A little confused about WDH

[chuck9997]

Just bought a 2010 Forest River WILDWOOD 22RB Manufacturer's brochure says:
hitch wt: 310
shipping weight: 3615
GVWR: 5400

I will be towing with a 2006 Nissan Frontier 4X4 crew cab (tow rating: 6100lbs).

Which EQUALIZER WDH do I need to buy. My figures say 15% of the dry hitch wt is 542 lbs.. so where do they come up with dry hitch wt at 310?

And.. 15% of GVWR is 810lbs.. If I buy the 1000/10,000 hitch.. that seems ok on the hitch weight.. but way high on the GVWR.

If I buy the 600/6000.. its closer on the GVWR of the trailer.. but seems too low for the hitch weight.

[MtnGuy]

If those figures are correct, it looks like that model trailer has a low tongue weight. Adding a battery and propane to the tongue will get it up to around 10% of the empty trailer weight, and hopefully stay at least at that figure as you load the trailer. !2% would be better, but I don't think you will ever see 15% with that kinda initial tongue weight.

Equalizer offers 400, 600, and 1000 lb. bars. I would think the 600 lb. bars should be plenty for that trailer......1000 lb. might be overkill.

[LadyWindrider]

Without doing a lo of research, (sorry, don't have the time right now), I would look for the 800 pound bars with your set up. 15% on the tongue is a little heavy for that trailer. using 10% for tongue weight, you should get the 600 pound bars, but with your truck, I would look for 800 pound bars, and sway control.

[acadianbob]

A number of things come to mind.

It appears that the trailer has less than 10% of its weight on the tongue. Your figures are based on 15%. It is a little surprising to see less than 10%. Sometimes brochures have typos in them; common actually. Perhaps the dealer or a mfr rep could be of assistance to verify?

The figures from the Mfr are against dry weight; probably without options. Your trailer should have its actual factory weight on a sticker somewhere inside your trailer. Your actual weight is probably higher than the brochure.

I think it is highly unlikely that you will approach 800 pounds of tongue weight based on your initial 310 lbs on 3,615. IMO, 1,000 pound bars would be too much and you don't want your bars to be overly stiff.

600 pound bars would probably do the job but you could play it safe and buy 800 bars. For your own peace of mind, you should try to verify those factory figures. Good luck!

[chuck9997]

Originally Posted by windrider

Without doing a lo of research, (sorry, don't have the time right now), I would look for the 800 pound bars with your set up. 15% on the tongue is a little heavy for that trailer. using 10% for tongue weight, you should get the 600 pound bars, but with your truck, I would look for 800 pound bars, and sway control.

I agree.. but the EQUALIZER is not avail in 800/8000 size. However the E2 (2 point sway) is available in that size.. with round or trunnion bars. Which do folks prefer?

[chuck9997]

Originally Posted by acadianbob

For your own peace of mind, you should try to verify those factory figures. Good luck!

good advice.. I have found those same figures everywhere.. even stamped on the ID plate on the side of the camper.

[MtnGuy]

windrider and acadianbob, I beat y'all to the punch by a couple of minutes while you were composing your reponses, but it looks like we all agree.

Chuck, the E2 should be OK with that size trailer, and the 800 lb. bars would definitely cover your tongue weight, but might be a little stiff.

[chuck9997]

Originally Posted by mtnguy

Chuck, the E2 should be OK with that size trailer, and the 800 lb. bars would definitely cover your tongue weight, but might be a little stiff.

thanks.. I actually ordered that one from RV Wholesalers.. but put the order "on hold" after thinking (probably too much).

Do you have an opinion on round bars or trunnion bars?

[MtnGuy]

I don't think Equalizer has a round bar option. The flat trunnion bars rubbing across the tongue brackets is what gives you the sway control.

You are talking about the Equalizer brand by Progressive Manufacturing, correct ??

Let's other chime in before you pull the trigger. I am not as familiar with Equalizer E2 vs. the 4 point system, so others might suggest staying with the better system.

