New tow vehicle/old hitch.. What to do?

[Headed_West]

Going tomorrow to hook the trailer up to the new truck and get it ready for camping season. I have a Keystone Passport 2920BH. I recently upgraded the tow vehicle from a 2013 F-150 3.5 eco boost Super Crew to an F-250 Crew cab 6.2L V8 gas. I have an Equalizer WDH. The question is do I need the WDH?

The trailer Dry is Approx 5700lbs, 1,815lbs carrying capacity. The F-250 is more than enough truck to tow it Loaded to the max. The Equalize hitch is also the sway control, which worked great on the F-150. I assume I will have to adjust the hitch to get it nose down. Will I benefit any with the WDH with this TV?

Any advise and comments appreciated.

[Hannibal]

Wishing you a safe and enjoyable trip. Looking forward to seeing the pics.

[Headed_West]

Thanks Hannibal.

I removed 1 washer from the WDH and now the front and rear fenders are both sitting at 42 Inch's. The trailer sits a little over 1 inch lower in the front compared to the rear., so I think I,m good now. Still the rear of the truck sagged very little with the trailer hooked up before the WDH bars were installed. Told the DW a 5th weel may be in our future:) We have an overnight planned for the 7th of May to make sure everything still works then off to Maine the second week in June... Can't wait to try a long haul with the new rig. Thanks everyone. Will post pics from Maine when we get there. We're staying in Kennebunkport so if anyone has suggestions of where to go while were there please share.

[Hannibal]

Can you tilt the head forward a notch to ease up on the bars a little?

[Headed_West]

Here is the hitch:


Hooked the trailer up and the rear sagged a little but the front Fender Stayed at 42 inch's. Loaded the bars and the front dropped a half inch?

The front of the trailer is half inch higher than the back. I'm afraid to drop the ball anymore.

Thoughts?

[Headed_West]

Old Tow Vehicle-


New Tow Vehicle-


Hitch-

[Hannibal]

You're in the same predicament I'm in. We recently ordered a Jayco 28RLS TT to replace our 5th wheel. Your trailers tongue weight is advertised at 625 lbs. Mine is 700 lbs. Add propane and a battery and all our junk in the basement storage and we're likely over 800 lbs tongue weight. I hitched up to a 28RLS on the lot and the truck only squatted 2" in the rear and the front didn't rise at all. With the salesman, wife and myself standing on the tongue, it dropped another 1/4"~. If not for the capacity rating of the receiver at 600 lbs, I'd much rather use my short draw bar ball mount with no WD. But to satisfy the receiver's rating, I ordered a Reese trunion style WDH with 800 lb bars. I wish we could still get the ol' Quality S WDH with the very short welded ball mount. I realize the length of the hitch is for vertical leverage with WD but it also gives lateral leverage that adds to push with those passing trucks. I've even considered drilling another 5/8" hole in the Reese 54970 shank to shorten it up as I want less distance between the ball and rear axle, not more.

[Headed_West]

Thank you all!!!

Just printed out the Equalize manual and headed over to make any adjustments needed. I did measure the hitch height of the old truck and the new. The new truck hitch receiver only sits 1 inch higher than the F-150. May not need that much adjustment.

Thanks again everyone. I'll post pics when the adjustments are made to see how it looks to you guys....

[fla-gypsy]

Yes you still need it

[razehm]

I upgraded from an F-150 to a F-350 last year. I would agree using the WDH is probably the wisest thing to do. But with a 4 inch drop down stinger my truck and trailer are fine and I do not notice any sway.

[silverfz]

I just had to adjust my equalizer wdh as I replaced the worn down rear shock with some 4600 HD blisteins and added some air bags. It took a lot less time If you do believe. I had to flip the hitch L shaped thing. I bet you have too. I also was afraid to touch it for over a year.

As far as hitching goes, this is kids vacation weeks so my wife towed the 31 TT and tundra to a campground . She unhitched on her own. She is small and takes her time. I also have the steps in a laminated sheet as she does it once or twice a year. I tell her to take her time and go easy.

[WildSideFL]

My 2500 Cummins Ram towed our 28' travel trailer no problem with just air bags but towed much better with the equal-izer so I always used it for trips. The sway control was great so I deflated the bags and used the wdh for it's purpose. The only downside to a wdh is the more complex hitching process.

[MFL]

Like your 150, the 250 hitch will have a max rating on it. It will say a max rating with no WDH, and a max with WDH. Your loaded tongue wt will be more than the hitch rating, if you do not use a WDH.

Jerry

[westend]

Yup, the WDH will put the weight back onto your front steer axle.
Look up the Ford Towing Guide for the year of your F-250 and it will have a recommendation about how to balance the truck with fender heights. Later model Ford's do not need to be made totally level (1/2" difference, IIRC).

[avoidcrowds]

Many on here will say you don't need a WDH on a truck. But, I don't want to be headed east while you are Headed West after dark, if you don't have a WDH in your setup. I see plenty of trucks that have their low-beams on, but are blinding oncoming traffic. I mutter a few choice words to myself, then get over it.