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10-28-2014, 02:56 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2015 28' Flying Cloud
2018 33' Classic
Cumming
, Georgia
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 518
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Happy Retiree
Just ordered our 2015 FC 28 Rear Bed. Will be towing, hopefully with no problems, with our 2015 Tahoe with Andersen WD hitch. Ordered thru Tampa RV ( Stephen Weaver is awesome).
Anyone with a similar AS and TV rig, I'd like to hear your experience so far?
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10-28-2014, 03:16 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
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As I commented earlier in your other Andersen hitch question today, it wouldn't work for our 1/2 ton truck/25' Airstream combination because it is not capable of distributing the weight for safe handling (your steering will be too light) in adverse conditions such as slippery roads and heavy crosswinds. Expect to be pushed around by semi truck bow wave a lot, and you won't like Interstate travel when the crosswinds are strong.
Some with heavy duty trucks are satisfied because there is still plenty of weight on the front axle and don't feel weight distribution is as important, but I still wouldn't recommend it because of other problems which are in the looooong Andersen hitch thread.
__________________
Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles
The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
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10-28-2014, 04:15 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2015 28' Flying Cloud
2018 33' Classic
Cumming
, Georgia
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 518
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dkottum, would you recommend the ProPride, or is the problem my Tahoe?
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10-28-2014, 04:27 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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Yep, I wouldn't dare tow a 28' with an Andersen hitch either. It just won't distribute the weight properly.
__________________
Regards,
Steve
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10-28-2014, 04:51 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2012 27' Flying Cloud
W
, New England
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7,402
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I'm not dkottum (obviously) - we both have ProPrides but he has used others (including the Andersen) before.
Depends on what you need and what you're trying to accomplish. The ProPride virtually projects the pivot point toward the rear axle of your tow vehicle which gives it a "5th wheel" kind of advantage. The advantage is prevention of sway (vs. reaction to it) and ability to dial in exactly what you need for weight distribution. Disadvantages are cost and weight. The ProPride on your 28 could possibly make your tongue weight exceed your Tahoe's hitch receiver limit.
What does your 2015 Tahoe manual say about load restoration for towing? My 2013 3/4 ton truck ranges from 0% to 50% to 100% restoration based on several factors. If you don't require 100% restoration, the Andersen might work for you. Advantages are cost, weight and smooth ride according to those who use it. Disadvantages are potential coupler mismatch and inability to move lots of weight to the front axle.
All boils down to what you want and why. There isn't a single silver bullet.
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10-28-2014, 04:56 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2002 31' Classic
Currently Looking...
Monroe
, Iowa
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 649
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What about the Equalizer hitch?
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10-28-2014, 04:57 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2013 28' Flying Cloud
Central
, Canada
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,082
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Hello Ron - congrat's on your new purchase! (you will love the trailer)
We have the same trailer and tow it with an F150. I cannot comment on the Tahoe as I don't know anything about them. That said, I can comment that the Anderson hitch will not work that great for you as it will not allow you to move enough weight to the front Axle. This will be a problem as the 28' is very heavy on the hitch.
We use a ProPride and have been VERY HAPPY with it.....
hope this help
Cheers
Doug
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Trying to use my camera to create memories - not photographs!
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10-28-2014, 05:46 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
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Look on page 9-83 of your Owners Manual and you will see the adjustment procedure for a weight distribution hitch on your Tahoe. It requires the front of the vehicle height at the wheel well be returned to its height before the trailer is hooked up.
The Andersen can't do it with your Airstream, you will need a spring bar style hitch such as Reese or Eaz-Lift, or if you want the best for towing comfort and safety a ProPride or Hensley. Contact the manufacturers for proper w.d. bar sizing for your rig.
__________________
Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles
The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
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10-29-2014, 03:49 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2015 28' Flying Cloud
2018 33' Classic
Cumming
, Georgia
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 518
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Understand everyone's concern over Andersen. However, my Tahoe hitch max is 1,000 lbs. (see pic). The FC 28 Hitch Weight w/LP only is 976 lbs. From what I understand, the ProPride hitch weighs over 90 lbs. which will exceed the Tahoe's safe hitch weight limit. Seems to this novice that neither ProPride nor Hensley will work with my rig. AM I MISSING SOMETHING? If not, then I've just wasted some serious money on a useless TV.
