Towing: What am I doing wrong?

[acadianbob]

Is your trailer level while the WD hitch is on? If your tongue is too high, it can be a problem; inducing sway. Ball height is a crucial first step to WD hitch setup.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by adarklake

Well, I took my setup down to the CAT scales today and figured I'd update the thread with my weights.

WDH Engaged:
Steer Axle: 2580
Drive Axle: 2300
Trailer Axle: 2900 (single)

WDH Disengaged:
Steer Axle: 2280
Drive Axle: 2760
Trailer Axle: 2760

Tow Vehicle Only:
Steer Axle: 2540
Drive Axle: 2000

This is with 2 adults in the TV and gear in the trailer. What do you think?

I should add 2015 Jeep Cherokee with GVWR of 5050-5500.

That looks like a good setup.

Originally Posted by adarklake

Yep, 7780 on the first weigh, 7800 on the second. Don't know where the 20 extra pounds came from. Everything was exactly the same and the bars were in the vehicle.

What is 20 lbs. among friends ?

Since most vehicle scales weigh in 20 lb. increments, then a loss or gain of 20 lbs is within tolerances.

[adarklake]

Originally Posted by acadianbob

Is your trailer level while the WD hitch is on? If your tongue is too high, it can be a problem; inducing sway. Ball height is a crucial first step to WD hitch setup.

Yes, the trailer is level when attached. I'm still a little concerned about the tongue weight being at 500. The Flagstaff spec sheet listed it at 420 and the Jeep is rated for 450. Am I worrying over nothing?

[acadianbob]

Originally Posted by adarklake

Yes, the trailer is level when attached. I'm still a little concerned about the tongue weight being at 500. The Flagstaff spec sheet listed it at 420 and the Jeep is rated for 450. Am I worrying over nothing?

If you are having issues, you are not worrying over nothing.

450 must be your payload capacity? In addition to your tongue weight, there is what you put in the Jeep. Significant other, children, pets, camping stuff, . . . whatever you put in the Jeep. Just adding one other 150 lb person would put you nearly 50% above your payload capacity.

And what is your Jeep wheelbase? An old rule of thumb is "wheelbase in inches divided by 5" is the longest trailer you should pull.

[adarklake]

The wheelbase is 106.3" and I am pulling just under 20' of trailer. So all appears to be good there. Jeep says 10%-15% of the 4500lbs tow capacity can go on the hitch, so I guess I'm good there too. All of my numbers come back correct and well within tolerance, however I'm still getting jerking in the TV. It's like a random gust of wind type of pull in completely still air with no vehicles passing. It even happens at 60mph, any speed above 50, really.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by adarklake

I'm still a little concerned about the tongue weight being at 500. The Flagstaff spec sheet listed it at 420 and the Jeep is rated for 450. Am I worrying over nothing?

A heavy tongue weight helps with sway, but if you are over the rated capacity of the hitch, then that would be a concern. But, the 450 lb. maximum rated capacity may be for weight carrying capacity, and not when using a WDH. Check to see if there is a sticker on your hitch showing hitch ratings. On many vehicles, there are separate maximum weight ratings, 1 for weight carrying, and a 2nd figure for weight distributing. The weight distributing tongue weight maximum rating may be much more than 500 lbs. If the hitch is indeed just rated at 450 lbs. irregardless of whether a WDH is used of not, then the 500 lb tongue weight is a concern.

I think the cheapest option to control the sway may be to add a 2nd friction sway bar, and tighten those puppies down. If that doesn't work, then a WDH with integrated sway control may be in the future.

[itat]

Originally Posted by adarklake

The wheelbase is 106.3" and I am pulling just under 20' of trailer. So all appears to be good there. Jeep says 10%-15% of the 4500lbs tow capacity can go on the hitch, so I guess I'm good there too. All of my numbers come back correct and well within tolerance, however I'm still getting jerking in the TV. It's like a random gust of wind type of pull in completely still air with no vehicles passing. It even happens at 60mph, any speed above 50, really.

A wheelbase of 106" is a bit short. What is the distance from the hitch coupler back to the trailer axle? That would be more critical for sway control with a single axle trailer.

When I first hooked up our previous Roo (that weighed 5200# loaded) to my F-150, I had some bounce in the back end of the truck so I added an extra set of leaf springs. If you have a coil suspension you could add air bags for extra stiffness. Note that that does not change your TV's GVWR, it just serves to prop up and stiffen the back end.

Your results from ependydad's webpage:

Gross Combined Weight
7,780
This weight should not exceed your truck's GCWR.

Truck Weight (hitched + WDH engaged)
4,880
This weight should not exceed your truck's GVWR.

Truck Weight (hitched; no WDH)
5,040

Truck Weight (truck only)
4,540

Camper Weight
3,260

Tongue Weight
500

Tongue Weight Percentage
15.3 %

Your tongue weight at 15% is bang on where it should be, but as MtnGuy says you'll need to pay attention to the capacity of the Cherokee's hitch when using a WDH.

If your numbers are within the Cherokee's specs (GVWR, GCWR, axle ratings and hitch rating) but you're still not comfortable with your setup, you can either upgrade the tow vehicle or upgrade your WDH. With the E2 hitch I don't think you can add more sway control.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by itat

. With the E2 hitch I don't think you can add more sway control.

itat, I think the OP has an Eaz-Lift with 1 friction sway bar, unless he has included an update in the thread somewhere that I missed:

Originally Posted by adarklake

I did have the WD hitch professionally installed. It's the Eaz-Lift 48058 Elite.

[itat]

Thanks for the correction, MtnGuy. The Eaz-Lift has a separate sway control arm typical of the chain systems. So the OP could add another sway control arm.