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Post by meganashline on Jan 14, 2022 16:27:16 GMT -5
Is anyone NOT using a weight distribution hitch? We bought a 2021 250THLE, it's a bumper pull toy hauler. The dealer absolutely recommends a WDH. I don't want to buy from them because they mark up SO much. But when trying to figure out what tongue weight to buy the answers are all over the place. Ideally, we'd load up the rig and take it to a scale and measure the exact tongue weight and such. But we haven't even taken possession, so that's out. The dry tongue weight is 930#, I can't seem to find a good gauge for average weight of crap a family of 4 takes camping, plus it's a toy hauler, sometimes we'll have dirt bikes, sometimes bicycles and paddle boards. The dealership recommends a hitch that has a tongue weight rating of 1200# but won't be able to tell me that with certainty until we bring in a hitch and our truck etc. So I called KZ and asked what tongue weight rating they'd recommend and the guy I talked to said the units are engineered to be well distributed and you don't need a WDH at all and they recommend against it. So that didn't help my confusion in the least bit.
I'm anxious by nature, safety in towing is paramount to me. What's the best way, fellow KZers?
One more thing, anyone have any tow mirrors on a 2016 F150 that they absolutely love that didn't cost $500?!?
Thanks!
-Megan
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Post by laknox on Jan 14, 2022 18:13:03 GMT -5
Is anyone NOT using a weight distribution hitch? We bought a 2021 250THLE, it's a bumper pull toy hauler. The dealer absolutely recommends a WDH. I don't want to buy from them because they mark up SO much. But when trying to figure out what tongue weight to buy the answers are all over the place. Ideally, we'd load up the rig and take it to a scale and measure the exact tongue weight and such. But we haven't even taken possession, so that's out. The dry tongue weight is 930#, I can't seem to find a good gauge for average weight of crap a family of 4 takes camping, plus it's a toy hauler, sometimes we'll have dirt bikes, sometimes bicycles and paddle boards. The dealership recommends a hitch that has a tongue weight rating of 1200# but won't be able to tell me that with certainty until we bring in a hitch and our truck etc. So I called KZ and asked what tongue weight rating they'd recommend and the guy I talked to said the units are engineered to be well distributed and you don't need a WDH at all and they recommend against it. So that didn't help my confusion in the least bit. I'm anxious by nature, safety in towing is paramount to me. What's the best way, fellow KZers? One more thing, anyone have any tow mirrors on a 2016 F150 that they absolutely love that didn't cost $500?!? Thanks! -Megan I know diddley about WD hitches, but I do know that you don't want much less than 10% tongue weight on your hitch, so that'd be 880 lbs, based on the 8800 GVW. That being said, you're pushing 20% tongue wt empty because this is a TH. When you load your toy(s), they will counter-balance that weight. I'd say that the 1200 lb hitch would probably work OK, but if there's a 1500 lb hitch, I'd sure look at that. Never hurts to be sure. Lyle Lyle |
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Post by Soleman on Jan 14, 2022 20:22:32 GMT -5
Blank Towing Capacity Worksheet.xls (40 KB)Now I'm confused, KZ said NO WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION HITCH? I believe the law states that any trailer over 5,000 Lbs. must have a sway control system. Most of the sway control I've seen include a weight distribution hitch? I agree with Lyle on the 10% minimum on the hitch. Keep in mind that the more weight you have in the back of the trailer, the bigger the lever is working against you once sway begins! Please read up and watch videos to educate yourself about this, it's scary if you get it wrong. I pulled a trailer for several years and would not think of pulling without sway control and weight distribution. I strongly recommend a "Pro-Pride" or "Hensley hitch". Yes they cost a lot! But when we travel we usually have everyone we (love most) in the truck with us so it's worth it. This will take some time to get the necessary information to fill out this worksheet, but I believe it's worth the time for peace of mind. Sorry I can't seem to get the worksheet to load? I'll work on it.
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Post by Soleman on Jan 14, 2022 20:31:15 GMT -5
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Post by 660catman on Jan 14, 2022 21:07:17 GMT -5
The WD bars you need are based on tongue weight PLUS whatever is in the truck box behind the wheel wells. Include the weight of the hitch itself too. I had a 30’ Crossroads with a spec’d 884 lb tongue weight and had the Husky WD hitch with 1200 lb bars. I did not have or need additional sway control. I also had tongue weight at 13% based on scaled weight. This was pulled with a Silverado 1500 Crew Cab.
