Turning radius

[sideout1961]

New to towing a trailer this year. Can anyone tell me how sharp I can turn the TV with the WDH attached? Don't want to do any damage to the truck or trailer.

[LadyWindrider]

Not to be short with you, but when the bumper hits the trailer, you have gone too far. Really, no one can figure that out but you. It depends on hitch, tongue length, and many other variables. Best to get your wife, hook to the trailer, and take to the school parking lot on a week-end, and check for yourself. Besides, if some one posted 44 feet, or 48.3 degrees, would that really mean anything? You have to figure it out for your combination. Take in to account though, that it will vary with incline, whether the truck or trailer is up hill or down hill. Practice in a parking lot, and practice backing the trailer in a parking space. Might come in handy sometime.

[sideout1961]

I will take your advice. Just wasn't sure the range of motion that the bars had side to side while attached. Don't really want to damage anything testing it in a parking lot.

[comfun1]

I took mine to a deserted parking lot and tested it. I turned it until the bumper almost touched the trailer tongue. My hitch is an Andersen and I had no problems with it. My concern was the difference in tracking between the TV and the trailer. The difference in my case was nine feet at maximum turn.

[sideout1961]

Thanks comfun1, I didn't realize they could turn that sharp. Like I said first time at this. I will take it to the mall here and test it out. When I brought the trailer home from the dealer I didn't have a need to do any sharp turns. Thanks again.

[LadyWindrider]

One thing I forgot to mention, if you have the brake type anti sway bar, don't back up with it connected. In other words, if your anti-sway device, is a separate piece, held in with two clips, do not back up with it connected. It will be fine to disconnect and practice in a parking lot, but hook it back up for towing home. You won't get any sway at parking lot speeds, or semi's passing you at 80 mph.

[rschoono289]

Not sure which type of WDH you have. On my E2 Equ-a-lizer no issue on making tight turn with bars attached on flat surface but one caution. If your turn involves TV entering into dip (i.e edge of ditch) make sure you remove the bars first. I had some damage to hitch head in this situation but Equ-a-lizer replaced head under warranty.

[sideout1961]

I have the Reese with the duel cam sway control. Thank for the advice everyone.

[Terier]

Windrider hit the nail on the head - it's really a visual decision. While practicing turning in a open lot I would suggest getting out to take a look at how much room you really have between the trailer and the TV.

In my case the trailer made contact with the rear driver side of my new truck while trying to back it into a tight area. I knew it was real close and kept questioning it but my helper said otherwise and was wrong.