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05-22-2016, 07:45 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Fern Park, FL
Posts: 137
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Must I use the WD hitch?
We have a new TT and it is currently in the driveway while we load it up. We store it in a lot about two miles from the house. We are all about Saftey but I'm wondering, do I need to attach the WD hitch and anti sway bar when I'm going to and from the house or can I just hook up my 2" ball for that short trip?
__________________
2018 Rockwood Premier 2516G
2014 Nissan Titan
“Always do what’s right; this will gratify some and astonish the rest” – Albert Einstein
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05-22-2016, 08:05 PM
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#2
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,069
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It all depends... what is your tongue weight and what weight is your hitch rated for as a dead weight vs wdh? I would say use the wdh. We keep our trailer out the back side of the neighborhood and still used the wdh for our old tt.
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2014 Crew Cab Chevy Silverado 3500 4wd Duramax/Allison
2014 Sabre 34REQS-6
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05-22-2016, 08:09 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Posts: 3,225
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2" ball? Small trailer?
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2017 Salem Villa Estate 395RET-
2011 Coachmen Freedom Express 295RLDS- Sold
2015 F-250 FX4
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05-22-2016, 08:10 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,363
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Are you sure it is a 2" ball. Usually weights of concern are 2-5/16" territory.
What is the tow vehicle and what is the trailer?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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05-22-2016, 09:53 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Fern Park, FL
Posts: 137
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The WDH is 2 5/16" the TV is a Nissan Titan rated for 7500 lbs tongue weight 730 lbs. the TT is 5350 + 300 lbs gear = 5650 lbs
__________________
2018 Rockwood Premier 2516G
2014 Nissan Titan
“Always do what’s right; this will gratify some and astonish the rest” – Albert Einstein
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05-22-2016, 10:25 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 75
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CarpeDiem
The WDH is 2 5/16" the TV is a Nissan Titan rated for 7500 lbs tongue weight 730 lbs. the TT is 5350 + 300 lbs gear = 5650 lbs
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Just use the WDH and leave bars off. I do this to pull my trailer out of the backyard because of uneven ground. I sure wouldn't use something undersized for the job.
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05-23-2016, 11:09 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 284
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How long does it take to put your WD bars on? Weight against the pain and expense of having an accident or issue while moving it without your WD in place. Don't put yourself into a "what if" because doing things the best way possible created an issue.
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05-23-2016, 11:30 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Northern KY
Posts: 5,725
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two miles???
can you even get up to 40-45 MPH in 2 miles?
IMHO... leave off the bars if it is ONLY 2 miles and you are not getting any speed... you are well under your TV capability
__________________
"nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle."
Thomas Jefferson to John Norvell pg. 2, June 11, 1807
2014 Shamrock 183
2014 RAM 1500 Bighorn Crew Cab, HEMI, 3.21 gears, 8 Spd, 4X4 TST TPMS
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05-23-2016, 12:37 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 215
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I never used mine going to my parents 6 miles away to wash it.(they had a paved driveway) of course the trailer did lower my rear at all. It is personal preference as long as it doesn't lift up your front end and cause steering issues.
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2015 Tracer ultra light executive edition 3200bht
2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins 6.7, Dually, crew cab, long bed
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05-23-2016, 12:51 PM
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#10
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Canadian Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Eastern GTA, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 6,235
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I'm curious why you wouldn't install the bars? Are you just trying to save a couple minutes? Do you have a bad back and are trying to avoid some lifting?
You say you are all about safety and your signature says "always do what's right". In my mind there's no question about what's right and safest.
Definitely use the proper sized ball if you choose to not use the WDH bars.
__________________
2023 Rockwood Signature 8262RBS
2016 Ford F-250 XLT SuperCrew, 6.2L, 4x4, 6'9" bed
2019 Rockwood Signature 8290BS (2019 - 2022)
2011 Rockwood Signature 8293SS (2015 - 2018)
2010 Rockwood Roo 23SS (2012 - 2014)
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05-23-2016, 02:27 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Pleasant Gap, PA
Posts: 458
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I don't put the bars on for the 3mile drive to our storage site. Speed limit is less than 40 mph on country roads. They are not needed.
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2015 Solaire 201SS
2015 GMC 2500HD Duramax
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05-23-2016, 03:25 PM
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#12
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Canadian Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Eastern GTA, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 6,235
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WDHs are intended to move some of the tongue weight off the TV's rear axle and onto the TV's front axle and the trailer axles. Doesn't matter how fast you're going. Sway control would be less necessary at slower speeds but weight distribution would still be advisable especially on rough roads.
If you don't have the bars installed and the front of your TV is pointing up, be aware that driving like that at night will point your low beams into the face of oncoming vehicles. I retrofitted HID projectors on my truck so I would never drive it on the roads at night without the bars installed or I would blind other drivers!
__________________
2023 Rockwood Signature 8262RBS
2016 Ford F-250 XLT SuperCrew, 6.2L, 4x4, 6'9" bed
2019 Rockwood Signature 8290BS (2019 - 2022)
2011 Rockwood Signature 8293SS (2015 - 2018)
2010 Rockwood Roo 23SS (2012 - 2014)
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05-23-2016, 03:26 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Dunn, NC
Posts: 1,199
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Leave him alone. Bars for 2 miles? <40 mph? No brainer, not going to be a problem.
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05-23-2016, 03:29 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 61
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I moved my TT back and forth from storage (8 miles) this last trip using just the Equalizer head and ball (I dont have a 2-5/16 ball on anything but the EQ head) without the bars. TV is a F250, trailer is a Rockwood 2306 (4600#). No problems.
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2015 Rockwood Mini-Lite 2306
2012 F-250 FX4 6.7 diesel
10k Equalizer Hitch
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05-23-2016, 03:30 PM
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#15
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pdqparalegal1
Leave him alone. Bars for 2 miles? <40 mph? No brainer, not going to be a problem.
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I agree.
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05-23-2016, 03:59 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 325
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On my rig I'm afraid I might be overloading the hitch and/or axle if I don't use the wd bars. Do you guys think that would still be ok for two miles? I don't want to damage anything.
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05-23-2016, 04:17 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Fern Park, FL
Posts: 137
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Great responses! I appreciate them. Unintentionally very funny as in February I had reconstructive back surgery (pins installed). It is actually less than two miles, across one busy street at a stop light, then through my subdivision. About as many opinions as there are people. At no time do I want to put myself or anyone else in any danger, or cost myself any money for a stupid reason. But if I can save my back some stress or save a few minutes then let's do it.
__________________
2018 Rockwood Premier 2516G
2014 Nissan Titan
“Always do what’s right; this will gratify some and astonish the rest” – Albert Einstein
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05-23-2016, 07:22 PM
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#18
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by itat
I'm curious why you wouldn't install the bars? Are you just trying to save a couple minutes? Do you have a bad back and are trying to avoid some lifting?
You say you are all about safety and your signature says "always do what's right". In my mind there's no question about what's right and safest.
Definitely use the proper sized ball if you choose to not use the WDH bars.
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I agree with itat.
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05-23-2016, 07:45 PM
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#19
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Professional Curmudgeon
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 754
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It's not just about where your headlights point. The hitch itself is only rated to hold so much dead weight. Hit a bump or pothole and the shock multiplies the effective weight on the hitch exponentially.
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2022 Cougar Half Ton 24RDS fifth wheel
2014 Coachmen Catalina 253RKS (sold)
2017 F350 6.7L DRW CC LB 4x4 Lariat
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05-23-2016, 10:39 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 423
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The only thing I don't put on the hitch when towing a short distance, low speed - 25 - 45 MPH, is the Anti Sway Bar.
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