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06-10-2011, 10:10 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 36
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First Camper
I am picking up my first camper on Wednesday 2011 roo 21ss. Towing it with a 2010 Toyota Tacoma doublecab. Excited to pick it up but a little nervous since I have no towing experience! Any pointers or suggestions welcome!
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06-11-2011, 07:02 AM
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#2
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camping
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Elkhart, Indiana
Posts: 988
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WELCOME to the forum and congrats on the new camper.
__________________
2007 Chevy 2500HD CC
2010 V-Lite 30WRLTS
Nights Camped 2011 -64
Nights Camped 2012 -50
"I Live in My Own World, But It's OK. They Know Me"
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06-11-2011, 08:04 AM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Illinois
Posts: 26
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Install some very good side mirrors, take it slow and don't start for home in rush hour traffic.
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06-11-2011, 08:51 AM
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#4
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Grumpy Old Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Syracuse, NY
Posts: 79
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Quote:
Originally Posted by myfirstroo21ss
I am picking up my first camper on Wednesday 2011 roo 21ss. Towing it with a 2010 Toyota Tacoma doublecab. Excited to pick it up but a little nervous since I have no towing experience! Any pointers or suggestions welcome!
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And don't forget to relax and enjoy yourself. You just bought a FUN thing, take things as they come and have a great time.
__________________
Chris Zazzara
2012 Windjammer 2008w
2020 RAM 1500
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06-11-2011, 09:26 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Long Island (Nassau County), NY
Posts: 4,352
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Congrats on the new camper and welcome to the forums!!!
Enjoy!
__________________
Tom and Margaret
2014 Berkshire 390bh-60
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06-11-2011, 11:01 AM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,556
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Welcome to the "Roo Kroo"!!!!
i hope you have a good WDH with sway control. Equal-i-zer and Reese Dual-Cam are the top recommended ones.
also, Prodigy brake controllers are the best for the money.
practice driving and backing up in a school parking lot on the weekend. get used to backing into a spot.
Buy some PUGs or solar blankets for the bunk ends.
read as many posts in the Expandable/Hybrid section as possible. that will give you a lot of info.
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06-11-2011, 01:46 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 10,446
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If possible check out the route ahead of time that you will be towing home on. I am less comfortable when towing on a road that I've not been on before.
You will find that the trailer will follow the truck so try not to worry about it. Take it easy and you will do fine. It's not about speed it's about feeling comfortable.
Get good side mirrors as suggested in an earlier post.
Take care,
Terie
__________________
Great choice for "Living within my means" and camping for one...
Formerly owned 2011 Salem Cruise Lite 20RBXL & 2011 Toyota Tundra Dbl Cab
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06-11-2011, 03:48 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 84
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Great camper and even better truck, have fun!
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06-11-2011, 05:54 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bikendan
Welcome to the "Roo Kroo"!!!!
i hope you have a good WDH with sway control. Equal-i-zer and Reese Dual-Cam are the top recommended ones.
also, Prodigy brake controllers are the best for the money.
practice driving and backing up in a school parking lot on the weekend. get used to backing into a spot.
Buy some PUGs or solar blankets for the bunk ends.
read as many posts in the Expandable/Hybrid section as possible. that will give you a lot of info.
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I have a Reese break controller and the dealer wants to sell me a husky distribution hitch with single sway control. They want 375 plus installation. Should I opt for something different?
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06-11-2011, 05:57 PM
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#10
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Posts: 9,280
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Even though that is a fairly small trailer, a WDH with integrated sway control like the Reese Dual Cam, Equalizer (brand), or Blue Ox would probably be a better solution than a WDH with a friction sway control bar. 1 less thing to hook up, also.
__________________
Chap , DW Joy, and Fur Baby Sango
2017 F350 Lariat CCSB, SRW, 4x4, 6.7 PS
2017 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
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06-11-2011, 06:02 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mtnguy
Even though that is a fairly small trailer, a WDH with integrated sway control like the Reese Dual Cam, Equalizer (brand), or Blue Ox would probably be a better solution than a WDH with a friction sway control bar. 1 less thing to hook up, also.