[weiman1983]

I agree.. but the EQUALIZER is not avail in 800/8000 size. However the E2 (2 point sway) is available in that size.. with round or trunnion bars. Which do folks prefer?[/QUOTE]

My last trailer had similar weights to your new one. The dealer sold me an 800lb tongue weight WDH. If I remember correctly the GVWR was 10,000 and I think it was an RV Pro hitch.

[MtnGuy]

Well, as many times before, I apparently don't know what I am talking about.

There is Equal-i-zer and Equalizer, both with trademarks. The Equalizer (again, made by Progressive Manufacturing) offers a round bar setup advertised as the E2.

I think I will try to stick to Reese WDH advice.

[rschoono289]

I use the E2 WDH on a smaller trailer (loaded weight 3338) with 13.7% hitch weight using the 600 lb trunnion (square) bars. Good combination for my trailer. Best of luck in your decision.

[chuck9997]

Originally Posted by mtnguy

I don't think Equalizer has a round bar option. The flat trunnion bars rubbing across the tongue brackets is what gives you the sway control.

You are talking about the Equalizer brand by Progressive Manufacturing, correct ??

Yes.. and you are correct.. the EQUALIZER is not avail in round bar,.. but the E2 (also a Progressive product) is available in round or trunnion. The E2 is pretty much the same as the EQUALIZER.. biggest difference seems to be E2 is 2-point sway control,.. EQUALIZER is 4 point sway control.

[chuck9997]

Originally Posted by rschoono289

I use the E2 WDH on a smaller trailer (loaded weight 3338) with 13.7% hitch weight using the 600 lb trunnion (square) bars. Good combination for my trailer. Best of luck in your decision.

did you choose the "trunnion" over the round bars for a reason?

[rschoono289]

No reason other than my Dealer had trunnion model available. If I was towing larger trailer (longer and heavier) my preference would be for 4pt Equalizer with additional sway control. I think 4pt is made in Provo Utah by Progressive but my E2 was mfg in China (at least head). No issues backing up with WDH engaged but it can be noisy at low speeds during backing into site.

[acadianbob]

I like trunion because I think they give you better ground clearance. However, in some applications, they may give you some clearance issues with your frame. IMO trunion is preferred.

[chuck9997]

thanks for all the comments.. very helpful. I ordered an E2 WDH 800/8000 with sway control, trunnion bars.

[chuck9997]

Originally Posted by acadianbob

I like trunion because I think they give you better ground clearance. However, in some applications, they may give you some clearance issues with your frame. IMO trunion is preferred.

How is frame clearance a problem? explain further, please.

[MtnGuy]

There could be some frame clearance problems with the Reese Straight Line Dual Cam under certain conditions, but I haven't heard of problems with Equal-i-zer.

With Reese, if there is a 6" tongue frame with the coupler on top of the frame, the trunnion style spring bars could rub the cam yoke bolt. I had that problem. Reese suggested that I go with a 1" raised ball, but even now the trunnion bars will rub the cam yokes during tight turns.

[chuck9997]

just following up.. I picked up the 2010 WILDWOOD 22RB today. I took the E2 800/8000 WDH to the dealership.. they said they would install the hitch. The tech (Mark) was a super nice guy.. but really didn't know how to set up the hitch. I stopped him after noticing he wasn't taking any measurements.. and hadn't even opened the instruction booklet.

I told him I had installed a similar (EQUALIZER) hitch a few years ago.. and maybe I could help. He was cool.. and admitted he was kinda lost. Together we were able to get the hitch installed and and the weight distribution setting pretty much "right on." The camper and tow vehicle are nearly perfectly level.. and the wheel well and camper level measurements are all within one inch of the initial numbers,.. when everything is hooked up.

I am also happy to report.. that even though this camper is 4 feet longer.. and about 700 lbs more than my old JAYCO.. I couldn't tell any difference in towing. The new2me camper is a tandem axle unit and actually seems to handle a little easier when backing.