Looking for WD Hitch Clarification

[deeuubee]

I picked up my 25G trailer from the dealer this weekend.
I was very happy with the whole process, but on the 5 hour drive home, I kept questioning myself about whether or not the WD Hitch setup is adequate.

I was supposed to get a Class V 2 1/2" shank, but they didn't have one that worked for my truck, so they used a 2" shank and spacer.
The GTW was fine for that 14,000 lbs. TW 1400 lbs. That's one of the things that worried me. The build sheet says TW 1290.
Add to that 125 lbs. for the battery and propane, and I'm at 1415 lbs. At that point, I'm over the limit, and the trailer isn't even loaded yet.
Adding 200 lbs. for clothes and tools in the front storage, and I'm at 1615 TW, well over the shank rating.
And, that's if I don't put payload in the pickup.

I don't know how much 90 gallons of water and full fridge affects TW because they are in the middle of the trailer.
I do know that when my M/C (650 lbs.) is loaded in the back the TW will go down.
How much, I'll see, but enough to get to a level safely below 1400 TW?
Secondly, I won't have it the M/C half the time, and I don't want to drive around with 650 lbs. of sand bags to balance things out.
Am I over thinking this or should I have them get me the class V shank they were originally supposed to?

The next thing that drove me batty on the 5 hour trip home in the rain was the weight distributing bars.
They are rated at 1200 lbs. They said that's the bars they use on that model. How they determined that I don't know.
Everything I read said it should be rated for the max TW weight you will have.
Even if I don't load it to max, the TW has to be around 15-1600 lbs.
When I spoke with the Tech from the manufacturer yesterday, he said I should be using 1600 lb. bars.
Again, am I over thinking this? Should I have them get me the heavier bars?

I know just enough to get myself in trouble here and without a true weight, I have to use the numbers on the spec sheet.
Because it's 5 hours back to the dealer, I ordered a TW scale, will load it up and go to the Truck stop to weight it before calling them back.
We discussed this before I left there, and I surrendered to their expertise, but 5 hours in the rain gave me too much time to think.
The ride home, it didn't bounce up and down too much, but this was my first heavy tow, and I really don't know what to expect.

My wife drives also, and since I can't look her in the eye and tell her I think it's safe, I won't use the trailer until I figure this out.

[NB Canada]

IMO I would only use a weigh-safe hitch if I were you

Especially if your cargo is going to change

Unfortunately toy haulers are built to haul so when they don’t they can be difficult
But like I said if it were me I would immediately order a weigh-safe wdh. You can adjust it on the fly depending on your cargo
Good luck


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

[Tgunter5]

IMO I would only use a weigh-safe hitch if I were you

Especially if your cargo is going to change

Unfortunately toy haulers are built to haul so when they don’t they can be difficult
But like I said if it were me I would immediately order a weigh-safe wdh. You can adjust it on the fly depending on your cargo
Good luck


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

How do you like it so far? Notice a difference from your old hitch? Also, does your cargo change alot? I have the same trailer and never out much thought into cargo weight changing much but its handy to be able to adjust and accommodate it so easily.

[NB Canada]

How do you like it so far? Notice a difference from your old hitch? Also, does your cargo change alot? I have the same trailer and never out much thought into cargo weight changing much but its handy to be able to adjust and accommodate it so easily.

I don’t have a weigh safe. I use a Husky centreline

No my cargo never changes


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

[Tgunter5]

I don’t have a weigh safe. I use a Husky centreline

No my cargo never changes


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

My apologies, your opinion about the weigh-safe made me assume you had one.

[TerryH]

@Tgunter

I have the Weigh Safe and have had great success with it. We have camped with and without water in the tanks and with and without our 1800 lb. Talon in the garage of our 31G. Our tongue weight varies from 2000 to 1500 depending on how we are loaded. The on the fly adjustment using the app has been spot on. Trailer has pulled perfectly in all conditions with zero sway. Very impressed with the technology and the performance.

[Rancher350]

My 1 experience when talking to the RV dealer about WDH was.....The most expensive unit is the best. They gave me 1000# bars for a GVWR of 5500#. In my opinion they had no idea how those bars work and that a way over/under sized bar will not be as effective. They should have sized your WDH for GVWR and at least a proportional TW.

[deeuubee]

@Rancher350 - At 5500 GVWR, 10-15% TW = 550- 825 lbs. 1000 lb. bars have a range from 500 - 1000 lbs. I don't see that as unacceptable.

In my situation, I'm 100 lbs. over the max, and I haven't even loaded the trailer yet.

[Fsalmy]

@Rancher350 - At 5500 GVWR, 10-15% TW = 550- 825 lbs. 1000 lb. bars have a range from 500 - 1000 lbs. I don't see that as unacceptable.

In my situation, I'm 100 lbs. over the max, and I haven't even loaded the trailer yet.

I’ve got a 2019 BlueOx SwayPro 2000 with 2.5” shank and 2000 lb bars for sale. Depending on what your dealer does or doesn’t do for you and if you’re interested, I’ll send to you for just the shipping fee. (It’s heavy, so be forewarned.)

[Rancher350]

@Rancher350 - At 5500 GVWR, 10-15% TW = 550- 825 lbs. 1000 lb. bars have a range from 500 - 1000 lbs. I don't see that as unacceptable.

In my situation, I'm 100 lbs. over the max, and I haven't even loaded the trailer yet.

I was commenting toward your question and predicament. The dealer gave you a set up that wouldn't support the GVWR of your rig. Based on your comment back to me and its "typed" tone would indicate you should have known they fouled up, with the items they gave. Every rig is different and must be analyzed accordingly. Now for my experience. For my hitch bars come in sizes typically in 200# increments. I was given 1000# bars for a UVW or 3900 and GVWR of 5500. Starting tongue weight of 390 add 2 tanks and 1 battery. No storage up front, large storage all the way aft and with black and grey tanks behind the axels at 64 gallons and fresh at 60 gallons just forward of the axels. My tongue weight had no way of ever really crossing much beyond 550# especially since i rarely go far with full tanks. I contacted the manufacturer and they agreed and recommended 600# bars. The ride improved greatly!