Just got a 2006 Gulfstream Ameri-lite 21MB TT. Hitch Weight 340 lbs, Drys Weight 3215 lbs. My towing truck is a 1998 Chevy CK 2500 that is low miles and in G/C. When I hitch the TT onto my truck the height of the truck front is the same as it not hitched. The rear height of the truck is 1" less when TT is hitched. I have pulled the TT a few times without WDH and it tows good. I got a drop down hitch shank that tows TT level. My question is, do I really need a WDH.
As long as you do not exceed the the ratings tag on the receiver itself you are OK. You need to actually weigh the rig to know for sure though as dry weight means nothing.
Agree with Fla-Gypsy. DO NOT use dry weights. What is the trailer tongue weight when loaded for travel?
Then, what is the dead weight rating of your receiver - most are 500#.
That is often doubled with WDH.
Keith J.
1999 Sunnybrook 27RKFS Fiver.
2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD CC/SB/DA 2WD, LBZ air cleaner, 52 gal Titan tank, Bilsteins, Line-X, Westin steps, Prodigy, Retrax cover, 16K Superglide, 5th-Airborne pin-box, Multi-vex mirrors, TST TPMS.
No, that's just not enough weight and your truck is easily able to handle it without a WDH. Try it and I bet it has no handling effect at all on the truck.
Scott, Grace and Wesly
2003 Dodge 3500 4x4, 6 speed Cummins (lightly bombed),
2004 Forest River 25RKS many, many mods.
H0NDA eu2000i
ScottG wrote: No, that's just not enough weight and your truck is easily able to handle it without a WDH. Try it and I bet it has no handling effect at all on the truck.
How can you say that when:-
- We don't know the LOADED tongue weight of the trailer?
- We don't know the dead weight capacity of his hitch?
I agree that I don`t think he needs a WD hitch. an Amerilite is an extremely lite trailer, I`m betting it has a GVWR of 4500lbs at most. 500 pounds TW on a 4500lb TT would be 11.5%. a little low, but a 2500 truck should be able to control a short, lite weight TT. and a hitch change would solve the weight carrying TW issue.
Wife Kim
Son Brandon 11yrs
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Dog Shadow
07 Cherokee 32B
02 Excursion 4X4 V-10 4.30 gear 5Star tuner Y-pipe mod Hellwig sway bar
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kwlincoln wrote: He's no where close to needing a WDH. What's the point of weighing when he is that far in the black?
He MAY only be 160# under the hitch capacity without WDH.
I didn't say it was OK, I didn't say it wasn't OK, all I said was without the ACTUAL loaded and spec numbers we don't know.
I used to pull a 12K dead wt trailer with my 96 SW K3500. Granted I did NOT have the stock GM hitch, but an aftermarket that was good to the trailer wt......I pulled all of about 300 lbs off the FA with the stock 6400 lbs rear springs, changed out to 8400 lb springs, and the loss to the FA went down to 200.
With my 6500 lbs TT and 650-700 on the hitch, it was closer to 60 or 80 lbs off the fa, I did notice a difference to a degree with vs without a WD, and a dual cam. BUT, handling in even 50mph cross winds was the same. What I did notice in these upper cross winds, was the trailer moved sideways less with the WD than with out, and less yet with the dual cam.
Marty
05 Chev CC D/A LS Dooley
92 Navistar dump truck, 7.3L 7 sp, 4.33 gears with a Detroit no spin
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92 Red-e-haul 12K equipment trailer
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