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Old 05-04-2020, 09:46 AM   #21
flybouy
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Originally Posted by Frank G View Post
It looks like you are trying to justify new (1000lb) bars. This is probably a justifiable purchase if it eases your mind. You might do some posting and see if anyone wants to trade. Is this a Blue Ox hitch? I was in this situation once.

Secondly, How does your unit tow as is? I would think near perfect as you have a totally capable tow unit for your camper. you are not even close to the edge and I doubt you will see much, if any, improvement going to 1000 lb bars or larger.

As always, just my opinion.
In my opinion running bars rated for 750 lbs with a 1,000 lb. load (33.3% over the rating) is past the "edge".
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Old 05-04-2020, 11:16 AM   #22
CedarCreekWoody
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This isn't rocket science. Truck with trailer attached is 9,380. Truck without trailer is 8400 lbs. Difference is the tongue weight - 980 lbs. That being said it appears you do need stronger bars as you need to transfer more weight to the front axle.
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Old 05-04-2020, 11:17 AM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank G View Post
It looks like you are trying to justify new (1000lb) bars. This is probably a justifiable purchase if it eases your mind. You might do some posting and see if anyone wants to trade. Is this a Blue Ox hitch? I was in this situation once.

Secondly, How does your unit tow as is? I would think near perfect as you have a totally capable tow unit for your camper. you are not even close to the edge and I doubt you will see much, if any, improvement going to 1000 lb bars or larger.

As always, just my opinion.
I got a 2019 2500HD, Diesel. Laredo 225MK Tows great, need to watch speed when driving. When a truck passes I get some sway. I have no problem buying new bars, just want to get the right ones.

I am a little pissed that the dealer did not put the right ones on but Blue Ox sells it that way as a kit.
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Old 05-04-2020, 11:39 AM   #24
CedarCreekWoody
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I would suggest at least 1,000 lb bars, or 1,200 if that is available.
In my experience you will get some trailer sway, or pull, when a large truck passes. That is normal with a "bumper pull" trailer, much less so with a fifth wheel. Fishtailing is what you want to avoid and it doesnt sound like you have that issue.
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Old 05-04-2020, 01:41 PM   #25
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Yeah, my dealer set me up wrong also. Finally had to replace everything on the truck and trailer.
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Old 05-04-2020, 02:56 PM   #26
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The bars I got with my hitch (Eaz-Lift Trekker) are advertised as 600 lb. bars and rated up to 800 lbs. tongue weight. They seemed to work well, but I had a bit of “bounce” and the DW felt “seasick” on trips. I had foolishly taken the advertised tongue weight added in some margin of error and thought I was good......until I got on the scales! So we changed to the 1,000 lb. bars which are good to a tongue weight of 1,200 lbs. and now the DW doesn’t get seasick anymore.

When I pulled the camper from storage this past weekend, I checked everything again; bolt torques, ride heights, etc. and it was still spot on. For my set-up, I measured the height of the top of the wheel opening front and rear of the truck on both sides (rear is 2” higher than front unloaded). Then when loaded and connected with everything level, the rear settles 1” and the front is exactly the same as it was before connecting the trailer. This tells me the bars are sized right and the hitch is set right.
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Old 05-04-2020, 06:07 PM   #27
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Just ordered a scale with some other things from Amazon. Need to check LP tanks, I think they are almost MT. The trailer is still at the house, changing where I am storing things. Clothes and frig are empty. Will put some weight in the closets, probably about 25 lbs per closet. Will put about 50 lbs of weight in the frig. In the kitchen, will add a few lbs in the kitchen cabinets for food. Any imput on this, is welcome


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Old 05-04-2020, 06:40 PM   #28
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50 lbs in the fridge? That’s a lot of beverage LOL.
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Old 05-05-2020, 04:08 AM   #29
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Must be drinking lager, or is that larger?
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Old 05-05-2020, 08:38 AM   #30
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I'm thinking it must be a single guy with only 25lbs in the closet & 50lbs in the fridge.
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Old 05-05-2020, 09:17 AM   #31
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If he is young man at least he has priorities right!
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Old 05-05-2020, 10:46 AM   #32
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I am 62 years old, been married for 1 year. I went though a divorce, wife lost her husband to cancer. 2nd marriage for both of us. I am as happy as I can be. We love to go camping/ travel. My wife never thought she would be camping in a TT, she loves it. She likes that it gets me away from my projects at home. We take a lot of drinks, the wife does not cook and I am glad I married her.

