Weight distrubution hitch that doesnt require a pry bar?

[Rhino1]

I have a hitch that requires use of a pry bar to install. I was sitting outside in the campground this morning watch a guy load up and he didn't use a bar to install his wdh. Does such a hitch exist ? Because I hate using the pry bar. Thanks

[crunchman12001]

Originally Posted by Rhino1

I have a hitch that requires use of a pry bar to install. I was sitting outside in the campground this morning watch a guy load up and he didn't use a bar to install his wdh. Does such a hitch exist ? Because I hate using the pry bar. Thanks

Hi,
It depends on the type of WDH you have and how large your TT is but, I raise the tongue on mine with the TV attached and it takes the weight off of the bars so you can hook up and take the bars off much easier. Not sure if you can do it with out the bar but much easier.
crunchman

[ChooChooMan74]

I don't use a pry bar, but a pipe...that is if I don't crank up my jack, first. If I crank up, I can do it by hand.

[bikendan]

i never have to use the supplied lever bar with my Equal-i-zer.
just use the electric tongue jack to go up to relieve the weight and the bars come off easily.

if you use the tongue jack correctly, you should need a "pry" bar unless you're on some really uneven ground.
sounds like you not using the tongue jack properly.

[ironj]

i CAN and HAVE lifted the entire rear end of my truck nearly off the ground with the tongue jack.....not on purpose tho was lifting and talking to my wife...and in that case yeah...you dont need anything to put the chains on....lol...

i cannot for the life of me see how that could be healthy for the jack in anyway....in my case the trailer tongue alone is almost 1200lbs and then the weight of the truck to boot.......jack is "rated" for 3000lb.....but as anyone with a trailer knows, a lot of the tongue jacks out there are pretty cheaply made...

i lift it to where i can get the links i want to just slip on the snap up bracket and then use the "pipe" to flip it up.....


but yes....you CAN put the chains on without a bar....i can imagine it is considerably easier with a lighter trailer/smaller TV to accomplish this....

also, there are no "pry bars" with anderson, propride, and hensley hitches......as the tension is set with a wrench/drill?

[Rhino1]

Thanks for info , I only asked because I nearly took my leg off with my pipe from some much tension still on the bars even with the jack ran all the way up , it slipped out of my grip.

[ironj]

which hitch and how many free links on the setup are you using? mine was like that from the dealer, but once i had it set CORRECTLY it was much easier....i had to add 3-4 MORE washers to increase headtilt though... now my bars are maxed out (parallel to frame) with only three links hanging....(i have 1200lb bars but my tongue weight is usually 1100-1200 lbs)....

either that or stick more blocks/bricks/whatever UNDER the jack before you lower it.....so you can get more lift.....

i use lynx levelers under the little yellow cone type support......nice and light and easy to get the lift i need......

[Rhino1]

I leave 4 links hanging. It's not been so bad here at the campground but at home my drive way slopes forward towards the TV direction and to the left slightly. I'm not sure the brand of hitch as it was gave to me and the stickers were worn off .

[SaskCampers]

It could have been an Anderson No Sway hitch as they don't have snap up bars. My Blue Ox uses rotary latches which are much nicer than my old style snap up brackets but nothing like the Anderson.

http://www.andersenhitches.com/Produ...-brackets.aspx

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Rhino1

I leave 4 links hanging. It's not been so bad here at the campground but at home my drive way slopes forward towards the TV direction and to the left slightly. I'm not sure the brand of hitch as it was gave to me and the stickers were worn off .

this may be why you are having issues. but without knowing what brand/model of WDH you have, kind of hard to provide solutions.
i would put a block under your tongue jack to be able to lift it higher to get the weight off the bars.

[ironj]

Originally Posted by Rhino1

I leave 4 links hanging. It's not been so bad here at the campground but at home my drive way slopes forward towards the TV direction and to the left slightly. I'm not sure the brand of hitch as it was gave to me and the stickers were worn off .

there is your issue right there.....sloping driveway....that basically alters the hitch head angle and puts MORE tension on your bars.......the only way to make it easier is to not park on a slope. or jack the tongue higher to compensate for the added tilt.....i have had that situation a couple of times....i stick extra lynx levelrs under my jack/yellow cone to give me more lift......and it was exactly in one of those situations were i almost lifted the tuck up getting the trailer off...LOL


in those situations just be aware, and use extra caution when un snapping the brackets as they will have extra tension on em.....or go the expensive route and buy a new hitch...LOL...

my father has the husky centerline, and you actually DO have to use a pry bar to latch the trunnion bars in.....the pry bar promptly bent the first year he used it...those bars can be a PAIN to install on a slope....

[SaskCampers]

Or hook up on the slope then drive to a flat area to attach the snap up bars. probably only take an extra 5 minutes

[Rhino1]

Originally Posted by TheSasks

Or hook up on the slope then drive to a flat area to attach the snap up bars. probably only take an extra 5 minutes

It's the taking off that seems to be worse than the putting on. The link that you posted , how is the tension tightened with those ?

[ironj]

thats prob the easiest sloution....just hook and unhook the bars while flat, THEN move to your slope ...so you dont have to mess with them.....it aint gonna hurt anything to drive a lil ways without bars.....

[Rhino1]

I will try that with my new Tv , I use a ram1500 and it squats too much with out the bars to make it into the drive way, i have a dip entering the driveway and the jack will scrape without the bars . I'll try jacking up higher this time when we go home tomorrow. I'm getting a F350 Tuesday.

[ironj]

F350..? .heck it wont hardly squat regardless...lol...

And if its a 4x4 with factory 20s you may need an entirely new drop shank to level the trailer !!...they sit wayyyy up there...lol...

6.7? ...Yeah...you will love that tow beast!

[PHS79]

Originally Posted by Rhino1

It's the taking off that seems to be worse than the putting on. The link that you posted , how is the tension tightened with those ?

With the Andersen hitch, which I have, you use a 1/2" ratchet and the socket that comes with the WD hitch to put tension on the chains. You tighten the big nut behind the poly bushings, which compress and then put pressure on the brackets on the camper A-frame and also pulls on the shank on the ball. Its a pretty slick setup IMO.

My cousin has an Equal-I-zer on his TT. He has a tongue weight in the 1100-1200lb range, he has never used the bar to hook up, that I know of. He just uses the tongue jack to raise it up enough, then slides the bars on by hand.

[Rhino1]

Originally Posted by ironj

F350..? .heck it wont hardly squat regardless...lol...

And if its a 4x4 with factory 20s you may need an entirely new drop shank to level the trailer !!...they sit wayyyy up there...lol...

6.7? ...Yeah...you will love that tow beast!

It's a 6.3. 4wd with factory 20" 2005 model with 100k miles. But it has had 5k worth of engine mods done so it may be up around 6.7ltr

[ironj]

Nice tv none the less !!...those do sit a lil lower than the newer ones...still quite a bit taller than your 1500 tho! ....im sure you will be grinning when u hook it up and mash the go pedal!

[Rhino1]

O yea, I'm ready to pull the TT with it. The TT dry weight is 5,400lbs so I'm hoping ill barely even feel it back there and more power going up grades. The 1500 struggles to go up steep grades.