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andreasduess · 02-14-2014, 05:49 PM

I'd love to get a X5, but with three kids I think I prefer three rows of seating, which restrict us to the larger SUVs.

When we were just married, we looked at the X3 (not as a TV, just for the two of us) but then decided on a Mercedes B-Class instead. Now, that was a small car.

rostam · 02-14-2014, 07:32 PM

I believe x5 comes with optional 3rd row seats. They are cramped though

jcl · 02-14-2014, 10:36 PM

Cramped, and difficult to access. And you lose your luggage capacity. If you need three rows of seats a minivan makes a lot more sense.

ALANSD · 02-15-2014, 02:47 PM

Or an...Excursion

m.hony · 02-15-2014, 07:50 PM

I saw an excursion today.
First time I have seen one in a month.
I was kinda sorta surprised, like ,"Wow! There's an Excursion! And it's clean, too! All Armor-All'ed down and everything!"
How many thousands of Suburbans have I seen in the same month?

ALANSD · 02-16-2014, 08:59 AM

I got my brake controller and tailer light converter installed on the Trailblazer.
We went out today to try a test run.
BUt the truck sites up higher than my Excursion and the ball on the hitch never quite got under the trailer to attach. We cranked the trailer up all the way but we had about 1-2 inches more height needed. What do I do now?

The photo shows it as a little more difference than it actually is...

ALANSD · 02-16-2014, 09:03 AM

Here is a possible solution..what do you think?

Chuck · 02-16-2014, 09:24 AM

no, not strong enough. You need a drop-shank with an adjustable head so you can dial that in to the correct height. (and tilt the head back for proper WD).

ALANSD · 02-16-2014, 09:27 AM

I see...will be looking now.....

ALANSD · 02-16-2014, 09:31 AM

how does this work? Not sure if I get the set up

found this..?

Chuck · 02-16-2014, 11:54 AM

yeah, that's it (there are various types/sizes, but that's the thing).

Then you attach an adjustable hitch head to it--it bolts to the shank through 2 of those holes, so there are multiple possible positions, allowing you to set it at the best height.

here's a Reese head:
Reese Towpower 58167 Adjustable Ball Mount Trunnion Hitch : Amazon.com : Automotive

You should be able to find one that matches your WD make/model.

nvestysly · 02-16-2014, 07:30 PM

Alan,

Look at the previously mentioned links (or do some additional searches) and find shanks that have the correct "drop"

I was at PECO recently and they have new and used shanks. Country Boy Trailers in Cumming also sells shanks. Both places were very helpful.

I bought a Curt shank - they were one of the few mfrs. that make the 9" drop that I needed. Both PECO and Country Boy will likely have what you need.

Amazon has very good prices on Curt shanks but you need to know exactly what you need in inches of drop.

Good Luck!

ALANSD · 02-17-2014, 06:42 AM

Yes now that I understand what is needed I have been looking. There is a hitch store on US 41 near me.

ALANSD · 02-17-2014, 12:55 PM

I found a Reese set up, but wondering what weight bars to get.. my tailer is 800lb tongue weight. 4200 trailer weight

gmw photos · 02-17-2014, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALANSD

I found a Reese set up, but wondering what weight bars to get.. my tailer is 800lb tongue weight. 4200 trailer weight

Alan,
Of course, do this however you see fit, and try to figure it any way you like, but if it were me, I would take the new tow vehicle and the trailer to the CAT scale, and get the initial numbers ( truck by itself, and the trailer just "on the ball" ) and proceed from there in choosing appropriate weight distribution bars.

EDIT: 800 pound tongue on a 4200 pound trailer is 19%. Not saying you are wrong, but that sounds like an abnormally high percentage.

gmw photos · 02-17-2014, 01:13 PM

And not trying to divert attention away from Alan's current questions, but what have you all with Mark and his Chysler 300C ? He has not been back since Feb 5th. Has he hit the road with the A/S in tow behind the 300, and having so much fun that he can't even stop long enough to check in ..... ? ?

ALANSD · 02-17-2014, 05:20 PM

on the road again!! as Willie would say.

ALANSD · 02-17-2014, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmw photos

Alan,
Of course, do this however you see fit, and try to figure it any way you like, but if it were me, I would take the new tow vehicle and the trailer to the CAT scale, and get the initial numbers ( truck by itself, and the trailer just "on the ball" ) and proceed from there in choosing appropriate weight distribution bars.

EDIT: 800 pound tongue on a 4200 pound trailer is 19%. Not saying you are wrong, but that sounds like an abnormally high percentage.

you are right sir! I went on another site ( AIRSTREAM.com) and the correct tongue weight is 400.
So a 1000 pound tw hitch is overkill I guess. Funny but less expensive than a 750 or 550

gmw photos · 02-17-2014, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALANSD

you are right sir! I went on another site ( AIRSTREAM.com) and the correct tongue weight is 400.
So a 1000 pound tw hitch is overkill I guess. Funny but less expensive than a 750 or 550

Not to put too fine a point on it Alan, but the "correct" tongue weight is.....( drum roll please...)...... what ever the scales say it is for "your" trailer loaded as "you" would do for a trip.

EDIT: a 4000 pound travel trailer might reasonably be expected to have about a 600 pound tongue weight.

StreaminGuy · 02-19-2014, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmw photos

Not to put too fine a point on it Alan, but the "correct" tongue weight is.....( drum roll please...)...... what ever the scales say it is for "your" trailer loaded as "you" would do for a trip.

EDIT: a 4000 pound travel trailer might reasonably be expected to have about a 600 pound tongue weight.

Alan,

GMW is exactly right... load, how full the propane tanks are, fresh water tank filled, etc., all contribute to varying tonque weight for your particular rig. What is VERY important is hitch ball height. Your loaded, ready to travel, on level ground, measured from the "ground to the top of ball" HITCH BALL HEIGHT should be 20.5". I use a measuring stick to measure mine. Slightly less would be better than slightly higher if you can't get it dead on. It will make the difference between feeling like you are towing the trailer or "dragging" the trailer. When you have too low of a hitch height, it makes the trailer feel much heavier. The type of adjustable hitch that you aquired is just what you need. I've owned 97 vehicles in my life and have towed our Caravel with nine vehicles that i can think of. Even with the two duallies I've had, I could tell a big difference towing when hitch ball height was off or when weight bars were not used. If you want to see this for yourself, set it up and tow at 20.5" then drop it down to about 17" and go back out...you'll be checking to see if your parking brake is on.

Thanks, G