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Old 07-06-2015, 12:42 PM   #21
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I use an equalizer hitch from ETI with my 17b. I believe it to be almost half the price of the Anderson hitch. On my old tow, 2010 Ford Ranger 4x4 4l, it worked just fine. I hardly knew I was towing. I now use it on my 2015 Toyota Tacoma p/u because I didn't feel the need to spend the money for anything else. Same great result. I'd stick with the equalizer hitch if I were in your tow.
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Old 07-06-2015, 01:05 PM   #22
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The equalizer ( or WDH ) hitch ETI sells is actually a Pro Series ( it's not the brand Equalizer ).
I have no plans to replace it with an Andersen. Works just fine. Haven't had to replace any parts in seven years, but it isn't light.
If I could get away with no WDH, I would, but the combo feels super secure with it. No problems with sway, crosswinds, overtaking semis. Just 'truck'n.
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Old 07-06-2015, 03:11 PM   #23
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hitch questions

When towing a 17 Casita with a Ford 150 super crew I stopped during a trip to buy a simple WDH hitch, not for sway but for the vertical movement on the truck lanes of the freeway. That solved the problem and I have not towed an RV trailer since without a WDH.
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Old 07-06-2015, 04:00 PM   #24
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Originally Posted by liveoakal View Post
Greetings everyone,

This is my first post since introducing my wife and I back in May. We are starting to get serious about making build-sheet decisions and what baffles me the most is what to decide about the hitch system.

Our TV is a 2000 4Runner V6 4WD. It has a tow rating of 5000 lb. We will be towing a new 17A with a total dry weight of 1970 and a GVWR of 3500. My 4Runner manual states that when towing over 2000 lb it is necessary to use a sway control device of sufficient capacity.

My towing experience has been limited to our old 78 Coachman tent trailer which is very light and easy to deal with. Now I have to learn to correctly handle a much larger, heavier rig with electric brakes.

Our "hatch" date is December 14 and we would like to drive from our home in central CA up to Chilliwack and bring our new trailer home at that time. A concern of mine is then driving hundreds of miles down the west coast during the season of winter storms coming in off of the Pacific.

So.....What is the best hitch setup for me? Equalizer?, Andersen?, sway control?

I asked this question of my local RV service tech and he suggested that I simply start with the standard hitch provided by ETI and see how it goes. Then make modifications as necessary. This sounds OK except that I do not want to find out that I should have something better after starting out on our journey home.

So there you have it. I would greatly appreciate hearing from all of you. Especially other 17 owners.

Allan
For what it's worth I towed my 2015 17B back to Calgary from Chilliwack in May with a standard class 3 hitch and didn't even know it was back there. My tow vehicle is a 2007 FJ Cruiser which also has tow rating of 5000 lbs. My partner kept saying "remember you have an egg behind you!". I don't intend on getting a different hitch unless I move up to a 19.
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Old 07-06-2015, 05:55 PM   #25
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Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
It took me six years to get a response from Toyota, but the manual for the RAV4 ( 2008 ) says a WDH is not recommended.
What it should have said is that Toyota does not recommend a particular WDH.
When they finally replied, they said they do not have a relationship with a WDH provider and so they cannot recommend one.
I looked it up, and for the 2007 4Runner, the wording from Toyota is quite definitive (even thought their command of the English language needs some work):
"Do not install weight distributing hitch to weight carrying hitch receiver because it will be damaged your vehicle."

The "weight carrying hitch receiver" is what comes with the factory tow package for the 4th Gen V6 4Runner (there is a picture in the manual). The V8 has a different receiver, which is safe for a WDH without "be damaged your vehicle"
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Old 07-06-2015, 06:05 PM   #26
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The issue may be the hitch receiver that is factory. On my RAV4, their OEM receiver was only class II and a class III is needed for WDH.
So, I had a class III hitch receiver installed at the dealership, by an after-market guy, prior to taking delivery. He also installed and wired the brake controller. All that for $300 less than the Toyota factory hitch receiver.
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Old 07-06-2015, 06:41 PM   #27
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I have a WDH installed by ETI. Has worked great so far. One thing I noticed is how much the tire pressure changes on my truck. It increases by 3 to 4 psi in front and back. Is this normal / OK for travel or should I decrease the pressure of the tires under load to the recommended levels?
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Old 07-06-2015, 07:37 PM   #28
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I have a WDH installed by ETI. Has worked great so far. One thing I noticed is how much the tire pressure changes on my truck. It increases by 3 to 4 psi in front and back. Is this normal / OK for travel or should I decrease the pressure of the tires under load to the recommended levels?
Yes, there's a slight increase. On our F150 we run 40 psi on the rear tires and 37 psi on the front. Didn't notice any change in the ratio, but there was a slight increase on all 4. Usually you can exceed the standard inflation by 4 psi and still be inside the recommended limits.
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Old 07-06-2015, 08:40 PM   #29
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Always check your tires "cold" and inflate to the recommended pressure on your door jamb or on the tire. Do not let air out if it exceeds these numbers once the tires are warmed up. They are made to allow normal heat expansion. I believe the trailer tires are 50 psi.
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Old 07-06-2015, 09:00 PM   #30
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Originally Posted by goalie39 View Post
I looked it up, and for the 2007 4Runner, the wording from Toyota is quite definitive (even thought their command of the English language needs some work):
"Do not install weight distributing hitch to weight carrying hitch receiver because it will be damaged your vehicle."

The "weight carrying hitch receiver" is what comes with the factory tow package for the 4th Gen V6 4Runner (there is a picture in the manual). The V8 has a different receiver, which is safe for a WDH without "be damaged your vehicle"
Did you look this up in your manual, or just online?
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Old 07-06-2015, 09:52 PM   #31
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Do some more research and I think you'll find the "weight carrying hitch receiver" is Class II.
Class III is required a weight distributing hitch.
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Old 07-06-2015, 10:31 PM   #32
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Originally Posted by GRINGOandTICA View Post
Did you look this up in your manual, or just online?
From Toyota's on-line version of the manual:
http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/docum...866U/pdf/3.pdf


Also, it's definitely a Class III (rated at 5000 lbs), just not weight distributing -- check out this link:
Trailer Hitches, Hitch Accessories, Hitch Wiring
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Old 07-07-2015, 12:02 AM   #33
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Originally Posted by gbaglo View Post
Do some more research and I think you'll find the "weight carrying hitch receiver" is Class II.
Class III is required a weight distributing hitch.
The hitch classes are just weight capacity ranges, so any hitch rated for 5000 pounds (or indeed anything more than 3500 pounds) of trailer is Class 3. Between 5,000 and 10,000 pound capacity makes it Class 4.

The now-ancient VESC V-5 standard defines weight distribution, but the current SAE J684 standard makes no reference to weight-distribution systems at all. A WD system could be used in any class, and a hitch can be any class without being required to allow WD. It is just normal practice in the North American towing equipment industry to make WD hardware only to fit 2" and larger receivers, and to use a 2" square receiver size for Class 3.

So in practical terms, you do need Class 3 or higher to use WD, but not all Class 3 receivers allow WD.
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Old 07-07-2015, 12:20 AM   #34
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Originally Posted by goalie39 View Post
While generally decently written, there are several errors in the class description, including the wrong weight limit for Class 3, and a nonsensical confusion of Class 3 and Class 4 ratings. Most of the information is about typical practices, not the classes as defined by the standards.

While this might look "official" because it appears to be from Reese (a major towing equipment brand), the actual manufacturer's site is www.reeseprod.com; this one is a retailer.
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