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10-29-2014, 04:23 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DeltaRon
Attachment 225339
Understand everyone's concern over Andersen. However, my Tahoe hitch max is 1,000 lbs. (see pic). The FC 28 Hitch Weight w/LP only is 976 lbs. From what I understand, the ProPride hitch weighs over 90 lbs. which will exceed the Tahoe's safe hitch weight limit. Seems to this novice that neither ProPride nor Hensley will work with my rig. AM I MISSING SOMETHING? If not, then I've just wasted some serious money on a useless TV.
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Don't know the exact weight of the ProPride because it varies with weight of bars you use, but I can tell you one with 1000 pound bars has a shipping weight of 230 pounds.
__________________
Regards,
Steve
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10-29-2014, 04:26 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2012 27' Flying Cloud
W
, New England
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7,402
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DeltaRon
Understand everyone's concern over Andersen. However, my Tahoe hitch max is 1,000 lbs. (see pic). The FC 28 Hitch Weight w/LP only is 976 lbs. From what I understand, the ProPride hitch weighs over 90 lbs. which will exceed the Tahoe's safe hitch weight limit. Seems to this novice that neither ProPride nor Hensley will work with my rig. AM I MISSING SOMETHING? If not, then I've just wasted some serious money on a useless TV.
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Is that 976 figure from the factory specs? Many of us have found that figure to be shy of the actual tongue when loaded for camping.
You may be able to upgrade your Tahoe with a class 5 receiver which can handle 1500 #. I'm not very deep on mechanical issues so maybe others can chime in on this. If this is possible for your vehicle, it would cost a few hundred bucks but be worth it to keep the rig you like.
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10-29-2014, 04:35 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2015 28' Flying Cloud
2018 33' Classic
Cumming
, Georgia
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 518
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976 is from the Airstream specs for the FC 28 rear bed.
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10-29-2014, 04:58 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
Broadway
, North Carolina
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 838
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Star with gut feel
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeltaRon
Just ordered our 2015 FC 28 Rear Bed.
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Congratulations on your retirement and the excellent start on it with the Airstream - awesome.
I do not know a whole lot about the various WD designs but the comments above on the Andersen should be investigated.
I have however towed all manner of trailer and tow vehicle combinations so can add my two cents based on seat-of-the-pants experience.
The max tongue weight spec on your Tahoe is not really a significant factor here. If you put even close to half the real weight of the Airstream hitch out onto the rear, your Tahoe will squat too much to be comfortable to tow any distance.
Our 25' has a tongue weight of about 750lbs without propane and WD parts. For my 1/2 ton truck I set the bars to shift about 500lbs of it off the rear axle. For the 3/4 ton I shift about 200lbs off.
This just about levels the trucks with minimal squat and good neutral steering feel.
(btw the hitch is an a Reese Dual Cam which has the cast iron WD bars - easily adjusted between the two trucks)
__________________
2006 Safari SE FB
2000 F150 4.2L (retired), 2011 F250 6.2L, 2010 ML550, 2000 Excursion 7.3L
Broadway, NC
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10-29-2014, 07:00 AM
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#14
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4 Rivet Member
Livingston
, Texas
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 394
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DeltaRon
Attachment 225339
Understand everyone's concern over Andersen. However, my Tahoe hitch max is 1,000 lbs. (see pic). The FC 28 Hitch Weight w/LP only is 976 lbs. From what I understand, the ProPride hitch weighs over 90 lbs. which will exceed the Tahoe's safe hitch weight limit. Seems to this novice that neither ProPride nor Hensley will work with my rig. AM I MISSING SOMETHING? If not, then I've just wasted some serious money on a useless TV.
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You are missing the high probability that the Andersen hitch will not be able to transfer enough load from the Tahoe's rear axle to the front axle.
When you combine that high probability with the high probability that the loaded tongue weight will exceed the Tahoe's receiver rating, you are asking for trouble.
IMO, the best way to deal with the weight and load transfer problem is to get a WDH which will be able to transfer sufficient load -- the Andersen will not.
Yes, you can save 20-40# by choosing the Andersen over a bar-type hitch.
But, IMO, that's a very bad choice for your situation.
Ron
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10-29-2014, 11:19 AM
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#15
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Vintage Kin
Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,014
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A ProPride is the way to go. After WD is activated the hitch weight comes down to about 75-80 percent of initial
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