Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Jayco RV Owners Forum
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 04-19-2012, 02:57 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 54
WDH...HELP...need some advice

I have been reading none stop for the last couple days about WDH, sway control, tongue weight and so on and don't know what way to go with this. Long story short, I have a Jay Flight 32BHDS on order (should be here beginning of June). My dealer wants to install a Fastway E2 1200lbs WDH (heaviest weight WDH they offer) but, form what I have ready, 1200lbs is too light for the TT I will be towing (tongue weight is 1055 dry according to the brochure). I want something that has sway control built in but my choices are very limited. None of the local dealers sell Equal-i-zer but I can get my hands on a Reese Trunnion Bar w/sway control (not the dual cam...this is the friction style) that is good for 1500lbs tongue weight. Also, how hard is it to install a WDH yourself? The dealer charges $200+ to install.

Link to the Reese WDH...

http://www.reeseprod.com/content/pro...625&part=66157

Any advice, input would be greatly appreciated!

Also, if it matters, my TV is a 2004 2500HD CC 4X4 Duramax.
__________________
2013 Jay Flight 32BHDS
Outdoor Kitchen, Technology, Elite, Power Awning, Ladder, Outdoor Grill
Honda EU3000IC
ajb1205 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2012, 03:05 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: White Salmon, Wa.
Posts: 550
I just Installed a new Reese 1200lbs dual cam with the help of my son in law and it took about a hour not bad at all. There are some video's on how to install them as well
__________________
Randy
Washington, State.
2011 Jayco G2 25RKS
2004 Dodge 2500 CTD
Old Blue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2012, 03:11 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Quahog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,526
There are some very good threads on WDH set-up and lots of good videos on YouTube. Look for eTrailer and they walk you through the proper installation.

In order to get the right WDH, you will need to know the accurate weight of your TT's tongue. Knowing the unloaded weight isn't adequate.

You should probably shoot for 15% of the GVWR of the TT as a ballpark for what you need in terms of the WDH tongue support. Rustic Eagle is our resident WDH specialist so perhaps he can advise further.
__________________
Mike, Sue, Sissy and Little Man

2015 Ford F350 Lariat FX4 6.7 CC DRW
2015 Eagle Premier 351RSTS

Quahog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2012, 03:31 PM   #4
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 54
The GVWR of the TT is 10,200lbs...so that sits my tongue weight at 1530lbs. Guess I better look at the Reese hitch. Funny how my dealer says the 1200lbs WDH will be "more than adequate".

Has anyone had any experience with that style of Reese WDH?
__________________
2013 Jay Flight 32BHDS
Outdoor Kitchen, Technology, Elite, Power Awning, Ladder, Outdoor Grill
Honda EU3000IC
ajb1205 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2012, 05:09 PM   #5
Moderator Emeritus
 
Rustic Eagle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 9,424
Ajb1205,

One thing for sure, your correct in looking at a 1,500lb rated WDH for the 32BHDS in lieu of the 1,200lb rated WDH.

The recommend "loaded" tongue weight for a TT that is 36ft long is 13% to 15% of the TT's "loaded" weight. So as Mike mentioned, taking worst case scenario using the TT's GVWR of 10,200lbs gives you a desired loaded tongue weight of 1,326lbs to 1,530lbs. In most cases one may not be at the 32BHDS's GVWR, but with the 1,500lb rated WDH you will be covered (in the event tank(s) have fluids, etc.), and it won't be an over-kill for the lighter loaded tongue weights of the 32BHDS when adjusted correctly.

The Reese #66157 WDH with sway control that you referenced is Reese's offering above the standard WDH with the side friction sway control bar, and the Reese HP Dual Cam is above the Reese #66157 product. The Reese HP Dual Cam would be the most effective WDH with sway control in Reese's line-up.

IMO the Reese HP Dual Cam (ie; #66130 rated at 1,500lbs) would be my preferred WDH for the 32BHDS because of the potential loaded weight and 36ft length of the 32BHDS.