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senior
Weekender RV’er
2022 KZ280TH
Posts: 80
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Post by senior on Jan 15, 2022 9:10:26 GMT -5
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Post by gwinger on Jan 15, 2022 18:04:25 GMT -5
KZ advertises 930lb tongue weight. That's unloaded. No propane and probably doesn't include battery weight. Since the pass through storage is in the front of the trailer, add a 100 or so lbs, 40 for the propane and 50 for the battery.
I have a 270thle and use a Equalizer 1400 rated WDH. Again, not cheap, but no need for sway control. The hitch from my original trailer used chains, spring bars and separate sway control. It was amazing the difference when I put on the Equalizer. Plus it only takes 5 minutes to hitch up and drive away.
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Post by laknox on Jan 17, 2022 17:45:23 GMT -5
KZ advertises 930lb tongue weight. That's unloaded. No propane and probably doesn't include battery weight. Since the pass through storage is in the front of the trailer, add a 100 or so lbs, 40 for the propane and 50 for the battery. I have a 270thle and use a Equalizer 1400 rated WDH. Again, not cheap, but no need for sway control. The hitch from my original trailer used chains, spring bars and separate sway control. It was amazing the difference when I put on the Equalizer. Plus it only takes 5 minutes to hitch up and drive away. My '17 D1500's yellow weight sticker says that it includes full propane in calc'ing the NCC. Makes me wonder if it includes 1 12v battery, as well, as the rig's virtually unusable without it. Lyle |
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Post by gwinger on Jan 17, 2022 18:09:20 GMT -5
KZ advertises 930lb tongue weight. That's unloaded. No propane and probably doesn't include battery weight. Since the pass through storage is in the front of the trailer, add a 100 or so lbs, 40 for the propane and 50 for the battery. I have a 270thle and use a Equalizer 1400 rated WDH. Again, not cheap, but no need for sway control. The hitch from my original trailer used chains, spring bars and separate sway control. It was amazing the difference when I put on the Equalizer. Plus it only takes 5 minutes to hitch up and drive away. My '17 D1500's yellow weight sticker says that it includes full propane in calc'ing the NCC. Makes me wonder if it includes 1 12v battery, as well, as the rig's virtually unusable without it. I never looked that closely to the sticker on my bumper pull. As far as battery, different size batteries have different weights. |
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Post by laknox on Jan 18, 2022 11:21:42 GMT -5
My '17 D1500's yellow weight sticker says that it includes full propane in calc'ing the NCC. Makes me wonder if it includes 1 12v battery, as well, as the rig's virtually unusable without it. I never looked that closely to the sticker on my bumper pull. As far as battery, different size batteries have different weights. As you know, mfrs all use the cheapest and smallest battery they can get away with. :-) Figure about 40-50 lbs. Lyle |
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Post by gwinger on Jan 18, 2022 12:03:10 GMT -5
As you know, mfrs all use the cheapest and smallest battery they can get away with. :-) Figure about 40-50 lbs. Probably the reason they don't supply a true deep cycle battery. The marine batteries are not the quality of a true deep cycle. |
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diferg
Newbie RV’er
2019 KZ 270THLE / 2006 ST-1300
Posts: 32
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Post by diferg on Jan 19, 2022 21:58:32 GMT -5
I have a 270thle with a 1000-pound dry hitch weight and a tray mounted predator 3500 inverter generator (100 lbs.) above the propane tanks. I use a Husky 1400 lb. Centerline hitch. cost about $250-$350 on amazon. Tow vehicle is a 2016 ram 1500. truck sits level at all 4 corners. No excessive bounce going over train tracks and the built-in sway control is very good, almost no effect from semi-trucks. Just make sure to lightly grease the bottom of the tension bars before hooking up. don't ask me how I know that these hitches can be LOUD if not greased.
EDIT: They were $250-$350 four years ago. Now $450 on amazon. Strongly suggest get any brand Centerline style hitch. I found Husky to be least expensive.
