E23 on order? What WDH weight will you use?

[Islandrado]

WDH for E23

I purchased the “True Tow” middleweight WDH from Weigh Safe with the lighter spring bars rated for 8,500 lbs. It is a fantastic hitch with a scale built in and a screw adjustable ball angle to tune the exact amount of weight distribution back to the tow vehicle-price is comparable to the better WDH with sway control hitches.

 

[CamperCamper]

I purchased the “True Tow” middleweight WDH from Weigh Safe with the lighter spring bars rated for 8,500 lbs. It is a fantastic hitch with a scale built in and a screw adjustable ball angle to tune the exact amount of weight distribution back to the tow vehicle-price is comparable to the better WDH with sway control hitches.

I am picking up my E 23 in July. Do you have anything to report so far? I am considering this hitch or the Andersen. I have used the True Tow Heavyweight on a 10k GVW trailer and love the performance and tongue scale. But, not sure if I need such a rugged and heavy system. So, the Andersen is very attractive to me for the weight savings.

 

[John Webb]

Very timely thread, as I have put a deposit on a E23. My tow vehicle is a ‘24 Silverado 3500 with the Duramax diesel. Truck weighs 8400 lbs. I kind of wonder how much I need a WDH hitch. I would probably be wondering that until I hit a gale in South Dakota! Just curious what others have found with this type of tow vehicle.

 

[brroberts]

I have a midsize and a 3/4 ton. I always use my Equalizer hitch. Just makes the ride smoother and provides sway control if I ever need it. Obviously, the amount of weight distribution is different and the settings are not the same for each truck as the 3/4 has double the payload of the Ranger.

 

[John Webb]

I did a little research on the Anderson. It’s a great idea, if it works, and pretty minimal. Just something about using plastic polyurethane bushings, as, “Springs”, that makes Me wonder about the longevity of it.

 

[Perry Butler]

We're currently using a E2 hitch that came with the trailer and so far, so good.

We've had two previous Blue Ox hitches and if I had to replace our E2 it would be another Blue Ox.

This winter we bent the L bracket on the drivers side, snapped a bolt holding the L bracket on the driver's side, and felt the ride was too stiff with the E2 hitch. Found a like new Blue Ox Sway Pro on Craigslist for $250. Went on a 500 mile trip a couple of weeks ago. Huge difference in the ride! Huge difference!

We've had a couple of Equalizers in the past and felt the trailer and truck were locked together. They were, because the bars of an Equalizer or E2 are so stiff giving a much poorer ride. I guess now having an equal number of both style hitches we'll stay with the Blue Ox if we ever get another camper.

Just one opinion in a sea of many,

We have the Fastway E2 on our E21C; works well. Easy to put the bars on if you crank up the tongue to maximum height.

I have seen one guy have a terrible time trying to get the Blue Ox chains on.

If you don't raise the jack high enough the chains are hard to install. The same thing about too low applies to the E2 and Equalizer as well. If you raise the jack too high the Blue Ox chains are also hard to install. I've found there is a couple of inches where the chains go on easily. Same applies when removing the bars.

Some jacks with a tall truck, especially 3/4 ton or more, can't lift the ball high enough and no matter what you do the bars are hard to install. We gave away our 18" lift jack to a friend for a 24" lift and no problems hooking up either our E2/Equalizer or the Blue Ox.

Food for thought,

I did a little research on the Anderson. It’s a great idea, if it works, and pretty minimal. Just something about using plastic polyurethane bushings, as, “Springs”, that makes Me wonder about the longevity of it.

Like the L bracket hitches, the Andersen locks the truck and trailer together giving a harsher ride and some believe are harder on the truck and trailer frames. I've had this discussion with a couple of other members here, who have seen their ride improve with chain WDH's.

We have a E2 ($100) and an Andersen ($150) for sale.

Perry

 

[LRL]

I did a little research on the Anderson. It’s a great idea, if it works, and pretty minimal. Just something about using plastic polyurethane bushings, as, “Springs”, that makes Me wonder about the longevity of it.

I can’t speak to longevity yet, as we’ve only been using the Anderson with our E23 since this March, but it’s super easy to set up and it works great without the creaking and groaning and grinding I was used to with our old sway bars.

Bottom line is that there are many right answers here. Go with what feels best and most comfortable to you, use it correctly, and you’ll be just fine.

 

[John Webb]

Thank You for the info. I really like the Anderson for it’s ease of hooking up. I have awhile to think about this. I think I will call the hitch company that escape uses, just to get Their opinion too

 

[John Webb]

I appreciate You sharing Your experiences with Me. There is no substitute for in-the-field use in My opinion. Thank You!

 

[John Webb]

Thank You!

 

[Genebuilder]

Curious. Has anyone measured the actual tongue weight of a E23 using a Sherline Scale or equivalent method? I know what the published number is, but also know it can vary widely. Knowing actual, not published tongue weight is a good first step to determining what weight rating the WD hitch should be.

 

[John in Santa Cruz]

note replacement urethane elastic bushings for the andersen are quite cheap and trivial to replace.

