Weight Bearing Hitch; Lesson Learned and a Question

[marant]

Thanks to all, particularly the videos. It is all very helpful.

I have not decided whether or not to do it myself, need to find a large torque wrench first. It is enough of a precision task that it may be best to have it done professionally. I had no idea it was as complicated as it is.

One thing for sure, the hitch is not presently adjusted for my truck and must be changed. With the information from this post it is obvious that the hitch is tilted back too much, which results in the bars pointing toward the ground and not parallel to the trailer chassis. This puts the end too close to the ground and is the reason one of them hit the street in the dip.

Another lesson learned: Just because a WBH works on one vehicle does not mean it will on a different vehicle without being readjusted.


The Escape Forum once again solves a problem which will result in trailer-truck operation more safely for all!

[marant]

(Mods): I think I should have put this under Towing and Hitches. I did not realize the direction it would take.

Do you want to move it with a link?

[gbaglo]

You need to stop using "WBH" or you will be misunderstood. It is a Weight Distributing Hitch "WDH".

[dfandrews]

Mike,
Keep in mind that, until you configure/adjust your WDH, it is certainly possible to tow your Escape 17B without a WDH, using only a regular ball mount.
We have a 17A that we have towed with our Honda Pilot for 4 years and thousands of miles, with no problems whatsoever.

[marant]

Originally Posted by dfandrews

Mike,
Keep in mind that, until you configure/adjust your WDH, it is certainly possible to tow your Escape 17B without a WDH, using only a regular ball mount.
We have a 17A that we have towed with our Honda Pilot for 4 years and thousands of miles, with no problems whatsoever.

I tried that for a short distance and experienced a pronounced pitching. May have been to the hitch orientation, but went away when I put the spring bars on the WDH. A 17B should not require a WDH. Maybe I will try it again when the hitch is properly adjusted.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by marant

A 17B should not require a WDH. Maybe I will try it again when the hitch is properly adjusted.

I've towed a short distance without WDH and found the ride and security when using WDH is well worth the effort to install it. This is especially true when having to make abrupt lane changes to avoid objects or other vehicles.
It also levels the trailer and tow.

[LIJ Michael]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Here is the link LIJMichael tried to post for the Fastway E2

Thanks Jim, I tried several times but the only thing that would show would be a div marker.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by marant

I have not decided whether or not to do it myself, need to find a large torque wrench first. It is enough of a precision task that it may be best to have it done professionally. I had no idea it was as complicated as it is.

It's actually not very complicated, but it can be real work and will take some time for trial-and-error. You need only two wrenches to loosen those big bolts and nuts, one of those wrenches and a torque wrench for final tightening, and a tape measure. The procedure is fundamentally the same for almost any WDH with chains.

[marant]

Hauled the Errant Escape down to the Harbor Freight parking lot (just in case!) to find a level place to check out the WDH settings. Once I moved the hitch ball back to vertical I found that the rest of the hitch was fine. I expect this was due to it being a used hitch, not needing initial setup. I was glad I did not have to buy a breaker bar, deep socket and 400lb/ft torque wrench.

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.