OK, I'm back. We wound up getting a good deal on a 2015 Ford F150 Super Crew 4x4 2.7L twin turbo with 3.55 rear axel, 6500# GVWR and trailer tow package. We're still looking at getting a Winnebago Micro Mini 1700BH TT, which is single-axle, 20'9" overall length, 3000 dry/3800 GVWR. Our family weighs in at about 600# total. Bikes, coolers, other **** in the truck will be roughly 300#. From what I can find, we should be well within the payload and towing capacity. But is it still recommended to get a WDH and/or brake controller? If you can't tell, I'm not too experienced. We've pulled a pop-up behind our mini-van for a couple of years, that's it. If anyone could explain what the benefits of those things are and when you really want or need them, that would be fantastic. 99.9% of our camping is within 2 hours drive of our place in the relatively flat lands of Wisconsin. We do have intentions to do a longer trip per year across the country, which may include mountains, once we have our setup.

Check that vehicle. It may have a built-in brake controller.

A 3800lb trailer needs trailer brakes, anything over 12-15ft and 1500lbs in my opinion needs brakes. A wd hitch is probably not needed, but I would hook it to the truck and see how much the truck squats. If it's more than a couple inches I would purchase one. I don't think you need Sway control, it's nice to have but not needed.

Any trailer over 1000-1200 lbs should be towed with trailer brakes, which means either a controller or surge brakes must be present. And I am not a fan of surge brakes. Sometimes we simply must stop quickly to avoid an accident. I have towed a few thousand miles without brakes... never again. Also, if the trailer ever starts an oscillating sway, the proper way to respond is to engage trailer brakes only; you can't do that without a controller.With that combo a wd hitch might not be necessary, but may still be desirable to level the rig and restore some weight to the steering axle. Sway control adds safety, again not entirely necessary as long as 10-15% of trailer weight is on the hitch, but for peace of mind to an inexperienced tower with a family to protect, it is a good idea. Some wd hitches contain sway control... Andersen No-Sway, Equal-I-Zer, etc. Friction sway bars work and are affordable, but not quite as effective especially when they get wet in rain.

Different states have different laws when it comes to trailer brakes. A lot if not most say anything over 1,500 lbs needs brakes. So yes, you need a brake controller. If you get a WD hitch "I" would not load it. I would just snug up the chains and call it good. There is 0 reason to transfer weight on a truck that has weight bias to the front anyway. This is what I do with my truck just to take the porpoise out of it.

Turtle makes a good point: a wd hitch will smooth out your ride. Less jitter from the trailer yanking up and down on the ball.

When do you want or need a WDH and/or brake controller?

skipro
Explorer
Jul 20, 2017
Check that vehicle. It may have a built-in brake controller.
DinTulsa
Explorer
Jul 20, 2017
A 3800lb trailer needs trailer brakes, anything over 12-15ft and 1500lbs in my opinion needs brakes. A wd hitch is probably not needed, but I would hook it to the truck and see how much the truck squats. If it's more than a couple inches I would purchase one. I don't think you need Sway control, it's nice to have but not needed.
rexlion
Explorer
Jul 20, 2017
Any trailer over 1000-1200 lbs should be towed with trailer brakes, which means either a controller or surge brakes must be present. And I am not a fan of surge brakes. Sometimes we simply must stop quickly to avoid an accident. I have towed a few thousand miles without brakes... never again. Also, if the trailer ever starts an oscillating sway, the proper way to respond is to engage trailer brakes only; you can't do that without a controller.

With that combo a wd hitch might not be necessary, but may still be desirable to level the rig and restore some weight to the steering axle. Sway control adds safety, again not entirely necessary as long as 10-15% of trailer weight is on the hitch, but for peace of mind to an inexperienced tower with a family to protect, it is a good idea. Some wd hitches contain sway control... Andersen No-Sway, Equal-I-Zer, etc. Friction sway bars work and are affordable, but not quite as effective especially when they get wet in rain.
Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Jul 20, 2017
Different states have different laws when it comes to trailer brakes. A lot if not most say anything over 1,500 lbs needs brakes. So yes, you need a brake controller.

If you get a WD hitch "I" would not load it. I would just snug up the chains and call it good. There is 0 reason to transfer weight on a truck that has weight bias to the front anyway. This is what I do with my truck just to take the porpoise out of it.
rexlion
Explorer
Jul 20, 2017
Turtle makes a good point: a wd hitch will smooth out your ride. Less jitter from the trailer yanking up and down on the ball.
rbpru
Explorer II
Jul 20, 2017
The best reason for both those items is too reduce wear and tear on the truck.

The harder you work the suspension and brakes the sooner they wear out. This is true even if you are well within the vehicle's ratings. Sometimes those ratings indicate the use of a WD hitch.

You are basically buying better braking and handling for your TV.
Whether it is worth it is up to the individual.

Like chicken soup, it cannot hurt.
Ivylog
Explorer III
Jul 20, 2017
rexlion wrote:
Turtle makes a good point: a wd hitch will smooth out your ride. Less jitter from the trailer yanking up and down on the ball.

Never had a trailer "yank up" on the ball. OK, when loading a machine on a flat bed I've had it lift up until position to have enough tongue weight.

OP, I would try it without WD but with brakes...agree you should already have the brake controller.
afidel
Explorer II
Jul 20, 2017
Actually he almost certainly needs a WD hitch as the factory receiver on most half tons are only rated to 500lb without one and he'd only need to be at 13% tongue weight to hit that.
matt_wi
Explorer
Jul 20, 2017
Thanks for the replies!

The truck doesn't currently have a brake controller. From what I reading, the wiring is present, but I need to add the actual controller, and then need to have a dealer flash software on the computer to "activate" it.

I think I'll start with that and do a few easy runs before deciding on the WDH. Thanks again for all of the help!
crk112
Explorer
Jul 20, 2017
Weird.. my 2013 Ford F-150 SuperCrew XLT with factory tow package came with the brake controller.
But yes I think you're legally obligated to have trailer brakes.

As far as WDH you can't go wrong. There are many reasons to buy one and little reason not to. Your towing experience will be more comfortable and safer, and you won't lose as much steering and braking control.

My factory receiver calls for WDH when exceeding 500lbs tongue weight.

- ck

(edit: corrected terminology)