I have a 2009 Chevy Silverado 2500 Duramax Diesel with intregated brake contoller. I just ordered a Jayco Eagle 324BHDS. The truck has a towing capacity of over 13,000 lbs. The trailer has a GVWR of just over 10,000lbs.
I am new to towing and I am looking for advice on what towing equipment I should have. Please recommend brand names if possible as well.
I would say it depends on what your budget is. The top of the line would be the Hensley Arrow but it is he!!ishly expensive ($2000 US). I myself use a Husky Hitch with 1200 lb bars and dual friction sway control. I've never had any issues with sway or any other problems with it and it cost me about $700.00 all in. The Reese Dual cam and Equalizer hitches seem to get good reviews and are cheaper than the Hensley. Check the Travel Trailer section of this forum for some good info on hitches.
Happy Camping!
2008 Dodge Ram 3500 Mega Cab
6.7 Cummins Diesel
2007 Jayco 29 BHS
1 Great Wife and 2 Great Kids
My brother has a '05 F350 towing a Jayco Jayflight 31RKS with the Reese Dual Cam set up. I've followed him for many miles at all speeds and road conditions and the trailer tracks like it is welded to the truck. This is my old setup (about 15 years old)I used it to tow a 1977 27 foot Fan Travel trailer with a 79 F250 with the same results. That was a heavy trailer by todays standards. Works great. My grandfather had the same set-up back in the 70's. This system has been virtually unchanged in 30 plus years. IMHO because it didn't have to be improved on, and not wildly expensive either...
Me (40)Growing older but not up.
The Wife (39)The voice of reason.
The Girl (5 1/2)The Princess.
The Boy (3 )Little Man
2007 Damon Daybreak 3276
2002 Suzuki XL7
Even Brake
XM Radio
Direct TV crank up dish.
There is such a thing as overkill. If you are only a weekend camper, I wouldn't think you would need to spend a few grand on the Hensley, but then again, I don't operate in your weight realm. If you are planning to pull all the time, versus a few times per month, that could also determine what you might want to do.
An Equalizer or Reese HP Dual Cam Weight Distribution hitch for a few hundred bucks might work just fine considering the fact that you have a good sized truck pulling that load. There is little doubt, as many state, that the Hensley gives you added stability, but is the bang you will get with your setup, worth the buck you will pay for the hitch.
.... and therein lies the rub!
Dirk
Myself (36), my Wife(33, "The Boy"(4), & "The Girl"(negative 4 months and counting down!)
06 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab, 5.3L V8, 3.42rear
05 30QBSS Trail-Cruiser, Prodigy BC, Reese Dual Cam W/D
I've got 45,000 towing miles on my rig using a Reese Duel cam for about 20% of the cost of a Hensley. Couldn't have a better tow and it's handled all 48 lower states and heading to Alaska next week. ALL of those towing miles wee with my HD F-150 so that's a LOT less truck than yours. Just a LITTLE less trailer though.
Good luck / Skip
2004 F-250 SCREW Long Bed (new)
OR 2004 F-150 HD (85,000 towing miles) Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
..With that much truck, you will probably be OK with either a Reese Dual Cam or Equalizer setup (great choice on the tow vehicle and especially the trailer BTW, I like it).
HOWEVER, that is a long trailer you just ordered, and when trailers get that long, sometimes the higher end hitches mentioned above (Hensley, ProPride, Pullrite) become necessary to provide the level of stability some would want. It depends on several factors, not the least of which is the preferences, etc. of the owner.
With how long that trailer is, and given the distinct chance that you may later want one of the higher end hitches, I'd recommend going with a Reese Dual cam setup initially, and purchase it HERE. Reason being, this company makes a 'guarantee' unlike anything I've seen anywhere else: If the dual cam doesn't give you the stability you want, they will let you return it and use the full purchase price toward the purchase of a 3P hitch, a high end hitch very similar to the Hensley mentioned previously. Its almost a risk-free way to try the more simple hitch first, with the option of moving up if necessary, without losing any $$ on the dual cam.
Anyway, congrats on the new rig, and good luck with it, whatever you decide.
Will & Angela
2 children that love camping, Stephen & Allison
2003 Ford Excursion V10 4x4 ("No Taxpayers were harmed by the makers of this truck")
2003 Thor Citation 33M, Hensley Arrow hitch, Brakesmart Brake Control Our Rig
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