Community Forums

Trps · 03-26-2021, 05:41 PM

I just got a Forest River Salem lite 32ft travel trailer. I bought a ford 2002 f-250 to haul it with. What do I need for a hitch. I don't think I need weight distribution but maybe sway control?
I have towed lots of trailers but not this long. Any recommendations would be appreciated.
Thanks
Tony

lisaz · 03-26-2021, 09:27 PM

Check the label on your hitch, it should give you tow capacity with and without a weight distributing hitch.
I think you'll need one!

CharlesinGA · 03-26-2021, 11:44 PM

You don't give any info on the F250, but yes, a 32 ft trailer will be the tail wagging the dog, even with an F250. You will NEED a good WDH with sway control. That trailer is close to 8000 lb GVWR and will have right at 1000 lbs on the hitch when loaded.

It will be an unpleasant tow loaded up without a good hitch on there.

Factory receiver hitch on the truck? or aftermarket? if there are no placards on the hitch, indicating that it is aftermarket, then dig in the owners manual and see what it has to say about towing. Probably limited to 500 lbs on the hitch without weight distribution.

Charles

move on · 03-27-2021, 05:30 AM

I doubt you'll need a WDH. Have the rig weighed and if your rear axle load is within the GAWR and your total weight is within the GVR then you're good to go. As for sway I think you're also OK. Try it and see before you spend money on a hitch. Note that If it's a later model truck it will have electronic sway control so you'll be covered.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trps

I just got a Forest River Salem lite 32ft travel trailer. I bought a ford 2002 f-250 to haul it with. What do I need for a hitch. I don't think I need weight distribution but maybe sway control?
I have towed lots of trailers but not this long. Any recommendations would be appreciated.
Thanks
Tony

Trps · 03-27-2021, 07:43 AM

For the money and the concesus I think I'll spend a little extra and get the weight distribution and sway control. Thank

MtCamper · 03-27-2021, 07:55 AM

You don't have to have one, but you're going to want one. The goal is a happy pleasant travel experience, a good WDH with built in sway will help to make that happen. You need the weight of your hitch when loaded to properly match the WDH spring bars. The manufactures weight is hokum, load the trailer with a full water tank and run it over a scale. You'll also need your truck weight without the trailer. Search this forum for how. Also search this forum for how to properly set up the hitch. I see a lot of them on the highway that are not set up right. I talked to one fellow camper who complained he needed a longer bar to attach his springs. No one ever showed him how to lift the hitch with the trailer jack to take the strain off.

Jshopes81 · 03-28-2021, 10:43 PM

I just looked at the salem cruise lite specs at their 32 ft tt. 682 lbs in the brochure, gauranteed more in real life. You wont need the wd hitch for your rawr, but you will need it for your reciever rating. I dont think sway will be an issue, but might as well get a hitch with sway control built in. Ive got an 03 350 that i pull my toy hauler with and pulled my jayco a few times with before upgrading. I love the truck, its what i consider the perfect blend of luxury and still being fairly simple. I used an equalizer on mine.

Trps · 03-30-2021, 04:41 AM

I bought the curt 175000 tru track. Worth the money for the piece of mind. Now I just need a brake controller. This 2002 truck only has 110000 on it so I plan on this set of camper and truck lasting awhile.

Atlee · 03-30-2021, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trps

I just got a Forest River Salem lite 32ft travel trailer. I bought a ford 2002 f-250 to haul it with. What do I need for a hitch. I don't think I need weight distribution but maybe sway control?
I have towed lots of trailers but not this long. Any recommendations would be appreciated.
Thanks
Tony

This pickup is what you need. It will take care of your towing needs. WDH will probably not be required.

Jshopes81 · 03-30-2021, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trps

I bought the curt 175000 tru track. Worth the money for the piece of mind. Now I just need a brake controller. This 2002 truck only has 110000 on it so I plan on this set of camper and truck lasting awhile.

Any of the big name controllers will do what you need and likely have a plug and play wiring harness. Ive got a tekonsha in mine and it does what its supposed to do. They make a harness for these trucks so you dont have to do any splicing, just mount your controller, plug one end of the harness in the controller, the other under the dash and ziptie the slack out of the way.