Dumb questions before I go pickup my first camper

[Seeking10]

Couple dumb questions before I drive 4 hours to pickup my first camper. A jayco slx 154bh. Tow vehicle is toyota tacoma.

1. I am planning to bring WD hitch, sway bar, brake controller (installed), inspection checklist. Anything else I need? My truck seems to have a 7 pin connection and a square looking receiver under the truck.

2. The dealer sent me a pic of the camper being 17 inches off the ground. Will that automatically work with my truck or do i need to check that somewhere?

Anything else i should be thinking about?

[Bugzilla46310]

Bring directions for the wdh. The dealer drilled the holes in the wrong place on our brand new camper because they didn’t have the dimensions of where to mount the brackets on the trailer. Went off the old camper where the coupler was on top of the frame vs the new camper had the coupler on the bottom. Took me a minute to download the dimensions. Still po’d about it.
There are no dumb questions, only dumb answers!

[tnka trk]

What is the tow capacity of your truck and GVWR? What is the weight of the trailer empty and expected weight when fully loaded? Don’t count on the dealership giving you good advice about what you can tow with your truck. If you have an extensive PDI list, make sure to send it to the dealer in advance so they make sure to set aside enough time for your inspection. Do not take delivery if any repairs are required. Your unit is a priority for them only until the dealer has your money. Once they have your money, you will move to the bottom of the list for any repairs. It took us 4 delivery attempts before we finally took delivery of our newest unit. Don’t settle snd don’t be pressured into accepting anything but a fully functional unit that does not require any repairs. Make sure there is no flex in the shower floor so you don’t end up with broken drain pipes under the floor and do a thorough inspection of all caulking on all seems. Again, be fully prepared to drive out if the lot without your trailer behind you, if you are not fully satisfied. It’s a PITA but less so than trying to get your camper repaired after the purchase is complete. Good luck.

[El Chupacabra]

If that's a Baja version trailer, expect the trailer hitch attachment (ball mount attachment) to be quite high off the ground, and plan on your truck hitch insert needing to also be quite high. Perhaps ask the trailer dealer for a height measurement at the ball before you go.

I have to use a 6" drop/raise adjustable hitch for our Baja version of the 175RD trailer, set at the maximum raised position, and that's on a GMC Sierra 2500HD 4WD pickup.

[Murff]

This poster has started several threads seeking information. I hope he reads and heeds most of what he has received in replies.

Murff

[Seeking10]

Originally Posted by El Chupacabra

If that's a Baja version trailer, expect the trailer hitch attachment (ball mount attachment) to be quite high off the ground, and plan on your truck hitch insert needing to also be quite high. Perhaps ask the trailer dealer for a height measurement at the ball before you go.

I have to use a 6" drop/raise adjustable hitch for our Baja version of the 175RD trailer, set at the maximum raised position, and that's on a GMC Sierra 2500HD 4WD pickup.

what wd hitch do you use? the 154bh i am looking at is not a baja. the ball of camper is 17 inches off ground. my tow vehicle is a tacoma. looking at anderson hitch but not sure what drop height to get

[Kim Gass]

I think we told you to csll Andersen several times

[El Chupacabra]

Originally Posted by Seeking10

what wd hitch do you use? the 154bh i am looking at is not a baja. the ball of camper is 17 inches off ground. my tow vehicle is a tacoma. looking at anderson hitch but not sure what drop height to get

I don't use a weight distributing hitch, because the trailer is small and the tow vehicle is a 3/4-ton. Also, the frames on the lighter trailers like these are fairly light duty - use an appropriate sized WDH if you're going to use one at all. The Anderson ones seem popular for these lighter trailers.

[ttavasc]

Originally Posted by Seeking10

what wd hitch do you use? the 154bh i am looking at is not a baja. the ball of camper is 17 inches off ground. my tow vehicle is a tacoma. looking at anderson hitch but not sure what drop height to get

Andersen has a hitch compatibility wizard that you can plug information specific to your tow vehicle in to and it will recommend which hitch kit you should use. The wizard will walk you through all the measurements needed in order to determine which drop/rise shank you would need. Check it out at the link below. If, after plugging your specific weights and measurements in you still have questions then call Andersen as others have suggested. I used an Andersen with our previous 195RB Baja and they have very good customer support.

Andersen Weight Distribution Hitch Compatibility wizard

[Seeking10]

thank you all

[TaftCoach]

Originally Posted by Murff

This poster has started several threads seeking information. I hope he reads and heeds most of what he has received in replies.

Murff

I chuckled first, then thought how bad is the industry when standard advice is . . .

1. Don't trust the dealership for advice on how to do something.

2. Trust strangers on a forum with the little bit of information you've provided to arrive at the correct answer.

[Kim Gass]

Its not that we are trolling but likely all of us have vastly different setup combos and road conditions
I know we would have trouble with a sway bar set ups on our logging roads do we didn't even consider them

[Hollander Mutthaulers]

We have towed our 3,500# 2017 16XRB 48,950 miles, first with a Trailblazer and now with a Tahoe. We have never used nor felt the need for a weight distribution hitch.
Perhaps worth considering for your setup?

[joe w]

Originally Posted by Seeking10

Couple dumb questions before I drive 4 hours to pickup my first camper. A jayco slx 154bh. Tow vehicle is toyota tacoma.

1. I am planning to bring WD hitch, sway bar, brake controller (installed), inspection checklist. Anything else I need? My truck seems to have a 7 pin connection and a square looking receiver under the truck.

2. The dealer sent me a pic of the camper being 17 inches off the ground. Will that automatically work with my truck or do i need to check that somewhere?

Anything else i should be thinking about?

A WD hitch will only work correctly/safely if it is properly configured which can only be done by making measurements before and after hooking up and then making proper adjustments according to the manufacturers instructions.

[Kim Gass]

Originally Posted by Hollander Mutthaulers

We have towed our 3,500# 2017 16XRB 48,950 miles, first with a Trailblazer and now with a Tahoe. We have never used nor felt the need for a weight distribution hitch.
Perhaps worth considering for your setup?

I think psychologically the OP feels better with one
Our dealer advised that it would be a waste of money on a single axle trailer and we never had ine on our 195 RB
For us our dealer was right.

[29BHS ECO]

Be sure that the fuse for the 12v constant line to the 7 pin connector is installed. If it has never been used it might be in the glove box.