Proper WD bars for Rockwood 2604

[toshu]

I am set to pick up my new Rockwood 2604 on March 30. As part of the package I was getting a Reese DC trunion WD setup with 800 pound bars. The sales guy called me back today and said they have a slightly used unit in house in excellent condition with 1200 pound bars.

The 2604 has a catalog tongue weight of 600 pounds and a GCWR of 6600 pounds. So, an 800# bar would be optimal.

The sales guy suggested the used unit with 1200# bar saying they could save me $100, and when I upgrade to a larger/heavier trailer, I could use those bars.

The question is whether the 1200# bars will create and PROBLEMS for me in towing?????

[MtnGuy]

Hmmm, that is a tough call. On my trailer with a listed 559 lb. tongue weight, I travel with a tongue at 700 lbs. The 800 lb. bars that I have work with that weight, but I have the ball mount tilted all of the way back to get the proper lift and still maintain the 5 link minimum chain length that Reese recommends. I actually bought 1200 lb. bars, thinking that the 800 lb. bars did not give me enough weight distributing. The 1200 lb. bars seemed really stiff, and after tweaking my hitch setup some more, decided that the 800 lb. bars worked better.

The 1200 lb. bars might work better in your case if you think the loaded trailer tongue weight is going to approach 800 lbs.

Here is an old chart that was on the Etrailer site, but I can't find it on the website now:

[toshu]

Well, I am thinking of swapping the 2x20 propane tanks that are standard with 2x30 tanks, as well as putting in 2 6vt batteries as some point to replace the 12vt, so I am sure this will add to the TW.

When you say the 1200# bars were stiff, what do you mean??? In terms of suspension ride, or turning ????

[MtnGuy]

The 1200 lb. bars made the back of my truck feel like it had really stiff bounce to it....or should I say very little bounce at all. I couldn't tell any difference with sway control with either bar.....both handle really well. I was always worried with the 1200 lb. bars that it could over-stress my hitch, especially when encountering big dips like entering gas stations and such. My hitch is rated for 9900/990 lbs for weight distributing loads, and I think the newer F150s like yours have stronger hitches.

If you are looking to go to 2, 6 volt batteries in the future, the 1200 lb. bars might be a better choice for you. Just adding 1 battery and full propane tanks added 80 lbs. to the listed tongue weight of my trailer, and I have added another 60 lbs. to the tongue with camping supplies. I do try to load the heavy stuff to the rear, as my trailer seems to have a heavy tongue weight for its size.

[toshu]

yep, my F 150 is rated for 11,000 TW and 1100# HW.

[toshu]

based on the comments, I will tell the guy to set me up with the 800# bars

[KyDan]

I have the 800 bars and I'm happy.

I also have air bags but that's mainly because I
sometimes haul a 450# motorcycle in the back while
towing AND very seldom I've been known to go to a
local nursery and get a heaping load of wet mulch.
The air bags are very handy for those rare instances.
(A WD hitch doesn't help much if you aren't hitched!)

[Big Ray]

Please stay away from Reese DC! My dealer just took my Reese DC back because it broke 2 times and I just pulled my Rockwood home from the dealer about 50 miles. I called around and Reese is having a lot of trouble with metal breaking and bending. Good luck

[acadianbob]

My experience is exactly the same as MtnGuy. About 600 tongue weight and bought 1200 bars. Too stiff. Now have 800 bars. Much better results.