long time.

3. Less expensive types that usually require an addition of a friction bar for sway.

I have had two trailers and both have had Equalizer hitches. I don't know about the others so can't make any suggestions. When I got my first one I stayed away from those that used chains that had to be snapped into place. A long time ago these did not allow backing when hitched and I didn't like the notion of loading these chains under pressure. Today this is not a problem as they have improved them greatly and many use and like them.

I like the Equalizer because it works, it is easy to hitch and to unhitch. If I were starting again I would look at all the options. People on the forum have some very strong feelings about "their" hitch. Good luck.

[dadmomh]

WDH with sway - yes!!! Previous was an Equalizer - very good - current is a Blue Ox 1000 - even better. Good on the brake controller. Mirrors - we have McKesh and like them. Re loading the trailer - if you have an accident and knowingly had more stuff in your trailer than it was rated for, your insurance likely will tell you you're outa luck.

Stuff - I have NO idea how - but stuff migrated into our HTT. I did it. DH did it, only heavier stuff. We were still plenty good on weight, but where did all this come from??? When the ROO was replaced by Rocky, it was agreed upon that when something new came in, something equal had to go. If you need to, before you haul all those bags into the trailer put them on your bathroom scale. OMG! We always have had a good supply of "just in case" meals in the pantry. I never considered whether it came in a can or box until I started checking weights. Most everything in the "just in case" section is now boxed and much lighter.

[RobWNY]

I bought a Propride P3 1400 for my Truck/Trailer and I'm so glad I did. All it takes is one bad sway situation for you to decide it's the best money you'll ever spend. I almost lost it with a conventional hitch with friction type sway control and weight distribution set up. I don't want to spend my time traveling thinking that at some point I'm going to have another bad situation from swaying. Buy a hitch that guarantees you won't sway. I bought the Propride but Hensley Arrow makes a fine system too.

[Terryallan]

All the stuff you need can be found at Etrailer.com. They should have mirrors that just slide on over your stock mirrors. I have some, and they are great, and do not shake.

For your wdh. Once you get it setup correctly. You should have no sway. Then once you are right. Add sway control. A sway bar works good, and the built in sway control WDH work very good as well.

As for your wife. Just tell her. You got to stop adding weight. Or you need to buy me a new truck. It will work, and you don't have to tell her the TT GVWR has nothing to do with the truck.

[coolmom42]

Get an Equal-i-zer hitch. It will make towing a pleasure, not a chore.

So far as your wife overloading, there are some things I used to do when travelling with a smaller trailer:

1) cook stuff ahead of time at home--like stews, soups, spaghetti sauce, freeze if desired, it will keep in the RV fridge for at least a week if you start frozen
2) make a simple meal plan so you know what to take and what to cook
3) remember that there are Walmarts & grocery stores everywhere, so it's not a disaster if you forget something
4) get a few recipes for simple "skillet meals" that start with canned/frozen ingredients & use just one big skillet
5) while travelling, keep a running list of items that you reach for but don't have--then buy ONLY those extra items to keep in the trailer
6) limit cleaning supplies to basic and all-purpose--you can clean more at home if necessary
7) start out with minimalist everything.... then add more ONLY as needed

[Dakota98]

WDH - Yes

Mirrors, as add ons >>> CIPA

Wife, still can't help you there. :h

It's an Adventure - Enjoy !!!!! :B

[stevec22]

myredracer wrote:



It looks you have the S241RKS? 26' length and 6000 lb GVWR. I really recommend that you go to a scale and weigh it when it's all loaded up (sans rocks) for camping including any upgrades and mods. Our previous KZ TT weighed just 200 lbs under the GVWR and that was with empty tanks and one battery. Almost as surprising was that our actual tongue weight nearly doubled from the factory dry wt.

With that TT weight and length and TV wheelbase, yes to a WDH. Get sway control. I like our Reese dual cam. I wouldn't buy the WDH until you know the actual tongue weight so that the spring bars aren't undersized. (BTDT)

Enjoy your KZ! If I can suggest one thing seeing that your layout is similar, get a tilting mount for the TV's KZ factory mount to make it tilt down so you can see the screen properly from the sofa. Had to do that in ours.

Correct on the model S241rks. We liked the floorplan and do not need the extra bunks that are in so many.

[rexlion]

You might 'get by' without a WD/sway control hitch, but why just get by? No use taking chances with a tail that long, because you never want the tail to wag the dog. I'm partial to the Equal-i-zer for a trailer like that, but there are others as well.

Oh, and how to keep your wife from overloading the trailer? Make her sleep in the truck... 😄

[myredracer]

stevec22 wrote:

How do you keep your wives from overloading the TT?
Thanks,

Well, it like this - if you've seen the movie, no rocks...


It looks you have the S241RKS? 26' length and 6000 lb GVWR. I really recommend that you go to a scale and weigh it when it's all loaded up (sans rocks) for camping including any upgrades and mods. Our previous KZ TT weighed just 200 lbs under the GVWR and that was with empty tanks and one battery. Almost as surprising was that our actual tongue weight nearly doubled from the factory dry wt.

With that TT weight and length and TV wheelbase, yes to a WDH. Get sway control. I like our Reese dual cam. I wouldn't buy the WDH until you know the actual tongue weight so that the spring bars aren't undersized. (BTDT)

Enjoy your KZ! If I can suggest one thing seeing that your layout is similar, get a tilting mount for the TV's KZ factory mount to make it tilt down so you can see the screen properly from the sofa. Had to do that in ours.

[Mvander]

I have a slightly longer tt that weighs 5000# or so going down the road and used to tow it with the same truck as yours with a standard wdh from Curt and single sway bar.

It towed quite well although could have used more power for the freeway (i also had 3.73s). No sway or white knuckling. Just be sure your wdh is set up well.

Try e trailer.com for set up vids.

[stevec22]

So far, you guys are not helping much.....:)..:)..:)