New TT owner with hitch question

[Mikeos]

I am new to the whole TT thing so I will have lots of question .
My first question is about my hitch .

I have a 2013 Ram 1500 Hemi , standard cab and box( 6"4") with a 3.55 axel ratio and towing package, 20" tires and wheels.
I will be towing a 2013 Jayco White Hawk 24RBS. GVWR 5995# dry hitch 460#
The hitch that came with the TT is a Pro series weight distributing

I plan to tow this all over the country with a motorcycle in the truck's bed.

I would say that the hitch set up works "ok" but do get sway from passing trucks.

Can I do better with a different hitch ???
If so, which one and what can I except from the change?
Thanks

[gpmilliken]

I have a similar type of hitch. The effectiveness of the hitch varies (for me) depending on the pin weight and which link on the chain I hook the sway bars on.

If I use one link "more" in length I get a lot of sway.

If I reduce the number of links get less sway.

In the hitch manual there are some detailed instructions on how to adjust and verfiy your settings for your trailer and your vehicle.

I would start by carefully reading the manual and adjusting the hitch.

[Mikeos]

Are you referring to the TT manual or hitch manual?? I don't have any info on the hitch
Mike

[eldermike]

Do you have the sway control with your hitch, or just the hitch?

[stjohneyre]

I have a White Hawk 30dsre and use a WDH but also use 2 friction sway control bars. I followed the advice of many posters on this forum and went with 2 since the trailer is over 28 feet in length. If yours is not over 28 then one friction sway control bar should suffice. I'm very happy with my set-up and the only thing I don't care for is the griding sound the sway control creates when taking tight turns. I will eventually upgrade to a WDH with sway control built in when I upgrade my truck next time. For now, just enjoying the ride. Good luck!

[Mikeos]

The hitch has two bars with chains. You must jack up the truck using the TT jack to put the bars and chains on. I don't know what WDH is ???
Trailer is just about 28'. Some have told me that a short wheel base truck can cause problems.

[Doug]

A short wheel base truck will be worse.
Sounds like all you have is the WDH (weight distribution hitch).
The anti-sway for your type hitch is usually a secondary bar with a flat brake pad like system that reduces sway.
Go to your local hitch dealer and discuss anti-sway bar options with them.
They will recommend something.

Here's one example of an anti-sway friction system

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDl24M_803E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW_4vumrEdo

Doug

[Mikeos]

Doug will these type of sway controls have to be removed before backing up ???

[Bob Landry]

Originally Posted by Mikeos

I am new to the whole TT thing so I will have lots of question .
My first question is about my hitch .

I have a 2013 Ram 1500 Hemi , standard cab and box( 6"4") with a 3.55 axel ratio and towing package, 20" tires and wheels.
I will be towing a 2013 Jayco White Hawk 24RBS. GVWR 5995# dry hitch 460#
The hitch that came with the TT is a Pro series weight distributing

I plan to tow this all over the country with a motorcycle in the truck's bed.

I would say that the hitch set up works "ok" but do get sway from passing trucks.

Can I do better with a different hitch ???
If so, which one and what can I except from the change?
Thanks

You'll do better with a different truck, but that's obviously out of the question. You did not give the weight of the motorcycle, but the tongue weight of the trailer, should you fully load it will be around 775 lbs. That, the weight of the motorcycle, the hitch weight, cargo in the truck, passengers and fuel all go against the payload capacity of the truck. So, I'm betting you are going to be severely over on that. How much over you feel comfortable with is entirely up to you.

Start by properly adjusting the WD. Use the specification in your truck's manual to determine how much weight to return to the steering axle. Resist the temptation to tweak the links on the chains until the truck "feels right". That's not how you adjust WD. Resist trying to tighten down on the chain settings in an attempt to level the truck. That's not the purpose of WD, it's to return the weight to the front axle that is removed by fulcrum action of the weight of the trailer tongue, nothing else. Even with a properly adjusted hitch, because the Ram 1500 rear suspension is so soft, you are probably going to get a lot of squat in the rear. You can help that with helper springs or air bags, but that is a cosmetic fix and does not increase any of the capacities of the truck. As far as sway, that is going to be controlled by a properly loaded trailer, not the WD adjustment, so if you start tweaking the bars to try to eliminate sway, your WD is instantly messed up, so ignore the more/less syndrome on chain tension. There's only one correct tension and that's the one that returns he front end to it's original height/weight.


BTW, if you add air bags, you'll have to readjust he WD because when you change the height in the rear, that changes the tile angle on the hitch ball and thus changes the bar tension.

