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Old 09-27-2014, 01:57 PM   #1
Richard6959
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Help! Dealer installed hitch is inadequate

Input is desired here. My Laredo 320TG has a tongue dry weight of 900lbs. I am guessing the two 30# propane bottles and battery is another 100 pounds. I was just reading about the hitch the dealer installed as part of the package and its rated for 1000lb tongue weight.

Well it weight about 100 pounds so now I am at 1100 pounds for a system with 1000 pound limit.

Just sent a message to the dealer, I hope they will respond and fix this.
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Old 09-27-2014, 02:06 PM   #2
Festus2
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Originally Posted by Richard6959 View Post
Input is desired here. My Laredo 320TG has a dry weight of 900lbs..
Richard6959 -
I think you've either made a "typo" or have your figures mixed up but the dry weight of your Laredo is not 900 lbs. It may be 9000 lbs. Best go back and check all of your weights/figures.
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Old 09-27-2014, 02:30 PM   #3
BirchyBoy
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Festus2 View Post
Richard6959 -
I think you've either made a "typo" or have your figures mixed up but the dry weight of your Laredo is not 900 lbs. It may be 9000 lbs. Best go back and check all of your weights/figures.
I think he's talking tongue weight.
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Old 09-27-2014, 02:35 PM   #4
Richard6959
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Sorry yes tongue weight is 900 dry. But with the LP and Battery I am at 1000 lbs, not including any cargo added. So is this hitch/weight distribution that is rated for 1000 pounds inadequate?
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Old 09-27-2014, 02:45 PM   #5
Signguy71
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Dealer tried selling me a hitch rated for 1000lb while my trailer had a 1400 lb tongue weight dry.

Do any of these dealers have a clue?
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Old 09-27-2014, 02:52 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by Signguy71 View Post
Dealer tried selling me a hitch rated for 1000lb while my trailer had a 1400 lb tongue weight dry.

Do any of these dealers have a clue?
Actually... No, most don't.
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Old 09-27-2014, 03:43 PM   #7
KanTC
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Richard,

You're correct - most likely your LOADED tongue weight is 'over' 1000 lbs. How much over 1000 lbs...?... is anyone's guess.
The only way to get an exact tongue weight (loaded as usual & ready to camp) is to take the trailer to a scale. Is there a CAT
scale in your area? Another option is to calculate an *estimate* based on the trailer's GVWR of 9500 lbs.
9,500 x 13% (average/estimate, loaded tongue weight) = 1235 lbs

If this is a new/recent purchase, maybe the dealer would exchange the WDH (or the bars) for the next size?

Terri, the Chevy co-pilot
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Old 09-27-2014, 03:57 PM   #8
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Another option is to use a portable scale and set the tongue on it.

http://www.truckspring.com/towing/tr...cale-5780.aspx
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Old 09-27-2014, 04:37 PM   #9
Richard6959
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Originally Posted by KanTC View Post
Richard,

You're correct - most likely your LOADED tongue weight is 'over' 1000 lbs. How much over 1000 lbs...?... is anyone's guess.
The only way to get an exact tongue weight (loaded as usual & ready to camp) is to take the trailer to a scale. Is there a CAT
scale in your area? Another option is to calculate an *estimate* based on the trailer's GVWR of 9500 lbs.
9,500 x 13% (average/estimate, loaded tongue weight) = 1235 lbs

If this is a new/recent purchase, maybe the dealer would exchange the WDH (or the bars) for the next size?

Terri, the Chevy co-pilot
Yes this is a recent purchase in late August. I sent an email to the dealer, will call them tomorrow. I also contacted EZHitch to inquire in case the dealer tried to blow smoke.
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Old 09-27-2014, 04:41 PM   #10
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Not sure if this info will help . . . . .

As noted at Reese, the max tongue weight for a given hitch appears to be affected by whether it is using a weight distribution system.

http://www.reese-hitches.com/learnin...towing-classes
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Old 09-28-2014, 01:23 AM   #11
Richard6959
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B&T, I had this same thought, thanks for sharing. It seems then that with the weight distributed, the maximums (at least with a REESE hitch), would be 14,000 pounds GTW and the Tongue would be rated at 1400. This may be what the dealer says. However, I want to confirm with the manufacturer that the same concept applies to their EZhitch.
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Old 09-30-2014, 10:59 AM   #12
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...

Richard,

If you did want a tongue scale, most are made by the Sherline company, although they may be marketed under different names.

Probably the best price for the original, or rebranded Sherline, can be found here, at the ProPride hitch store.

Your tow vehicle is probably well suited to your RV, but it is quite a large TT for any truck. If you have to pay to upgrade your hitch anyway, you might consider a ProPride. This hitch and, the earlier Hensley, are different than all the other ordinary WD (weight distributing) hitches.

The Hensley 4-link geometry design has superior stability control over the friction sway control types, possibly exceeding even that of 5th wheel trailers on a windy day. The newer ProPride brand is a little heavier duty than the original Hensley, especially for over 1000#'s tongue, although both are rated for up to 1400#'s. Both were designed by the same ingenius man, Jim Hensley. These ultra-safe hitches cost more, but they hold their value better at resale, mitigating some of the up-front cost.

I'm currently using an older Hensley, but I'm quite familiar with the ProPride also, if anyone has further questions.

Wes
...
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Old 10-03-2014, 05:10 PM   #13
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Another solution would be to go out and pick up new/used 1 ton dually, a new Reese Titan receiver, and an Equalizer 4-pt sway control hitch; all weight and sway control problems solved.

We had a similar problem with our 2014 Outback 298RE because it had a dry tongue weight of 925#'s.
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