Towing new trailer home with out WD

[gambo21]

I'm getting a new travel trailer, 31' Forest River Wildwood X-lite towing with 2008 Suburban. I will be installing a Reese Strait-Line Weight Distribution System but only after I get it home. Dealer will not let me work on there lot witch I under stand.I live 15 min. from dealer on a strait mostly flat highway (101) Nipomo to Santa Maria. Is this crazy? Should I find a place on the side of the road to install the WD to the trailer?

Thanks

[SpeakEasy]

x2 on the pay them to deliver it. What's the downside of that?

-Speak

[Jebby14]

you should be fine. on a more important note that dealer is a moron. I would NOT be doing business at a place like that. not only should they be happy to let you install there or better yet install it for you.

[glendale]

I picked my trailer up today. I did not buy my wd hitch from the dealer I was going to do it myself then decided just to pay the dealer to install it. my dealer said they would charge my 1 hour of labor. then he said never mind and just helped me install it. I would mention to your dealer how much you just spent and try and get them to install it.

[poppin_fresh]

I towed my new TT (completely empty) about 15 minutes without WDH (was within truck specs)to our first outing and installed the WDH there. It was not perfect, but certainly not unsafe.

My buddy bought his TT and hitch from the same dealer and it was installed so poorly that it actually caused sway. Just because you buy it from a dealer, doesn't mean they will take the time to install it correctly. Some might, some might not.

[GordonThree]

Don't tell anyone, keep this between us. I towed my new trailer home, in a January blizzard, approx 200 miles, without a WDH. That was way back in 2013. I didn't even use a truck, I used a station wagon. The sky didn't fall, the Sun rose again the next day, etc.

[downtheroad]

Can't speak about your specific dealer, but many have no clue how to install a Reece Dual Cam Strait Line hitch correctly.

Most likely you will be re-adjusting, tweaking and dialing it in when you get home anyway.

anyway, congrats on the new trailer.

[gambo21]

Thanks for all the quick advice. I think I will pay them to ether install my hitch or pay to deliver it.

[downtheroad]

Problem is...your receiver may not be rated to handle the tongue weight of that trailer without a WD hitch.

Of all the suggestions above, I like the one that recommends that you pay the dealer to deliver it to your home....gosh, how much could a 15 minute run cost?

[westend]

Here's what I'd suggest: Go to a big box store and load 700 lbs of sacked sand, cement mix, or what have you in the back of the Suburban. Drive around the parking lot, park, and return the sacks.

You should have a general idea about the weight characteristics. FWIW, I've loaded more weight in a Mazda pickup and lived to tell about it. I was real careful on the way home and took it real slow. If you can't drive like that, either rent a truck or ask around. A 3/4 ton truck or larger won't have an issue.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Good gawd.

I have towed thousands and thousands of miles without a WD and no sway control. Can you tow 15 minutes without one? I have no idea? :R

In fact I'm going to tow 300 miles next weekend without one.

[ScottG]

PnrFab wrote:
same question i asked several months back

So? There's nothing new under the sun so questions are going to be repeated. If they didn't, forums would die.

[aguablanco]

I can't imagine how this dealer will treat you down the line when the relationship starts like this.
RichH

[SoundGuy]

bobndot wrote:
Nice dealer ! How much did you just spend there ????
I would install the hitch there and pretend you are deaf .

Let him call the P.D. , get their opinion of this dealer putting you out on a public highway with an unsafe set up. (the same public highway as they drive on)

The OP conveniently neglected to mention where this WD system came from but if he didn't buy it from the same dealer he purchased the trailer from there's no reason that dealer should have to agree to install a product he didn't sell. :R

[wing_zealot]

Do you have a friend with a F350?

[DutchmenSport]

I once owned a Suburban and towed my first camper, a Dutchmen Sport "Lite". I did have a Reese installed by the dealer, but after getting home, I did try a few times without the WD bars, and the end of the Suburban simply sunk once the tongue jack was cranked up. I didn't dare drive it that way. The most I did was move it a few feet in the driveway. It simply bottomed out the rear of the Suburban. (See my profile on the left for a photo of it). Hopefully, your Suburban is a bit newer than mine was at the time and maybe built with a more stout suspension.

I, for one, would never tow it without the WD hitch installed first, ANY DISTANCE on a ANY public road. Why not pay the dealer service department the labor fee to have them install it, if you already have it? They won't let YOU install it on their property because of liability / insurance reasons. But THEY probably WILL install it if you pay them!