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Post by vagov on Oct 30, 2014 17:25:34 GMT -5
i just recently bought a sree escape 196, the trailer weighs under 3000 ibs empty with a 3500 gvwr max. my tow vechile is a 2004 jeep grand cherokee 4.7 liter v8 gvwr aroound 5500 pounds i have a 3 inch suspension lift on it, stiffer shocks, and heavy duty coil springs, when i hook up, i get very little rear end sag. i towed my 3300 pound popup with the same hitch set up, a adjustable 2 in head and ball, and a right side mount friction control bar only. this new tt tows pretty good, but i feel i do get somewhat more sway , maybe because i,m cutting more wind with a wall behind me compared to the lower dynamics of the popup. i,m considering buying a weight distrubution hitch set up, just wondering if it is overkill? and looking for a reasonable priced wdh without breaking the bank
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Post by lynnmor on Oct 30, 2014 18:12:36 GMT -5
Your tongue weight should be almost 400lbs., weigh it. Too little tongue weight can cause sway. I would lose the lift kit.
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Post by vagov on Oct 30, 2014 19:27:25 GMT -5
Your tongue weight should be almost 400lbs., weigh it. Too little tongue weight can cause sway. I would lose the lift kit. too much $ invested into lift at this point, no turning back now, just have to find out the best option from this point on.  |
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Post by cooperrobt on Oct 30, 2014 20:37:25 GMT -5
I agree that there is probably no need for a lift kit. We just purchased a kz spree e196s and the tongue weight is at least 450 pounds. The actual delivered tongue weight is on a sticker pasted on the inside of the cabinet door above the stove. We use the E2 equalizer w/d hitch with "built in sway control". Nice set up. No sway and the front of the tv stays planted. Easy to hitch up. The only thing I do not like about it is that it uses cotter pins for the round bars and I carry extras just in case.
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Post by vagov on Oct 30, 2014 21:37:58 GMT -5
i agree the lift was not needed, but the lift was put on prior to buying the 15 spree escape 196s so we basically have the same trailer, i will check sticker in cabinet to re confirm weight, also will look into E2 equalizer as a reference. thanks for your input!!! do you still have to disconnect round bars prior to backing in campsite ?
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Post by cooperrobt on Oct 30, 2014 21:44:07 GMT -5
I do not need to disconnect the round bars when backing up. It is designed for backing up without disconnecting.
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Post by vagov on Oct 30, 2014 21:51:18 GMT -5
I do not need to disconnect the round bars when backing up. It is designed for backing up without disconnecting. thanks!!! kind of what i am looking for!!! |
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Post by lynnmor on Oct 31, 2014 8:16:33 GMT -5
Don't go by stickers, use a scale. Check with the trailer loaded and ready to travel. As an example, my brochure says 590lbs and actual weight is 860lbs.
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Post by cooperrobt on Oct 31, 2014 21:50:44 GMT -5
Don't go by stickers, use a scale. Check with the trailer loaded and ready to travel. As an example, my brochure says 590lbs and actual weight is 860lbs. I agree. This is just a starting point to make sure that the wd hitch is not under-rated. This size trailer would most likely use a wd hitch rated for 800 pounds. |
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Post by buoyantc on Nov 3, 2014 23:17:47 GMT -5
We bought a 202s this year and tow with an '05 Grand Cherokee. Our dealer set us up with an equalizer hitch (pro something don't remember brand) and a friction sway bar which seems like overkill to us. Our draw bar is a massive drop bar since the Jeep is so high, resulting in a very heavy hitch system.
Actually the draw bar extends too far below the EQ hitch and can drag over irregular ground. I'm not happy with the setup and am curious to hear what you end up with. I like the idea of pinned bars as we have little tension on ours and I worry about losing one. This happened to a friend.
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Post by vagov on Nov 7, 2014 10:37:20 GMT -5
i am looking into purchasing the fastway E2 system debating on either the 6k/600 tw system or the 8K/800tw system round bar systems. . both priced compairable. emailed fastway to get there expert opinion which system would be the better fit
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Post by vagov on Jan 2, 2015 0:43:29 GMT -5
Went by the advice here and purchasex a fastway E2 800tw/8000 round bar system. Arrived yesterday. Now i just need a new 2 in ball and warmer weather
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Post by vagov on Jan 2, 2015 11:42:30 GMT -5
Went by the advice here and purchasex a fastway E2 800tw/8000 round bar system. Arrived yesterday. Now i just need a new 2 in ball and warmer weather.  |
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Post by bigdaddynj on Jan 13, 2015 15:31:26 GMT -5
I am towing with a 97' Grand Cherokee with d bars and it rocks
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Post by vagov on Mar 31, 2015 13:47:27 GMT -5
ok getting ready to set up the WDH. correct me if i am wrong, since this is all new to me, i should 1. load up both the camper and the tow vechile with all my crap as i normally take. then 2. measure both front and rear wheel well heights on the tv as it sits normally. 3. then level the trailer with the tounge jack, and measure the coupler height off the ground. 4. then set my ball (straight) on the receiver at (or slightly above) the same coupler height. 5. load trailer and remeasure the tow vechile for rear sag/ front rise. 6. then if needed either adjust the spring bars parallel with the trailer, or adjust downward the hitch head angle to gain any additional leveling needed. any info on this is greatly appriciated. i got 2 trips planned this upcomming month, so anxious to get started |
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Post by lynnmor on Mar 31, 2015 18:42:11 GMT -5
You have a good grasp on the setup. You want to restore the front of your tow vehicle to near what it measured when not connected. eTrailer has some good videos, here's one: WDH |
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Post by vagov on Apr 3, 2015 16:06:28 GMT -5
Ok getting ready to set up my hitch head on the WDH. I read somewhere where the ball needs torqued at 250 ft/ibs. Dont have a t wrench that high, how important is this to get precise? I have a large pipe wrench and i weigh 220. If i stand on it you think it will be suffucient?
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Post by cooperrobt on Apr 4, 2015 9:51:40 GMT -5
Extremely important. I just took the hitch head ball assembly to a local mechanic and they can use their air tools to tighten everything down.
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Post by vagov on Apr 4, 2015 17:22:19 GMT -5
Ok thanks. I will do the same
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Post by vagov on Apr 16, 2015 7:47:07 GMT -5
got the ball set up on the hitchhead, was surprised how big the nut was on the ball shank, didnt have big enough tools to fit, went to a marine propeller shop, guy had big wrenches, took a 1-5/8 box wrench with a 3 ft pipe for leverage, then put a 16 inch adjustable cresent on the bottom of the ball to hold from spinning . got the two biggest guys in the shop to crank the nut down, while i held the cresent tight in the vise. dont know if it is actually torqued to specs, but it is pretty ******** tight! then added a heavy line of locktight on bottom treads for safe measure.
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