Good Luck.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Mikeos

Doug will these type of sway controls have to be removed before backing up ???

Watch the video, they specifically discuss this.

Doug

[msturtz]

You may want to look into a Hensley hitch. It is impossible for them to "sway" at all. I had one for years. It saved my bacon many times and allowed me to tow even in the winter. You can't do that with a friction sway control device. http://hensleymfg.com/
The Hensley Arrow eliminates sway and at the same time provides equalizing typical on many spring bar hitches.

[stjohneyre]

Originally Posted by Mikeos

The hitch has two bars with chains. You must jack up the truck using the TT jack to put the bars and chains on. I don't know what WDH is ???
Trailer is just about 28'. Some have told me that a short wheel base truck can cause problems.

WDH = Weight Distribution Hitch

Yes, a short wheel based often means the tail wags the dog. I'm towing with a long bed extended cab Chevy truck. I used to own a wrangler and pulled a 12' pop up and it would sway a bit. Your Ram wheelbase is fine for pulling a 28' trailer.

[msturtz]

Originally Posted by Mikeos

The hitch has two bars with chains. You must jack up the truck using the TT jack to put the bars and chains on. I don't know what WDH is ???
Trailer is just about 28'. Some have told me that a short wheel base truck can cause problems.

When I had a conventional WDH (Weight Distributing Hitch) before I got my Hensley Arrow I used to hook up my bars before dropping the trailer completely onto the ball. It made for much easier hook up and I didn't have to fight the chain links. With my Hensley Arrow it was really easy as they have a round tube to tighten the bars. Once I figured out the correct length I would just tighten them to that length after I hooked up - no messing with chains etc.

[Mikeos]

The motorcycle in the truck bed is 600# Truck too small ?

[Bob Landry]

With a full trailer, you're payload is up to 1375 lbs. Add the weight of passengers, cargo and fuel then you tell us. The cargo capacity of the truck is on the door jamb and the tow capacity is in the manual

[Mikeos]

First off thanks for all the help .

This is what I have.

Truck;
GVWR ( w driver& full tank of gas) 6350#
Payload 1440#
GCWR 14150#
Max Tow 9050#

Trailer;
Yellow sticker ( # when left factory, w propane tanks) 4667#
full water tanks 400#
other stuff in camper( food ,cloths etc) 800#
Motorcycle in truck bed 600#
Total # 6467#

Total truck trailer and MC 12,871#

With those numbers I think I am ok. Maybe air bag springs would be a good addition. ????
Mike

[gpmilliken]

Originally Posted by Mikeos

Are you referring to the TT manual or hitch manual?? I don't have any info on the hitch
Mike

I am referring to the manual for the hitch. The manual for your hitch is available online.

If you have all the parts then you should have this rather massive hitch, two sway bars with chains, and a sway control bar with a handle that allows you to hook it to one side of the hitch (on two small ball sockets) and then you tighten it.

As another poster mentioned, there's a procedure for connecting the trailer to the ball, then jacking the trailer and truck up in the air, attaching the chains and torquing them down.

You need to have someone show you how to do this the first time or watch a Youtube video very carefully. There are multiple ways to injure yourself if you are not careful.

Having said all that; when I use this hitch and keep my tongue weight reasonable I get very good towing with a 26 RLS (31' total length).

[gpmilliken]

Originally Posted by Mikeos

Doug will these type of sway controls have to be removed before backing up ???

Mine does not need to be removed to backup.

[gpmilliken]

Originally Posted by Mikeos

First off thanks for all the help .

This is what I have.

Truck;
GVWR ( w driver& full tank of gas) 6350#
Payload 1440#
GCWR 14150#
Max Tow 9050#

Trailer;
Yellow sticker ( # when left factory, w propane tanks) 4667#
full water tanks 400#
other stuff in camper( food ,cloths etc) 800#
Motorcycle in truck bed 600#
Total # 6467#

Total truck trailer and MC 12,871#

With those numbers I think I am ok. Maybe air bag springs would be a good addition. ????
Mike

From your numbers....

Max Payload = 1440

Your motorcycle 600

What's the pin weight you incurring? If you load water, plus standard pin weight of trailer, plus 800 lbs of stuff into the front of the trailer, plus the motorcycle you might be exceeding your Max Payload.

[Mikeos]

My hitch does not include sway control. I did get a demo and watch youtube for how to connect hitch.
From my number
The trailer loaded 5867# (10% pin) # = 587#
motorcycle = 600#
Total 1187#
Truck rated at 1440#
Correct ???