WT DISTR EQUALIZER HITCH NEEDED FOR ROCKWOOD 1809s?

[FreedomTracker]

Just purchased a Mini Lite 1809s TT. Seems to travel with no sway in the 25 miles driven so far.

Does anyone know if I need a WDH Equalizer hitch for this 3500lb TT? Looking at the Equalizer e2 rated at 600/6000lb...

[bikendan]

what's the dry hitch weight and what are you towing with?

and what is the 3500lbs.? GVWR, "dry" weight, factory sticker weight?

[FreedomTracker]

Dry Wt is 3200lb & GVWR is 4600lb. Hitch wt is 236lb.
Currently pulling TT with Honda Pilot SUV 6 cylinder 240HP.

[Emptypockets]

I have the same trailer as you can see in my signature - yes I use the WD hitch most of the time. The hitch you mentioned would work fine

[FreedomTracker]

Is the WDH actually needed on this TT or simply nice to have? Do you notice much difference?

[Terier]

I'm in agreement with Bikendan view.

My TT has a dry weight in the range of 3200, fully loaded up to 7300 lbs. I RV solo and usually only for a few days so my tt is on the very lite side. Between the WHD and anit-sway bar I don't even notice when a semi passes me on the freeway.

[caper]

It might tow nice but some time you will be in a situation where it will be needed and if you do not have one it will be too late. It is a safety issue. Ask yourself is my family worth the few dollars that a WDH costs for their safety. There was an issue last year where a driver did not use a WDH and sway control and his TT rolled over. The only good thing was that no one in the TV was hurt.

[Triguy]

Originally Posted by FreedomTracker

Just purchased a Mini Lite 1809s TT. Seems to travel with no sway in the 25 miles driven so far.

Does anyone know if I need a WDH Equalizer hitch for this 3500lb TT? Looking at the Equalizer e2 rated at 600/6000lb...

Is that 3,500lb weight an estimate or is it the weight from a CAT scale? Most trailers are heavier than the brochure dry weight just due to factory options, batteries and propane. Not to mention your cargo. If the dry weight is 3,200lbs, then add a few hundred lbs for options, 100lbs for battery, propane and water and maybe 300lbs for your cargo. A wild estimate might be closer to 4,000lbs.

When towing without a WDH did your Pilot feel that it was pointing nose up? Do your headlights point up into the trees or other driver's eyes? Did it seem to bottom out in the rear end or sag excessively? Those are indications that you need a WDH.

Originally Posted by FreedomTracker

Dry Wt is 3200lb & GVWR is 4600lb. Hitch wt is 236lb.
Currently pulling TT with Honda Pilot SUV 6 cylinder 240HP.

Just checking, is your Pilot 4wd? I know when I looked at this SUV a while ago, the towing limit was 2,500 or 3,500 for the 2wd and 4,500 for the 4wd.

Originally Posted by FreedomTracker

Is the WDH actually needed on this TT or simply nice to have? Do you notice much difference?

First: What does the Honda Pilot manual recommend for weight distribution hitches? It might say something like "a WDH is necessary when towing more than X,XXX lbs or when the tongue weight is more than XXX lbs".

Assuming the maximum trailer weight of 4,600lbs, the tongue will weigh close to 600lbs. I would use a WDH with sway control for that TW.

Assuming a more reasonable loaded trailer weight of 4,000lbs, than the TW will be more than 500lbs most likely. I would use a WDH. Also, your Pilot may require a WDH over a certain TW.

You will need sway control of some type even if you don't technically need a WDH. At least I would with my vehicle and your trailer. Might as well opt for a WDH (especially if your actual TW is close to 500lbs) with built in sway control. I don't really see a downside unless Honda doesn't recommend one with your vehicle.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by FreedomTracker

Dry Wt is 3200lb & GVWR is 4600lb. Hitch wt is 236lb.
Currently pulling TT with Honda Pilot SUV 6 cylinder 240HP.

FR's website shows a fictional "dry" weight of 3344lbs. this is without the weight of "options" that most trailers have. such as: oven, microwave, a/c, spare tire, awning and so on.
my HTT weighed 400lbs. more than its "dry" weight when it arrived from the factory. and that was with the basic "options".
your 1809S will weigh over 3600lbs. before you even add a battery, propane, water and cargo.

your Pilot either has a tow capacity of either 3500lbs. or 4500lbs.
if you have the 2WD, then the trailer already is over your tow max, before you even get started.
if you have the 4WD, then you'll be near the max when loaded for camping.

one of my best friend's thought he could tow his 19' HTT with his Pilot. after the first trip, which was to the Sierra foothills, he never used it again.
luckily he had a Chevy Silverado to tow with.

[Emptypockets]

Here are the weights of the rig shown in our signature, setup with a W/D Hitch.

Weights not from a CAT Scale - but from our local grain elevator.

The weights are when we are loaded ready for a two month trip. With a full tank of fresh water. Two propane tanks full. One battery. & a 5,000 watt generator in the bed of the p/up.

Gross weight 10,080
P/up only 5,620
Which makes the loaded trailer weigh 4,460 lbs.

The factory sticker shows a dry weight of 3,528
allowing for a cargo weight of 1,097
this adds up to 4,625
Here us how it reads axle wise
Steer axle 3,100
Drive axle 3,240
Trl axles 3,740