 

[John Webb]

In My snooping around reading about this, it seems like most folks go with a 1000 lb. Rated hitch. I went on a real tear last night watching Utube videos. I have not really made up My mind yet, I did see a hitch made By Camco. It was an EZ Lift TR3. I would like to hear from somebody that has used one. Sounds like they are a fairly new design. I really liked the fact that it looked way safer to set the torsion bars, as it took very little strength to set them.

 

[CharlesinGA]

This winter we bent the L bracket on the drivers side, snapped a bolt holding the L bracket on the driver's side, and felt the ride was too stiff with the E2 hitch. Found a like new Blue Ox Sway Pro on Craigslist for $250. Went on a 500 mile trip a couple of weeks ago. Huge difference in the ride! Huge difference!

We've had a couple of Equalizers in the past and felt the trailer and truck were locked together. They were, because the bars of an Equalizer or E2 are so stiff giving a much poorer ride. I guess now having an equal number of both style hitches we'll stay with the Blue Ox if we ever get another camper.

Just one opinion in a sea of many,

If you don't raise the jack high enough the chains are hard to install. The same thing about too low applies to the E2 and Equalizer as well. If you raise the jack too high the Blue Ox chains are also hard to install. I've found there is a couple of inches where the chains go on easily. Same applies when removing the bars.

Some jacks with a tall truck, especially 3/4 ton or more, can't lift the ball high enough and no matter what you do the bars are hard to install. We gave away our 18" lift jack to a friend for a 24" lift and no problems hooking up either our E2/Equalizer or the Blue Ox.

Food for thought,

Like the L bracket hitches, the Andersen locks the truck and trailer together giving a harsher ride and some believe are harder on the truck and trailer frames. I've had this discussion with a couple of other members here, who have seen their ride improve with chain WDH's.

We have a E2 ($100) and an Andersen ($150) for sale.

Perry

Perry your experience mirrors what I experienced and have espoused for quite some time now on every forum where someone brags about the equalizer.

Those steel bars don't flex, they just stress the truck and the trailer frames. I bought a BOSP from a guy in Tampa FL, I drove to the Orlando area and picked up some extra long Thule roof rack bars from a fellow, and then over to Tampa to pick up a nearly new BOSP that the seller said he had only used a couple of times and then sold the trailer. They were selling the house and had no time or money for camping. Long ride, left early and got home late.

I bought a second BOSP (both had 1000 lb bars) from a guy at the company I retired from. I didn't know him but turned out he worked in the same facility I had. He had upgraded to a 5th wheel and had kept the BOSP, so I paid $250 for it and later resold it to the guy I travel with alot.

If you need shorter bolts to retain the frame brackets, go to McMaster-Carr and search for "cup point set screw" they have stainless ones and you need them in 1/2-13 thread. 1-1/2 inch length works real well, leaving room for the lock nut.

I had an Equal-i-zer and gave it away with the Thor trailer I sold. Glad to see it go.

Charles

 

[John in Santa Cruz]

when I towed our E21 with our F250 longbed diesel, I didn't need any sort of antisway or WDH, the ride was as stable as can be.

When I switched to the Expedition as the tow vehicle, well, on our 9900 mile Mexico trip, I was towing with a simple ball, and it was a bit bouncy in the cab, and at higher speeds there was some tendency to sway when the trailer and truck were heavily loaded with bikes in the back of the trailer (4 month trip...) ..

I added the Andersen when we got home, and so far it seems to be doing the trick on our next trip, home to Grass Valley to Nevada City to Reno to home.

 

[John Webb]

Thank You for the info! The Anderson is on the list of possible candidates. My truck is pretty large and heavy. I suspect that it would tow the E23 fine without a WDH, but have decided to go with one anyway. I think it would help in extremely windy conditions. I do want to look into the Camco EZ Lift TR3 also.

 

[John in Santa Cruz]

WDH is almost entirely for controlling the tow vehicle 'bobbing' or 'porpoising' up and down when going over bumps and dips in the road, on their own they do nothing for sway. OTOH, the Andersen WDH is as much of a anti-sway as it is a weight distribution.

My F250 diesel towing specs said to use a WDH for trailers over 6500 lbs. It was speced to tow 12500 lbs, with as much as 1500 lbs of tongue weight.

 

[MrLynn]

WDH is almost entirely for controlling the tow vehicle 'bobbing' or 'porpoising' up and down when going over bumps and dips in the road, on their own they do nothing for sway. OTOH, the Andersen WDH is as much of a anti-sway as it is a weight distribution.

My F250 diesel towing specs said to use a WDH for trailers over 6500 lbs. It was speced to tow 12500 lbs, with as much as 1500 lbs of tongue weight.

What I notice most about our Fastway E2 WDH is that pretty much eliminates sway. If it also redistributes weight I can't really tell.

 

[John Webb]

Thank You for Your comments! I got all fired up on hitches, but after quite a bit of research, did not come up with a clear choice. I have time and will think about it some more. I did like the EAZ Lift TR3, but I think it only came with a 2” shank. It can be used on the GM trucks with a 2 1/2” to 2” insert, but not in love with that, as it really builds a lot of slop into the shank of the hitch. Probably Me just being too picky. When We get a little closer, I will figure it out.

 

[John Webb]

Mrlynn Thank You for Your comment. Seems Like You really like Your E2.