Ram 1500 Hitch Question

[jsmith032]

So im 2 seconds away from getting a 247BHDS (5800lbs UVW), my Ram with the better towing gear transmission is listed to tow 10,300lbs. The dealer is throwing in an ez lift hitch with 1000lb bars and a trailer brake. I know the trailer brake is obvious, but is that a decent hitch? Would I be better off getting one outside of the dealer?

[Croaker]

I have the 4-way Equalizer hitch. (10,000lb)

The bars also act as sway control, so there is no "extra" sway controller to futz with.

So far, I like it better than my previous trailer with Eaz Lift and seperate sway controller.

...but hey....if they are giving you a free hitch...

[jgourlie]

It's an ok hitch. Certainly not the best on the market.

[jsmith032]

What about the Reese straight line 1200lb trunnion bar hitch kit? How does it compare to the EZ?

[jgourlie]

Originally Posted by jsmith032

What about the Reese straight line 1200lb trunnion bar hitch kit? How does it compare to the EZ?

Yep that is a step up and a good hitch

[kandl]

Originally Posted by jsmith032

What about the Reese straight line 1200lb trunnion bar hitch kit? How does it compare to the EZ?

The Reese Strait-Line WDH works well - I'm pretty happy with it. The 1200 lb bars though are overkill for your TT. The spring bar rating should be approximately the same (a little more is better) as the weight of the TT's coupler on the ball, which ideally should be between 11 to 15 percent of the TT's loaded weight.

[m2kamp]

In my case, much better off to get a WDH outside of the stealership $$$. Not only that most dealers have no clue how to set it up properly...

I have TWO Fastway e2 1000lb (2pt version of Equalizer) round bar WD hitches. I got them off of craigslist for total of $220. I now have spares just in case for not much $ and very happy with my setup.

[jsmith032]

Another local dealer uses the Reese hitch, MSRP was $999 for it. Im going to get a trailer brake myself from the OEM and have it look stock so I may ask the dealer to upgrade the hitch to something a little cooler/easier to use.

[emm-dee]

Originally Posted by jsmith032

Another local dealer uses the Reese hitch, MSRP was $999 for it. Im going to get a trailer brake myself from the OEM and have it look stock so I may ask the dealer to upgrade the hitch to something a little cooler/easier to use.

If you're talking about getting the Ram integrated brake controller then you'll be happy with it. It's a very easy installation (less than 30 minutes). Smoothist unit I've ever used.

[jsmith032]

Originally Posted by emm-dee

If you're talking about getting the Ram integrated brake controller then you'll be happy with it. It's a very easy installation (less than 30 minutes). Smoothist unit I've ever used.

Exactly. I found it for $178 on eBay and have no problems installing it myself. Did you have to get it programmed at the dealer though? If so I may sweet talk my dealership to do it for me for free when Im getting warranty work/oil changes done.

[stantyszka]

I'm towing a 5800 pound TT with a RAM 1500 using an E2 round at hitch. I've also got the integrated brake controller in my truck. Was 200 installed by dealer and only took an hour. Hitch works wonderfully and is dead simple to hitch the trailer up with. Brake controller works nicely too. Once you set it, operation is smooth and seemless.

[Springerdad]

I'm using an Eaz Lift on my TT. Used it on a former TT as well. I'm upgrading the bars due to a heavier tongue weight. Both TTs pulled very well with it. It's cheap, but gets the job done for me. Might be due to pulling them with the longest wheelbase Silverado diesel? Dunno.

[OldBob]

It's an inexpensive hitch but it works well. I have it with the sway bar on my RAM 1500 EcoDiesel and it works fine. I pull a little over 6000 pounds with 780 pounds of hitch weight. I use the 5th chain link and the trailer and truck are straight and level as an arrow. There are better hitches for sure but for a low cost option it's fine. I really can't complain.

[jsmith032]

I've got it narrowed down to 2 dealers. One is a mom and pop shop that would be installing the dual cam reese and giving me 2 extra 6V GC2 batteries (still not sure why thats a good sell, something about being off the grid Im assuming). The other dealer is throwing in an eaz hitch that to me sounded pretty cheap, also throwing in a trailer brake that I now no longer need, so basically just the hitch. Prices are almost identical. Is the reese worth it to close the deal with the smaller dealer? They're actually a couple hundred less than the other dealer too.

[emm-dee]

Originally Posted by jsmith032

Exactly. I found it for $178 on eBay and have no problems installing it myself. Did you have to get it programmed at the dealer though? If so I may sweet talk my dealership to do it for me for free when Im getting warranty work/oil changes done.

Since one has to have access to the factory computer system the dealer(s) is the only one who can program the truck. Costs range from zero to $100 for that. If you have a good relationship with your dealer and are in the shop for other work you can usually get it done free. Just ask them to program code XHC. It's a two step process. First, the dealer accesses the factory system and tells it to associate your vin number with that code. Five minutes later, the tech plugs the laptop into your truck and the factory system then tells your truck to accept inputs from the controller. It's probably about 10 minutes or less work time for the dealer and it also doesn't cost them anything and most will do it for regular customers.

Also, you can have the programming done before or after the device is installed.

[OldBob]

Originally Posted by jsmith032

I've got it narrowed down to 2 dealers. One is a mom and pop shop that would be installing the dual cam reese and giving me 2 extra 6V GC2 batteries (still not sure why thats a good sell, something about being off the grid Im assuming). The other dealer is throwing in an eaz hitch that to me sounded pretty cheap, also throwing in a trailer brake that I now no longer need, so basically just the hitch. Prices are almost identical. Is the reese worth it to close the deal with the smaller dealer? They're actually a couple hundred less than the other dealer too.

The Eaz hitch is pretty low end. It's the one I have. It does the job but that's about it. The Reese with the 2 6v batteries is a great deal in my opinion. That's the way I would go.

[jsmith032]

Originally Posted by emm-dee

Since one has to have access to the factory computer system the dealer(s) is the only one who can program the truck. Costs range from zero to $100 for that. If you have a good relationship with your dealer and are in the shop for other work you can usually get it done free. Just ask them to program code XHC. It's a two step process. First, the dealer accesses the factory system and tells it to associate your vin number with that code. Five minutes later, the tech plugs the laptop into your truck and the factory system then tells your truck to accept inputs from the controller. It's probably about 10 minutes or less work time for the dealer and it also doesn't cost them anything and most will do it for regular customers.

Also, you can have the programming done before or after the device is installed.

What gain % do you use? And what setting? My TT will be roughly 5800lbs dry, 247bhds.

[jbhodj]

I have the equalizer 10000/1000 with my Ram 1500 and love it


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