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Post by meganashline on Jan 28, 2022 19:30:29 GMT -5
<button disabled="" class="c-attachment-insert--linked o-btn--sm">Attachment Deleted</button> Can you open this? I CAN! How is it that I was able to open the worksheet on my phone but unable to figure out how to reply like this on my phone. I have no idea. Anyway, this is super helpful, thank you SO much. Haven't used it yet, need to get the trailer filled up and we'll take it to a scale and weight it before our first big trip to make sure we're set up well. Thank you again so much. |
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Post by meganashline on Jan 28, 2022 19:36:53 GMT -5
KZ advertises 930lb tongue weight. That's unloaded. No propane and probably doesn't include battery weight. Since the pass through storage is in the front of the trailer, add a 100 or so lbs, 40 for the propane and 50 for the battery. I have a 270thle and use a Equalizer 1400 rated WDH. Again, not cheap, but no need for sway control. The hitch from my original trailer used chains, spring bars and separate sway control. It was amazing the difference when I put on the Equalizer. Plus it only takes 5 minutes to hitch up and drive away. I think what we ended up with is an Equalizer, but it might be the 1200, I'm not certain as my husband did the purchasing. I'm not quite sure how we'll use the pass through storage yet, we usually travel with a blackstone griddle, the cooking surface is pretty heavy but the rest of it is relatively light, so I think we'll put that in there, and maybe life jackets for when we paddle board because they're bulky but quite light. And maybe our camp chairs? It's kind of a mind trip, the concept of loading it up in the safest way. On one hand you don't want all the weight in the back for sway purposes, but you also don't want the tongue too heavy. It feels so hard to get it just right. I feel like I'm making it harder than it needs to be. Ugh. |
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Post by gwinger on Jan 28, 2022 19:57:24 GMT -5
I have a 270thle with a 1000-pound dry hitch weight and a tray mounted predator 3500 inverter generator (100 lbs.) above the propane tanks. I use a Husky 1400 lb. Centerline hitch. cost about $250-$350 on amazon. Tow vehicle is a 2016 ram 1500. truck sits level at all 4 corners. No excessive bounce going over train tracks and the built-in sway control is very good, almost no effect from semi-trucks. Just make sure to lightly grease the bottom of the tension bars before hooking up. don't ask me how I know that these hitches can be LOUD if not greased. EDIT: They were $250-$350 four years ago. Now $450 on amazon. Strongly suggest get any brand Centerline style hitch. I found Husky to be least expensive. Equalizer says NOT to grease the tension bars. Only to keep the pivot points greased. That's where most of the noise is generated. You can buy "sway bracket jackets" from Equalizer to help with the bar contact on the L brackets. |
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diferg
Newbie RV’er
2019 KZ 270THLE / 2006 ST-1300
Posts: 32
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Post by diferg on Jan 28, 2022 20:56:47 GMT -5
Hi gwinger Yes Husky says the same about greasing the tension bars. The Equalizer bracket jackets will not fit the husky brackets. I found that greasing the pivot points on the hitch head had no effect on the noise with my hitch. I read several reviews that said even with the jackets there was loud POPING and BANGING when making sharp turns or backing up. After several thousands of miles I have seen no reduction in sway control or towing ability with lightly greased tension bars, only a silent hitch (even when towing empty) and greatly reduced wear on the bar brackets. I believe we all have to find our own way for things.
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Post by gwinger on Feb 15, 2022 15:56:10 GMT -5
Hi gwinger Yes Husky says the same about greasing the tension bars. The Equalizer bracket jackets will not fit the husky brackets. I found that greasing the pivot points on the hitch head had no effect on the noise with my hitch. I read several reviews that said even with the jackets there was loud POPING and BANGING when making sharp turns or backing up. After several thousands of miles I have seen no reduction in sway control or towing ability with lightly greased tension bars, only a silent hitch (even when towing empty) and greatly reduced wear on the bar brackets. I believe we all have to find our own way for things. I had the same problem. I contacted Equalizer the they told me to move the bars as far out as possible to the end of travel, then grease. I carry a piece of 2 inch schedule 40 PVC pipe to move the bars. Those suckers are tight. |
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diferg
Newbie RV’er
2019 KZ 270THLE / 2006 ST-1300
Posts: 32
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Post by diferg on Feb 15, 2022 16:32:45 GMT -5
Hi gwinger what I do is connect the trailer to the hitch ball then use the tounge jack to raise the tounge and back of the truck (the truck really comes up high) until the bars are within about 1 or 2 inches of the L brackets then place the bars into the bracket. still pretty stout but not excessive. it Takes a bit of experimenting but you will soon the sweet spot for your hitch and truck.
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diferg
Newbie RV’er
2019 KZ 270THLE / 2006 ST-1300
Posts: 32
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Post by diferg on Feb 16, 2022 9:53:54 GMT -5
gwinger I misread your last reply! I understood that you were using a piece of pipe for leverage while placing the bars into the L brackets. After rereading your post, I realize that you are using the PVC pipes for moving the bars into and away from the brackets. This would also work well for storage and transport! Great idea! I am going to make some right away. thanks for the great idea!
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Post by nvguy on Feb 16, 2022 21:37:38 GMT -5
gwinger I would bet the popping and banging you and others hear when making sharp turns is the trailer suspension. Install a wet bolt kit and the suspension will be quiet as a mouse.
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