Not surprised by your dealer's recommendation, they tend to think in "unloaded" weight terms.

Also, once you have your TV/TT combination under loaded conditions, a visit to your local CAT scale will insure that the WDH is adjusted correctly. http://www.jaycoowners.com/showthread.php?t=3871

Bob

ps: Confirm that your TV's receiver is up to the task as well (WD mode weight limits).
__________________

2016 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4.10
2018 Jay Flight 24RBS
2002 GM 2500HD 6.0L/4:10 (retired)
2005 Jayco Eagle 278FBS (retired)
1999 Jayco Eagle 246FB (retired)
Reese HP Dual Cam (Strait-Line)
Rustic Eagle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2012, 08:54 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
drfife's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 788
If you want the best weight distributing hitch with sway elimination, buy a Propride or Hensley hitch. Nothing else on the market compares.

I've towed 60,000+ miles with my Hensley over the past 11 years. It's the best investment I've made for towing.

The Propride was not available when I bought the Hensley. It would be my first choice today, and it costs less.

You can find used units and save big.
__________________
Russell
'13 Excel Winslow 34IKE
'12 GMC Sierra 3500HD
Previous RV's: '03 MobileScout Titan 29DBS; '01 Sunnybrook Lite 2708 SLE; '99 Coleman Utah
Previous TV's: '02 Chevy Suburban 2500 8.1 4.10; '99 Chevy Express 1500 5.7
drfife is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2012, 09:29 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
eric2500hd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: North Central PA
Posts: 118
I also have a 32bhds I pull with a 2011 Chevy 2500hd. I have the 1500# Reese Dual Cam HP hitch on the camper. It tows well and is easy to setup. Most definitly go with a #1500 setup no matter what brand you are looking at. You will easily overload anything less.
As was mentioned before make sure you check your WD rating on your truck receiver hitch. I had a 2005 2500hd before my current truck and I don't think the hitch was as heavy as the new truck. The 2011 truck is rated at #1500, the older Chevys maybe lighter, not sure though. You may want to look at Class V receiver hitches. Crabman had a good thread on here about replacing the older Chevy hitches with a new Class V hitch.
I would negotiate with your dealer if they want $200 to install it. I ordered my camper from my dealer and told them I would get the hitch on my own as I could get it cheaper than they would sell me one. After I made the deal on the camper I said I wanted them to install the hitch as part of the deal and they did.
__________________
TV - 2011 Chevy 2500hd CC SB 4x4 6.0l
TT- 2012 Jay Flight 32bhds- Elite, Thermal, Technology, Hide a Bed, Outdoor Kitchen, Ladder, Power Awning
eric2500hd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2012, 07:40 AM   #8
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 54
The 1500# Reese hitch is not from the dealer so it looks like I will be installing it myself. Also forgot to mention that I have a seasonal site booked, so I will be towing the TT to the lake (about 120km away) and then towing it home come September. A $2000 hitch is not going to happen...if I were to be towing a lot I would seriously consider it. Thanks for the heads up Rustic Eagle and Eric2500hd...I will check out the hitch rating on the truck.

Should find out today the ETA from my dealer.
__________________
2013 Jay Flight 32BHDS
Outdoor Kitchen, Technology, Elite, Power Awning, Ladder, Outdoor Grill
Honda EU3000IC
ajb1205 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-23-2012, 07:56 AM   #9
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 54
Checked out the hitch on the truck...1500lbs tongue weight/12000lbs trailer weight w/WDH...so that won't be a problem. Ordered the Reese with the friction sway control as I can get it for a super good price and, from what I have heard and read on this forum, performs very nicely.

Trailer is being built first week of May so I should have it before June with any luck. Going to sign the final paperwork in the next day or 2.
__________________
2013 Jay Flight 32BHDS
Outdoor Kitchen, Technology, Elite, Power Awning, Ladder, Outdoor Grill
Honda EU3000IC
ajb1205 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Jayco, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:50 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2002-2016 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.