TomsDodge
San Diego
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Joined: 02/23/2008
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Just bought a new 07 Starcraft 14RT last week (my first PUP). The dealer recommended I buy a WD hitch from them but I declined. During the 80 mile drive home it towed nicely without any problem. I don't think I need a WD hitch but a sway control may be helpful if for nothing else a piece of mind... I tow with an 06 Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi. Would any of you recommend a WD hitch or sway control, if so, which one ? I have a couple of long vacations planned in the next 2-3 months so I would like to do it soon. Thanks for any assistance..
Tom
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mike4947
N. Syracuse, NY
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Joined: 08/26/2002
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Tom the reason the dealer recommend the WD hitch wasn't just so he could make a sale, but so you'd be safe towing.
If you check your receiver on the Dodge IIRC you'll find two sets of numbers stamped into it.
The lower set is the weight carrying capacities and the higher the limits when using a weight distribution hitch.
Again IIRC your receiver has a WC capacity of 500 pound tongue weight.
The 14 RT comes with a tongue weight of over 450 pounds without propane, battery(s), or any loading on the deck.
Loaded it would easily exceed the weight carrying limit of the receiver. Thus the recommendation for weight distribution hitch.
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Lovedays
Greensboro, NC
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Joined: 07/23/2005
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I resisted for a couple years and then finally caved to pressure from this forum. I'm really glad I did, I felt much safer and it towed better and without going to sway control, it helped sway. This was a Strarcraft PUP 3608 - not the current HTT I have though WD works good on that too.
With your extended cargo area you have the ability to pile in a lot of stuff, you never know, you might add enough weight up there to need the WD even more!
Good luck with your decision - don't wait too long.
On edit: I say "always listen to mike4947" If he has ever been wrong, I can't recall that one time.
Eric, Melissa, Morgan, Andrew
and Sam the Camping Canine
2006 Starcraft Antigua 235SRG
2004 Toyota Tundra SR5 Double Cab V8
www.thelovedays.com
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Campingfools
Illinois
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And I'd second that! I too resisted but finally installed sway (first) then WDH and am glad to have both. The relatively small cost is worth the safety and peace of mind, especially when the grandkids are on board. Do it.
2006 Explorer EB V6 w/TP WDH (Picture is wishful)
2007 Fleetwood Niagara
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He Ruide
Cincinnati Ohio
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Joined: 08/30/2006
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Tom, My dealer would not let me drive my E2 off the lot without a sway bar. Once I got the heavier E3 and weighed it I realized I needed a WDH. It was that simple. As others have said please get one and install it.
Ruide
Fleetwood Evolution E3 - Yellow (DW let me get a Yellow one since she wanted an E3 with a slide out  )
Hummer H2 - Black (DW vetoed the Yellow one, but I got two Yellow Hummer Folding Mountain bikes  )
My Pics and Mods and My Weekly Blog
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Nyssa
Colorado Springs
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I was pulling a Forest River PUP for a couple of years. I drive a Jeep Liberty. There was a bit of sway so I added a Drawtite friction swar bay. It was great. Sway was essentially gone. The Jeep was a little low in back, but I didn't worry about it.
Then I traded for a heavier trailer. I used to bad mouth WDHs. Not any more! I didn't know what I was talking about - yeah I am not as smart as a fifth-grader 
A wdh is fairly easy to install - at least I think so. Same old story - plug the hitch ball etc into the receiver box. Make sure it is the right height. Install the bar holders on the tongue of the trailer - one on each side. Put the bars in place and pull them up until the vehicle is level with the trailer. Lock the chains in place on the tongue. That's it. Most dealers will do it for you for a price, but I bet you can figure it out.
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TomsDodge
San Diego
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Thanks folks. I certainly will buy one, just need to figure which would be best for my set up......
Tom
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Agfadoc
Green Bay, WI
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I recommend E-trailer.com, they had a great price, not always the lowest but they shipped fast and my first shipment had a defective part and they shipped the replacement quickly.
I have a reese mini 350 and I know it's not what you need but you need to decide if you want chain adjust, (which seems the easiest to use) or if you want to raise the tounge to install.
I know my next one will be the equalizer which has sway and WD, just like my mini 350.
Just my opinion...
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mike4947
N. Syracuse, NY
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Tom, my recommendation would be an Equalizer brand WD hitch with a 1000 pound rating. It would cover the entire range of tongue weights (400 to 1000 pound range) your trailer could see and comes with integrated sway control.
Reese/Drawtite does offer hitches in this range, but needs their dual cam sway control added to the WD hitch.
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Pete D
Washington
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Quote:I was pulling a Forest River PUP for a couple of years. I drive a Jeep Liberty. There was a bit of sway so I added a Drawtite friction swar bay. It was great. Sway was essentially gone. The Jeep was a little low in back, but I didn't worry about it.
Personally, I strongly believe that it would have been more accurate to say that the sway was no longer evident in the conditions where I was towing.
Sway was not gone, it was just no longer felt. That's why I believe friction sway bar can be dangerous to rely on -- Fix the fundamental problems first, then add hardware if desired.
1998 Ranger 4.0 4x4
1991 Scamp 13'
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