Did I do all of my homework???

[Ricard350]

Thanks for the advice, I dont have any children yet its just me and my GF. As for bringing stuff, I always travel light, I dont think my Trailer is gonna go over 5800-6000lbs. I wont put more that 5-10 gallons of water as all my camping trip travel will be around 500miles max away from home. I was told the weight on the yellow sticker is from the factory with options weighted in, as I saw multiple weight number for this trailer. On Forest River website, says 4700lbs, my sticker says 4804, 2010 models were 4500 if i remember. I will have to play with moving my stuff around. I'm an fighter jet technician, i deal with weight and balance everyday

My TV is still gonna be heavier than the trailer so logic says it would be able to handle the TT weight and behavior. I never drive more than 55-60mph anyway even with no trailer.

One plus i heard about towing with H2's (minus all the bad points) is that right after the rear wheel, the trucks end cause of the high departure angle for offroading, which translate that the tongue weight is much closer to the rear axle than common trucks .

[Ricard350]

Just got back for the rv dealer, they are ordering my WD kit with a 8 1/2 inch drop shank.

Is gonna be the Husky Brand

here is a link of the kit
Amazon.com: Husky 30849 Round Bar Weight Distribution Hitch with Sway Control: Automotive

I dont know if its a good brand but ill know for sure, im only gonna drive it for 20 miles for the trip back home.

Im also gonna order a Sherline Tongue weight scale. With 12% tongue weight I should be able to be around 5800-6000 lbs of trailer weight with 700 lbs of tongue.

The hummer got revised towing number in 2008 cause of the new engine and transmission and we have the exact same hitch, 2008 revised tongue weight is 1000lbs and the swe have the same GVWR of 8600lbs.

I really love my truck, only at 30k miles with it. I hope I wont have to change it.

David

[MtnGuy]

For a 33' trailer, especially being towed by a 122" wheelbased vehicle, a 2nd friction sway control bar is gonna probably be needed. A WDH with integrated sway control would be better than than the friction bars.

[crasher]

This should be a adequate hitch. Go slow and good luck! Let us know how it goes.

[Triguy]

Originally Posted by mtnguy

For a 33' trailer, especially being towed by a 122" wheelbased vehicle, a 2nd friction sway control bar is gonna probably be needed. A WDH with integrated sway control would be better than than the friction bars.

^^^X2^^^

This is already an iffy setup and I also recommend that you upgrade the hitch. I recommend either Equal-i-zer or Reese Dual Cam.

If that cannot be done, than a second sway control would definitely help.

[Ricard350]

Thanks for the advice, I'm definitely gonna have the 2nd sway bar control on the other side.

Im gonna try it like that for the rest of the season.

Next spring Im gonna go for the best hitch there is like the Dual Cam of Equal i zer like u guys suggest.

[Len & Cheri]

Originally Posted by Ricard350

Thanks for the advice, I'm definitely gonna have the 2nd sway bar control on the other side.

Im gonna try it like that for the rest of the season.

Next spring Im gonna go for the best hitch there is like the Dual Cam of Equal i zer like u guys suggest.

If it's not too late, I'd have them order the Reese or Equalizer now. No reason to buy the Husky when the other 2 are close to that price. If you wait until next year you won't get the money back from the Husky that you paid.

[Ricard350]

Ive decided to call the dealer and told them that I'm not going to sign anything until i know the exact tongue weight of my TT. Also told them that I cant understand why they are selling TTs without being properly equipped to weight the product they sell. Ive ordered the sherline tongue scale from etrailer.com and probably gonna receive next week.

[Herk7769]

Remember you will be looking at the tongue weight at the "yellow sticker" (as delivered) weight. It will increase based on what you put into the camper and where it is loaded.

[pappcam]

Originally Posted by Ricard350

Ive decided to call the dealer and told them that I'm not going to sign anything until i know the exact tongue weight of my TT. Also told them that I cant understand why they are selling TTs without being properly equipped to weight the product they sell. Ive ordered the sherline tongue scale from etrailer.com and probably gonna receive next week.

They're the same people who sell 30ft. #7000 trailers to people who don't have the proper tow vehicle.

Just sayin'.

[Ricard350]

Hi, Just got back from the Dealer with my TT.

I brought my bathroom scale and I weighted the tongue with a lever that gave me 1:4 ratio, tested it with myself and some objects and it was surprisingly accurate.


So after weight it like 10 times at the dealership with diffrent angle and then at my home in the street, i had about 145-158lbs on the scale never reaching 160. So approx 580-630lbs of Tongue Weight. My max allowed with WD kit is 700lbs. So its a pass! My sherline tongue scale is in the mail.....


Next I drove it for about 40 miles with cross winds of approx 30-35mph, I only felt a tiny bit of sway one in a while, nothing much. I only have one friction anti-sway on the left side only, and I wasent much tightned. So ill play with it and or buy another one next spring. I could seriously drive my truck with only my thumb and index with my right hand resting on my lap. (I dont plan on driving like that with my TT, was just used as a reference)

Next I went on the gouvernment semi truck scale truck only with full tank of gas and me 3140kg -> 6900lbs my GVWR is 8600lbs.
Truck with TT hooked = 5560kg -> 12232 lbs so with my GF plus some other stuff 12500 MAX and our GCWR is 13500lbs. Which gives me about 1000lbs more stuff to bring. Not gonna be the case here, I like to travel light. I had some water putted in the TT by the dealer, so i wasent dry of water but dry of luggage....


I know a 122'' wheelbase vehicule that tow a 33' TT is not the greatest on paper but the fact that my truck is more heavy that my TT is a plus imo.

All my tow specs are a PASS and im happy with it. Reseted the fuel used and fuel economy reading and got about 10mpg not too shaby.

Trans temps are gonna be easy to monitor i have a analog trans temp gauge factory.


Here is some pictures

Tongue weight aprox measurement,
Tongue weight setup
WD KIT
How its looks

[Ricard350]

Talk to u guys later im going to go and try some slopes....

laters

[Herk7769]

You might want to see what the tongue weight is with your gear and food and stuff in it. Unless you plan on towing it empty?

Most likely you will be limited to about 700 pounds of gear in the camper.
It sounds like a lot, but you will find it fills up quickly.

[Triguy]

Ricard,
I give you credit for working up your dry weight numbers and I second Lou's suggestion to weigh the tongue again once you are loaded. I find that I can be +- 75lbs depending how I load the camper and I have a moderately lightweight camper, too.

You'll like that Sherline. I have a 2000lb Sherline and use it several times a year and whenever I decide to experiement on loading. I've found with several campers that there is a difference in the towing experience depending how I load. This is all personal and depends both on the combination of TV and TT and how I load. Good luck with everything.

[crasher]

Thanks for the follow up. Looks like you'll be OK if you watch your weight and take it easy. Cinch up that sway control, and remember you can never back up with that thing attached.