Towing situation - update

[tjw0099]

We went camping this weekend and I followed the instructions on hooking up the stabilizer bars on the hitch.

My front wheel well was 35" and rear was 37" unhitched.

Front was 36" and rear was 35.5" hitched.

There was significantly better handling and control on this trip.

I have pics that I'd like to post, but for some reason I can't figure the pic posting process out.

We are done for this season and are looking forward to late March early April to begin our adventures.

If someone reminds me how to post a pic, I will post the ones of the trailer attached to the truck for input.

Thanks!

Tom in Gloucester

[tjw0099]

Thanks everyone for the input.

We've put the camper up till March/April.

I will be sure to increase the chain link.

Compared to the first time we took it out, this is 'level'.

Have a great Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.

Tom

[rbpru]

When we left the dealer with an empty 26 ft. TT the Blue Ox hitch was set at 7 links from the free end.

By the time we got it loaded and were on the road a while I tightend it two more links. It is level and rides the way I want it to feel.

There is absolutely no sway or fish tail and it recovers from side gusts immediately.

[McDaddy]

Give it a try by taking a extra link of chain or two, but at some point you will meet the max. If you are still not happy with the leveling/weight distribution, you might do a search for a post from our former moderator Les. In it he describes how you can adjust your weight distribution hitch to get the front and back to within about a quarter of an inch respectively. Good luck/happy camping.

[BurbMan]

TJW, If you look at the set up, the truck is sagging in the rear and the trailer is sagging in the front. Tightening up the WD hitch will better distribute the weight, if you can picture picking up the rig at the hitch so that the whole rig sits as level as possible front to rear. Look at the body line on your truck and project that rearward onto the trailer, it should be parallel, yours is way off:

Start by taking up another link, you may need two, but start with one and re-measure. As was noted you may also have to adjust the hitch head to keep the spring bars parallel to the TT frame.

Another thing you can do is measure the distance from the TT frame to the ground at all 4 corners, that will tell you if the TT is sitting level.

[Terryallan]

tjw0099 wrote:
Here is a close up of the truck and trailer hitched.



Here is one from a distance.



Tom

Yes. You will need to get the front down some. Once you get the front down. the back will take care of itself. Pulling another link/ making it tighter by hanging another link free might do it. But you may also need to tilt the hitch head toward the TT more.

That looks way off.

[bguy]

You're parked on a bit of crest in your picks which makes it difficult to tell. I think you'll have to pull up 2 more link as is or angle the head back and start with the same number of links you are using now. Set you're hexagonal washer to 6 if you don't already have it there. The next step after you restore your front axle weight is to level the trailer.

[tjw0099]

Here is a close up of the truck and trailer hitched.



Here is one from a distance.



Tom

[BurbMan]

tjw0099 wrote:
My front wheel well was 35" and rear was 37" unhitched.

Front was 36" and rear was 35.5" hitched.

Agree with previous posts...1" is too much to unload the front end...you'll get reduced steering control and bird-watching headlights. Try taking one more link on the chains as Jeremy suggests and re-measure. Ideally you want to return the front to the unhitched height but I would take 1/2" higher as OK.

One more link likely to get you to 35.5" F and 36" R, which would be sitting pretty level.

A couple of pics wouldn't hurt either....

[myredracer]

Also find out what the vehicle manufacturer specifies for WDHs which I believe should override what the WDH manufacturer says.

[APT]

I would target getting that front height the same as unhitched. Measuring the height is an estimate for axle weight. This has been plenty sufficient for my TT and two tow vehicles to provide stable towing at higher than legal towing speeds.

Increasing the WD to the front axle varies for the different actual hitches. Many use some kind of chains of which the manufacturers speak in terms of links under tension. Reese for example says always use at least 5 links under tension. Fewer links under tension means more weight transfer to the front axles. Another method for some WDH is to tilt the ball towards the trailer. Higher angle/tilt means more WD.

[jerem0621]

I would use one more link of chain. That would mean that I would have one more link hanging free.

[Passin_Thru]

Go to a scale and weigh your axles and set it right by them.

[Boxerslave]

Tricky question. I have traditional wdh with chains, and I set mine with 3 links unused vs. 6 links used. 1 more link in my case would increase tension vs. 1 more link being used would lessen tension. Depends which direction you count. In your case you want to increase the tension on your bars to transfer more weight to front wheels, shorten the links being used.

[tjw0099]

One link more or less?

Tom