25lbs in each closet. Beer, soft drinks, Margarita, bourbon. It all adds up
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Old 05-05-2020, 11:05 AM   #33
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Steve it's not personal. I'm happy it's all working out for you. Sometimes the forums sort of "take on their own life" and everyone gets silly which is better than folks getting edgy and picking fights IMO.
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Old 05-05-2020, 01:27 PM   #34
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Originally Posted by flybouy View Post
In my opinion running bars rated for 750 lbs with a 1,000 lb. load (33.3% over the rating) is past the "edge".
The purpose of a weight distribution hitch is to transfer hitch weight to the TV's front axle and to the trailer axle(s). There is no overloading or under loading. Different sized bars will transfer more or less of the hitch weight.

The OP's TV could handle the 6900lb trailer without a weight distribution hitch (transporters don't use them) and stay within the TV's numbers. Not Idea, but doable. The Blue Ox Sway Pro with the 750lb bars transfers enough of the hitch weight and provide enough sway control to make for a comfortable tow. The 2019 2500HD, Diesel, weighing in at 8400lbs the OP has is ideal, lightning the front axle by 200lbs makes no difference as it is already heavy carrying the Duramax diesel. Had the TV have a gas engine it would be a different story as well as trying to pull it with a 1500. This is where the sizing of the bars becomes more critical.

Much of the information was pulled from the 2019 Chevrolet Trailering Guide and information provided by the OP. In the RV world weights are always changing due to loading and liquid levels so one needs to have enough equipment to stay within the ballpark and I believe the OP has.
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Old 05-05-2020, 03:26 PM   #35
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Don't believe me I don't care but I'd suggest giving this a read. https://www.etrailer.com/faq-2-steps...tion-size.aspx
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Old 05-05-2020, 05:38 PM   #36
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Steve it's not personal. I'm happy it's all working out for you. Sometimes the forums sort of "take on their own life" and everyone gets silly which is better than folks getting edgy and picking fights IMO.



I have been hanging out on forums for years. Understand what goes on, on them. I have seen threads fall off a cliff and then come back.
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Old 05-08-2020, 05:28 PM   #37
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Added some weight to the trailer and check tongue weight. Was showing 1,050lbs. This most likelly will be a weekend trip. A week trip would be more. Will have to call manufacture and see what they say
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Old 05-10-2020, 08:11 AM   #38
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Here are the weight

Steer axle. 4720
Drive axle 4660
Trailer 5920

Truck only
Steer axle 4940
Drive axle 3460

I just need tongue weight. I think I do not have a heavy enough bar for my sway control. Manufacture wants tongue weight to tell me what I need.

A Sherline scale is probably in the future
To my idea its simple.
Total weight truck and trailer 4720+4660+5920= 15300
Truck only 4940+3460= 8400
Trailer 15300-8300= 7000
Weigt on trailertires substracted from that gives 1080 on tonge. Wich is 15.42% of trailerweigt.
So I suspect no WDH used, otherwise the tonge-weight would be less.
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Old 05-10-2020, 08:40 AM   #39
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Front looses 220 lbs and Drive gains 1200lbs would suspect a tongweight of 980 lbs.
Is 100 lbs less then I calculated. Can be becauae of inacuract of scale, 100 lbs on these weights is not much. Even a calibrated scale is allowed one measure step different , in Europe mostly 20 kg= 44lbs.
Can give 30kg=66lbs difference in measurement, because weights in between are rounded.
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Old 05-13-2020, 07:09 AM   #40
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I see a device sold by e-trailer called Better Weigh. Anybody used this to take to take the guess work out of 'how much does it weigh'?
The better weigh system is a "black box with an app for smart phones" that uses the vehicle attitude/weight sensors to calculate an "apparent weight on the hitch". For me (other's may/probably do feel differently)… Anyway, for me, the "jury is out" on how much I'd trust a scale that connects to my smart phone via Bluetooth to give me a "calculated weight" based on spring squat as measured by the gyro sensor in the CPU..... I know NASA gave us lots of "high tech stuff" but a scale based on vehicle attitude ???? Hmmmmm
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