Weight distributing hitch or not ?

[Hitchpin]

Hi All!

I was wondering if I need to use a WD hitch or not . I tow with a 2012 Silverado LT 1500 4X4 with a 5.3 engine, it also has the hd towing package.

I tow a 2012 Coachmen Freedom Express LTZ 191 RB.

I do have a Eaz lift with 600 lb. bars and a sway control, please take a look at the Specifications and tell me what you think.


SPECIFICATIONS

Hitch Weight 364 lbs.

Base Weight 3,390 lbs.

GVWR 5,700 lbs.

Cargo Carrying Capacity 2,310 lbs.

Exterior Length 22' 3"

Exterior Height 10' 3"

Exterior Width 96"



Thanks !

[trackman]

I would use the weight dist. set. It takes the weight off the tongue and does what it says "distribute". And the sway control is a God send

[JohnBoyToo]

a 6k trailer being towed by a 5500 to 6000 lb? (my guess) vehicle ?

yes sir use all wd and sway ctl you can
needed? maybe not, nicer? for sure ?

[KJcachers]

That's a 4000 pound, short trailer but if you have the WDH and sway control why wouldn't you use them?

[IWillRVToo]

I would use the hitch.

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by Hitchpin

...I do have a Eaz lift with 600 lb. bars and a sway control, please take a look at the Specifications and tell me what you think.


SPECIFICATIONS
...
GVWR 5,700 lbs.
...

You definitely want to use a WD hitch with sway control.

The only question with your current EazLift hitch is the 600 pound bars may not be quite enough. You need to load the trailer up for a trip then weigh the tongue on a Sherline tongue weight scale.

The dry hitch weight in the specs is useless info. You need to know the wet and loaded hitch weight. My TT is similar to yours with a GVWR of 5,600 pounds. My wet and loaded hitch weight with the trailer loaded to 4,870 pounds gross trailer weight was 650 pounds, or 13.3% of gross trailer weight. Tongue weight on most TTs is normally 12 to 15% of gross trailer weight. If you load your TT to 5,000 pounds and have 15% hitch weight, that's 759 pounds hitch weight (tongue weight). Or if you have my 13.3%, that's 665 pounds hitch weight. Even at the low end of 12%, that's your max of 600 pounds hitch weight, leaving you no wiggle room to load the trailer a bit heavier than 5,000 pounds gross.

My WD hitch has trunion bars rated up to 800 pounds, so mine is great. We made a 4,000 mile trip to Knoxville and Detroit area in May/June and the trailer towed beautifully. We made another 800-mile trip through the Texas Hill country this month, and again the trailer towed beautifully.

So find a Sherline scale and weigh the tongue after the TT is wet and loaded for the road. I keep a Sherline in my trailer, and check the tongue weight regularly.
Sherline Trailer Tongue Weight Scale - 2,000-lb Capacity Sherline Tools 5780

If your wet and loaded tongue weight is more than 600 pounds, then either throw some weight out of the trailer, or else replace your 600-pound bars with 750-pound bars. Or if your tongue weight might be more than 750 pounds, then go for the 1000 pound bars.
Eaz-Lift Hitch & Tow Bar Component Parts

Or it may be less trouble to simply buy a new Eaz-Lift hitch with 750-pound bars for a hair over $200, or with 1000 pound bars for less than $190:
Trailer hitch - EAZ-LIFT Weight Distribution Hitches on Sale - PPL Motor Homes

[Hipshot]

I would and did use the weight dist. hitch with sway cantrol when I towed a TT. I saw a chevy 3500 duely in Montana last month pulling about a 28 ft TT. He almost lost it, he got into a sway situation where the back of his truck and the TT were going about 3 feet side to side. He had no weight dist. hitch or sway control. Guese with a 3500 duely he figured he did not need it.

[TexasPSDX]

I wouldn't think of towing without the WD hitch. Of course my trailer is heavy enough to require one. I also have a car trailer I pull. I always use WD hitch with it also, regardless what I am hauling. Habit.

[Philip.Saran]

Do Not use the WD hitch with Out the bars, I learned the hard
way, I towed my car trailer without the bars and broke the hitch
in two and dropped the trailer on the ground (lucky I was in a
parking lot not out on the hwy).

Reese was nice and replaced it but said never never tow without
the bars.

[Bigblue12v]

Originally Posted by Philip.Saran

Do Not use the WD hitch with Out the bars, I learned the hard
way, I towed my car trailer without the bars and broke the hitch
in two and dropped the trailer on the ground (lucky I was in a
parking lot not out on the hwy).

Reese was nice and replaced it but said never never tow without
the bars.

Why did it break? Is it because they are cast iron which is more brittle than mild steel stock? I've always known cast to be strong yet more subject to cracking. Cast is used for a lot of things where brute strength is needed but it's scary to watch it break sometimes.... Depends a lot on the alloy composition too I have learned. That was cool of Reese to replace it for you!

[Philip.Saran]

I do not know why it broke, I may have high sided it on a ramp,
but when I contacted the mfg they just said please ship it to
us and our engineers will look at it and we will ship you another
one. Which they did.

I have another hitch that is all welded steel and I use it some
times with my car trailer and no bars depending on weight of
the load.

On my TT I always use the hitch with the W/D bars. Now....

[sc3283]

OP yes use an EQ hitch

Philip I have thousands of miles on an EQ hitch without using the bars...(when I haul might lighter trailers)....I've never had an issue

Having crew cab duallies since 91...many trailers do not need EQ bars that I tow

[Pete1985]

I would use the hitch.