27footTTfun
Nepean, ON., Canada
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Hi everyone. I'm pretty new to RV-ing and have a few question about towing set up. Perhaps someone can offer some help or suggestions.
I have a 27 foot TT that I pulled a few times with my Dodge Dakota. This truck was within spec but close to its max tongue and towing capacity. That being the case I was using a load distributing hitch. This year I upgraded my truck to a full size RAM 1500 that can pull this TT with no problems. However, I was told by an experienced TT hauler that I should still use my load distributing hitch because doing so would make the whole rig safer and give the trucks suspension a helping hand. So my question is, do I need to tilt the ball when the hitch is not really needed or just hook it up flat? If so how much should I tilt it? Currently the truck and trailer are both level when hooked up
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Terryallan
Foothills NC
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You need to measure the bumper heights unhooked, and hooked. that is the only way, short of weighing to know how much WD you need. The front end of the truck should come back down to the unhooked height. Get the front right, and the rear will take care of itself.
BTW. You more than likely do need the WDH, as the weight carrying capacity of the hitch is 500lbs. With a 27' TT. I would bet your tongue weight is more than that.
Terry & Shay
Coachman Apex 288BH.
04 F150, 5.4, Lariat SuperCab
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Lynnmor
Red Lion
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See "Travel Trailer Hitch Set-up Procedure" under Towing.
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BarneyS
S.E. Lower Michigan
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Travel Trailer Hitch Set-up Procedure 
Barney
2004 Sunnybrook Titan 30FKS TT
Hensley "Arrow" 1400# hitch
2002 Ford F250 Super Duty, 7.3L PSD
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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One COMPELLING reason to continue using the WD system is that without it your tongue weight will most likely be WAY over your receivers weight rating. The receiver should have TWO weight ratings, one for NOT using a WD system and that's right around 500 lb. and one for when you ARE using the WD system which is probably 1,000 or more. Overloading any component on your truck, regardless of the truck size is never a good idea.
Good luck / Skip
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
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27footTTfun
Nepean, ON., Canada
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Thanks for responding guys. The trailer is a "lite" version with the manual stating that the tongue weight with propane but no water is 225 pounds so I figured I was OK. From what your telling me that may not be the case so I will make use of the hitch bars. I don't want to be unsafe or damage my new truck.
Rob
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phenrichs
Sioux Falls, SD
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keep in mind that stated weight does not include any gear in the TT. no sheets on the bed, no dishes etc.
unless you put everything in the TT behind the axle, everything you pack will increase hitch weight.
A good general rule of thumb is that when the WD hitch is properly setup the trailer will measure evenly from ground to frame at the hitch and at the rear of TT, or just slightly lower in front. Then along with that measurement your unloaded wheel well measurements for the front should be the same as loaded and just slightly lower in the rear wheel well loaded vs unloaded. this is not always possible to achieve but is the general goal. To maintain your weights from one trip to the next remember that you now have a trailer. they are designed to haul cargo. the only thing we put in the bed of the truck is firewood and bicycles. everything else gets put away in the TT or at least hauled there.
2006 Ram 3500 Megacab Cummins
2012 Keystone Sprinter 311BHS
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Lynnmor
Red Lion
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A 27 foot travel trailer with a tongue weight of 225 lbs., yea, right. 
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27footTTfun
Nepean, ON., Canada
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I'll guess that it is safe to say that before I set up the hitch I will need to finalize how I load the trailer and how much water I will carry and then do it the same way every trip? The potable water tank is in the front corner of the trailer. That being the case the only way that water weight can be counter balanced is if the grey and or black tanks are holding similar amounts of fluids because those tanks are at the rear just behind the axles. Or, are these differences during trips managed by how many links I buckle up the hitches WD bars with.
Rob
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westend
all over
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It's probably easier to compensate for weight distribution in the TT by shifting cargo or emptying water or tankage. Trying to get the compenstaion right by adjusting with the WD hitch would be difficult. You'll get a feel for how your WD hitch responds after a few trips. As phenrics said, get the front right and the rest will follow. After you have the typical amount of weight in the TT, adjust the WD hitch and that should be your setting until familiarity sets in.
'03 F-250 4x4 CC
'71 Starcraft Wanderstar -- The Cowboy/Hilton
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