First Time Out With Trailer

[bill18163]

I have a 2019 Rockwood 2606WS and I'm using a Equalizer Hitch and this is the first time I have had it out on the road. I weighed the tongue and I'm within the 10-15% on the tongue weight. No problem there. Equalizer says to measure from the ground to the lip of the wheel well at each wheel and try to stay within 1" of the original unloaded readings after adjusting the hitch. Unloaded LF is 36.25" and LR is 38.25, RF is 36.5" and RR is 37.5". I adjusted the hitch so that each wheel well height is between 36.25" and 36.50". No more than .25" difference. Later on I got to thinking about those heights and I started to wonder if I was right in doing that. The front heights are right back at the original unloaded heights but the rear heights are right at the limit or over the limit with lower numbers from the original readings. Original LR-38.25" down to 36.25" and original RR-37.5" down to 36.25". This bothered me because I am thinking I took too much weight off the rear of the truck. The trailer seemed to tow OK but don't forget this is the first time I have ever towed a big trailer like this. What do I know? Do you think I should try to get those rear numbers more in line with specifications?

[67L48]

Originally Posted by bill18163

[...] Equalizer says to measure from the ground to the lip of the wheel well at each wheel and try to stay within 1" of the original unloaded readings after adjusting the hitch. [...]

I don't think this is correct.

I believe Equal-I-zer states to measure the front wheel wells only and to return the stance to 50% where you started without going over. See attached image from the manual.

For example, your front wheel well is at 40". You drop the trailer on the hitch (no WDH) and it levers your front end so that your front wheel well is at 43". Your front came up 3", so you need to bring it down by at least 1.5". You need to adjust your WDH so that your front wheel well is between 40 - 41.5".

Check out YouTube and read the manual.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyxXdHrLuc4

[HappyTrav]

Make sure the “L” brackets are set as close to the optimum distance from the ball and that they are set the same distance from the ball.

As posted above, go through the setup from start to finish. My dealer had the right height and number of washers for the empty trailer. Nothing else was right.

The best thing to do is to take the TT, TV, and tools to a Cat scale at a truck stop and do the setup there. You will have a nice flat lot to work in,re-weighs are only a couple of dollars, and you can make sure your weights are where they need to be.

I will also add that you need to check to make sure that they WDH is lubricated properly. The sockets for the WDH bars are supposed to be lubricated and they have a torque specification that is important. Too little and they won’t do much for sway. Too tight is just as bad.

My hitch came dry and none of this was discussed at the PDI ( Pre-Delivery Inspection).

This is my first WDH and I found that there is a steep learning curve if this is your first WDH but it is worth it. Once you have it setup right it will tow like a dream.

Bob

[Lins]

Originally Posted by 67L48

I don't think this is correct.

I believe Equal-I-zer states to measure the front wheel wells only and to return the stance to 50% where you started without going over. See attached image from the manual.

For example, your front wheel well is at 40". You drop the trailer on the hitch (no WDH) and it levers your front end so that your front wheel well is at 43". Your front came up 3", so you need to bring it down by at least 1.5". You need to adjust your WDH so that your front wheel well is between 40 - 41.5".

Check out YouTube and read the manual.

Agreed. Even better would be to use scale weights and try to return most of your lost front axle weight, but do not return more than what was lost.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by Lins

Agreed. Even better would be to use scale weights and try to return most of your lost front axle weight, but do not return more than what was lost.

Trying to return more than what was lost can unload rear wheels, sometimes to the point the tow vehicle can become unstable in poor traction conditions. Not usually a problem with heavier trucks but can be a big issue with lighter vehicles like many SUV's.

[bikendan]

It might also help if you posted year, make and model of truck and its specs, since you didn't list in your profile.

[2Evil4U]

The equalizer instructions assume your suspension is not on the bump stops when fully loaded. If it bottoms out all bets are off. I obtained the best handling characteristics with my half ton setup with the front end a half inch lower than unloaded. No sway no buffeting.

[mopwr4me2003]

Read the TV owners manual. There will be a section of towing and it might have what the manufacturer suggests the TV height should actually be. I’ve seen some say only return half from unloaded and some say return to as close to normal ride height.

[Lins]

Originally Posted by 2Evil4U

The equalizer instructions assume your suspension is not on the bump stops when fully loaded.

I don’t know how you could be on the bumpstops without being overloaded.

[2Evil4U]

Originally Posted by Lins

I don’t know how you could be on the bumpstops without being overloaded.

When you're setting up the hitch you're supposed to hook the trailer without the bars and get full squat measurements. If you're on the bumps at that point the recommended measurements won't transfer enough weight. As a point of reference, my 14 ram 1500 with coils is on the bumps with my 832ikbs with no wdh, but my 97 f150 with leaf's has 2" to the bumps. The 14 is rated to tow maybe 3000# more than the 97.

[Lins]

Originally Posted by 2Evil4U

When you're setting up the hitch you're supposed to hook the trailer without the bars and get full squat measurements. If you're on the bumps at that point the recommended measurements won't transfer enough weight. As a point of reference, my 14 ram 1500 with coils is on the bumps with my 832ikbs with no wdh, but my 97 f150 with leaf's has 2" to the bumps. The 14 is rated to tow maybe 3000# more than the 97.

I have never seen a vehicle on the bumpstops when within their payload rating.