Fastway e2 wdh?

[Baca56]

Hello, Since ETI recently started offering the Fastway E2. Is anyone with a 21 using this hitch? Are you happy with your choice? if you have a pick up will the tailgate open? (We have a chevy Silverado)
Thanks, Kevin

[Rossue]

Am also interested in feedback from anyone using this WDH to replace my Andersen. Seems to get very good ratings on etrailer.

[Loren & Cathy]

A WDH is an option that can easily be added later. I am giving the Andersen one more chance from the sleeve failing at around 3,000 miles. There probably are very few of these Fastway hitches out on Escapes as the switch over was starting in mid Sept. Loren

[thoer]

I too like the design of the Fastway E2 - lets hope someone here has some feedback for us.

[Sandra L]

Are the "arms" lighter weight on the Fastway than that of the ones with chains?

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Sandra L

Are the "arms" lighter weight on the Fastway than that of the ones with chains?

There is no reason that they should be. They are the same working length, and so they need to apply the same force to do the same amount of load transfer (weight re-distribution). They are just like any other round-bar WDH bars, with flat ends (some other brands with chains have flat ends, too).

The e2 bars might even be a bit heavier if they are longer so that they don't pull out the of the brackets in turns (since it doesn't have chains to keep things connected).

[Mary F]

Originally Posted by Baca56

Hello, Since ETI recently started offering the Fastway E2. Is anyone with a 21 using this hitch? Are you happy with your choice? if you have a pick up will the tailgate open? (We have a chevy Silverado)
Thanks, Kevin

We have it on our 21 (picked up Sept 25, 2015). It was a snap decision and I guess we like it okay. The mount has slipped once, probably because of maneuvering to get out of a tight gas station driveway. It was difficult to get it to unhook that night. Had to release the driver's side mount (where it's clamped to the trailer)...

And, no, we cannot open our 2013 Ford F-150 tailgate when the 21 is hitched up. It's because of the tongue jack, though, not the hitch. And, yes, it's very inconvenient, but what're you gonna do?

[paulw]

Originally Posted by Mary F

...

And, no, we cannot open our 2013 Ford F-150 tailgate when the 21 is hitched up. It's because of the tongue jack, though, not the hitch. And, yes, it's very inconvenient, but what're you gonna do?

What I did:
New Home – Jack-E-Up

[NW Cat Owner]

Originally Posted by paulw

What I did:
New Home – Jack-E-Up

Hey, that's a great product! I've bookmarked their site. Thanks for the info.

I've got the Fastway hitch on my build sheet.

[Rossue]

Have decided to replace my Andersen with the Pro Series. Had it with the 17B and like many others here never had a problem with it. The Andersen had significant wear issues in the chain guides and creaked pretty bad.

The Pro Series Escape now sells is the trunnion which will have better clearance than the round bars they sold previously for those who need that and is said by Etrailer to be a bit stouter. The shipping weight is 4 lbs. more than the Fastway.

[Losangeles]

so anyone else using the Fastway e2 wdh?

ETI says it is the best choice for the bigger trailers they sell - such as the 21' we will be ordering soon.

[Jeff in Salinas]

It is probably overkill for my trailer but since my first and not knowing what I'd need I went for the E2 wdh. Will pick up end of April so will find out then.

Jeff

[Greggo]

Any labor savings with a wdh is worth exploring. The downside for us of going from a 19 to a 21 is using a wdh. Dread it, greasy hands, etc. We used a single bar Reese on my Casita/Tacoma. Since the tounge weight is roughly similar as a Casita, I'm wondering if anybody has used a single bar hitch. It was fine with half the grease and hassle.

G

[cpaharley2008]

Andersen has no grease nor bars, just 2 lightweight chains.

[Greg A]

I have bars on the pro series, but haven't run into any grease. Am I supposed to have messy grease?

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Greggo

We used a single bar Reese on my Casita/Tacoma. Since the tounge weight is roughly similar as a Casita, I'm wondering if anybody has used a single bar hitch.

That design always made a lot of sense to me, but it seems to have disappeared from the Reese WD product range, although it is offered by various retailers (who may have old stock, or may not be able to deliver it). Even if you find one, one of its advantages is also a problem: the frame which holds the convenient lever arm (to apply it) and makes one bar possible (by bridging across the tongue) needs to run across the tongue, and the propane tanks are probably in the way of installing that in the current Escape tongue configuration.

Strangely, the Light-Duty WD web page still describes the very different single-bar design, even though the products listed are both conventional two-bar round-bar WD systems:

Light-Duty Weight Distributing system is especially designed for use with lighter weight trailers and pop-up campers. The center mount single bar is contoured to avoid interference with center mounted jacks. Easy to set up and use. The lift mechanism is designed to prevent interference with gas bottles or battery trays. Works with any 2" receiver.
The integrated lifter bar feature provides the advantage of allowing a single person to operate from one side of the trailer. This system works with both side and center mounted tongue jacks. The sway control platform allows you to put a friction sway control on either side of the trailer.

[Losangeles]

No grease on my Kurt WDH

works like a charm.

[gbaglo]

I grease the hitch. Then it is lowered onto the ball, which picks up grease. Then when removing the WDH after a trip, I pick it up by the ball.
I've done it a thousand times. Who says an old dog can learn?

[thoer]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I grease the hitch. Then it is lowered onto the ball, which picks up grease. Then when removing the WDH after a trip, I pick it up by the ball.
I've done it a thousand times. Who says an old dog can learn?

I have several pairs of pants that attest to my forgetting to put the cover I have for the ball on it before unloading the tow.....

[Dave Walter]

Originally Posted by thoer

I have several pairs of pants that attest to my forgetting to put the cover I have for the ball on it before unloading the tow.....

I would recommend wearing shorts when hitching/unhitching. It is much less stressful to clean the grease off of your shins than to have your significant other complain about you having ruined yet another pair of pants.