Community Forums

mikemc53 · 07-10-2015, 03:50 PM

Just curious what I would need to change out to go from the 1000/10000 hitch to the 1200/12000 or 1400/14000 hitch. What can I keep and what would need to be changed?

A little rant to go with this:
Just bought the TT and hitch - brand new. Not knowing a lot about TTs and towing I asked the dealer what size hitch they were putting on. Tech said 1000/10000 and I asked if the 1200/12000 wouldn't be better. He says, "no, 1000/10000 is all you'll need. You don't want to go too big because it would stiffen the ride". Well, I think he was all wet and I could have/should have gone at least the next one up. But not knowing enough about this part of it I just settled.

TT is a Rockwood 8329SS (35 feet, 8850 GVWR). I haven't done a true weight on it yet but my guess is that the tongue wt. will be over 1000. I only drove it home from the dealer, about 50 miles, and it was smooth as glass but that isn't a large enough sample size to tell me what I want to know. The TV is not a problem (Dodge Ram 3500 w/5.9 Cummins) but I just want everything to be as clean as possible.

Thoughts - suggestions?

Nunyadamn · 07-10-2015, 05:01 PM

I have a 2014 Jayco 32BHDS (35 feet) with 2 slides and my actual weight is 9500 without water. I think my GVWR is also the same as you listed on the trailer. I have the 14k Equal-i-zer on mine. I was given the choice of 12k or 14k. I think I made the right decision by going with the 14k. I don't think you can change the 12-14k components. From the manual, it says the 14k has to go in to the square sockets with the stickers pointed out. I believe it says the 12k can go in any way. If I remember right, the reason is the ends have a different "fitting" for lack of a better word. I think if you wanted to go to the 14k, you would have to get a new hitch completely. If I remember right, the 10-12k bars can be changed without any problem. I don't know that for a fact, but I am pretty sure you can download the manuals on the Equal-i-zer website and check. If your lucky, you can change just the bars to the 12k.

09 harley · 07-10-2015, 09:06 PM

The bars are not interchangeable between the 10 to the 12 or 14. The sockets are different. Go to a scale and weigh your trailer to get an accurate tongue weight. If your dealer has a tongue weight scale have them check it. If it is under 1000 which it may be then you're ok. If not then demand that the dealer swap your hitch for the 12 or 14.

SmokeyWren · 07-11-2015, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikemc53

TT is a Rockwood 8329SS (35 feet, 8850 GVWR).

If you load the TT to a reasonable weight, it will probably gross around 8,000 pounds. At average tongue weight of 12.5% of gross trailer weight, that's 1,000 pounds tongue weight.

But if your sweetheart loads the trailer to the gills so it grosses 8,500 pounds, and it just happens to have a common tongue weight of 13% of gross trailer weight, that's over 1100 pounds tongue weight. Your 1,000-pound hitch will be overloaded. You don't want to drag that trailer out of your yard with an overloaded hitch.

So you definitely want a minimum of a 1,200-pound weight rating for your WD hitch

As to the parts you can re-use from your 1000-pounds Equal-I-Zer with your 1,200-pound Equal-I-Zer, that's only the adjustable shank and ball, Those two components are about $120 or a bit more, so you can save a little by buying a new hitch that doesn't include the shank and ball.

justafordguy · 07-13-2015, 11:53 AM

My old TT was 9500lbs and I went with the 1400/14000 equalizer. The trailer had 1250lbs of tongue weight. If your tongue weight is over 1000 I would make the dealer replace it with the correct one.