teach515
Land O Lakes
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Joined: 10/28/2009
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How many links do you use from the w/d bars to the tensioner? I connect the fifth link and it seems to be really tight. Is it better to have the bars too tight or not tight enough?
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SAR Tracker
SoCal
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Joined: 05/29/2003
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Depends on the load... on my toyhauler, if I'm carrying quads, water, and gas, I tighten it to leave 4 links hanging. Just camping, I leave 3 links hanging.....
Rusty & Cheryl
2011 F250 2WD 6.2L Gasser
2008 Weekend Warrior FB2100
"Common sense is in spite of, not the result of, education" - Victor Hugo (1802-1885)
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path1
seattle
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Joined: 04/19/2012
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like other have said depends on load.
TOO FIND that spot what I did was a process of try it on 3 for awahile then 4 then 5. rest area too rest area type thing and found what I liked the best, then to remember for next time wrote it down on the inside of propane cover. Others weigh their vehicle and see how much they transfered and use percentages and get scientific.
(To cheap to buy new)
1990 37 ft 5th wheel that hasn't moved since 1996 (our best home)
1997 33 ft trailer (winter home in much warmer climate)
2005 25 ft M/H (our "stand up B" for traveling)
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APT
SE Michigan
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Joined: 06/09/2010
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What Eric James said.
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009
2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS
2012 VW Passat TDI
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Ron Gratz
full time RVer
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Joined: 12/27/2003
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What make and model of WDH do you have? Most manufacturers specify a mininum of five links under tension.
The "tightness" of the bars depends on how much load you want to transfer.
Ron
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eric james
Sioux Falls, SD
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Joined: 07/21/2004
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WD Hitch Set Up Instructions
There are a lot of variables to set up a hitch correctly. Great instructions on this link.
2009 Keystone Passport UL 290BH
2003 Ford Expedition EB 5.4L/3.73
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BarneyS
S.E. Lower Michigan
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From P.3 of the DrawTite hitch installation instructions:
Notice what happens when you don't have a minimum of 5 links under tension during a turn as the WD bars moves forward or backward(Figure 10).
Barney
2004 Sunnybrook Titan 30FKS TT
Hensley "Arrow" 1400# hitch
2002 Ford F250 Super Duty, 7.3L PSD
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mbopp
Henrietta, NY, USA
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I use 5 links on my Reese DC. Tension is adjusted by the amount of tilt on the hitch head.
2013 North Trail 21FBS
2012 F-150 XLT Ecoboost ("EcoBeast") scab
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sharker6
fulltime KY, NC, FL, MA, TN
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Joined: 11/05/2006
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Whatever it takes to get your TV and TT level. Every rig is going to be different.
2009 30' Fleetwood Wilderness, 2008 F-250 Super Duty FX4 stump puller
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Ron Gratz
full time RVer
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Joined: 12/27/2003
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Forget about trying to make the TV level.
Your weight distribution hitch should be adjusted so the load on the front axle is approximately the same as, or slightly less than, the load when unhitched.
When you get the front end right, the rear will take care of itself.
Since approximately 75 percent of the TT's tongue weight will be carried on the TV's rear axle, the rear should have some drop --
perhaps as much as 1.5-2" depending on tongue weight and stiffness of the rear suspension.
Ron
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