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Thanks. Any suggestions on where to buy?
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06-11-2011, 06:45 PM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,556
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Quote:
Originally Posted by myfirstroo21ss
I have a Reese break controller and the dealer wants to sell me a husky distribution hitch with single sway control. They want 375 plus installation. Should I opt for something different?
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yea, i'd get your money back on the Reese BC and get a Prodigy. and don't get the cheap-end Husky with the vastly inferior friction bar sway control.
i'm a big fan of the Equalizer. no drilling needed and no chains.
the best place to get the Equalizer or Prodigy, is RVW. you can get free shipping too. cost will be a little more than that Husky but is a way better WDH.
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06-11-2011, 09:06 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bikendan
yea, i'd get your money back on the Reese BC and get a Prodigy. and don't get the cheap-end Husky with the vastly inferior friction bar sway control.
i'm a big fan of the Equalizer. no drilling needed and no chains.
the best place to get the Equalizer or Prodigy, is RVW. you can get free shipping too. cost will be a little more than that Husky but is a way better WDH.
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I was given the Reese brake controller free and was only used once before my buddy traded the truck. If it makes more sense to buy a new one I will. Is this the hitch you are speaking of? http://www.rvwholesalers.com/catalog...0-00-1000.html
Thanks
Ron
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06-11-2011, 10:00 PM
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#15
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,556
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yes, that's the Equalizer i have. not sure which size you should get, since i don't know the tongue weight of the 21SS.
that Reese BC is time-based, not a Proportional based BC, which means it's old technology that is inferior.
only the cheaper BC's are time-based.
you can give it a try, since it was free. you can always find a P2 Prodigy for under $99.
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06-11-2011, 10:21 PM
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#16
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bikendan
yes, that's the Equalizer i have. not sure which size you should get, since i don't know the tongue weight of the 21SS.
that Reese BC is time-based, not a Proportional based BC, which means it's old technology that is inferior.
only the cheaper BC's are time-based.
you can give it a try, since it was free. you can always find a P2 Prodigy for under $99.
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Thanks I appreciate the advise. So there is no drilling required for the equalizer? Installation should be pretty simple. My dealer wanted to charge me two hours @ $115/hr to install theirs!
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06-12-2011, 05:52 AM
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#17
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Southeast Wisconsin
Posts: 6,949
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There is no drilling required.
I'm not sure why it would take your dealer two hours to install. I installed mine along with a tech from my dealer in about 45 minutes. It was handy using their tools, though.
You will need the equipment to be able to torque at some fairly high ft/lbs. The recommendation on the 3/4" shank bolts is 320lbs.
The most important thing is to understand how a WDH works and how it should look when installed and the trailer loaded. There are a number of videos, including one from Progressive, showing how to install that will help you to determine if you want to do it yourself.
__________________
Scott
DW, 3 Kids and our Goldens
2012 Shamrock 233S
2008 Toyota Sequoia 5.7L 4WD
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06-12-2011, 09:36 AM
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#18
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,556
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Triguy, the dealer wants 2hrs. to install the Husky WDH, not the Equalizer WDH.
i believe the Husky requires drilling.
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06-12-2011, 10:00 AM
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#19
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Hills of Va.
Posts: 72
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Welcome and enjoy your New Camper.
__________________
2005- WDF27RLSS
2001-Dodge-4/4- souped up Cummins
1953 Willys 4/4
1970 Restored Cushman Trackster
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06-12-2011, 01:07 PM
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#20
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Southeast Wisconsin
Posts: 6,949
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bikendan
Triguy, the dealer wants 2hrs. to install the Husky WDH, not the Equalizer WDH.
i believe the Husky requires drilling.
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Ah, that's right. I forgot its a Husky the dealer wants to install.
__________________
Scott
DW, 3 Kids and our Goldens
2012 Shamrock 233S
2008 Toyota Sequoia 5.7L 4WD
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