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Lucky Dog · 03-26-2011, 07:40 PM

Getting ready for our first trip with the Silverado 2500 Duramax/Allison TV. Original hitch and ball height was set up by the AS dealer for our F-150 so after reading as many posts on the subject as I could, my son and I spent some time today adjusting the ball and hitch for the Chevy. I think I have it about as good as I can get it with the amount of experience I have. Am using the Reese WD and dual cam set up and the 800 lb trunnion bars. Without being able to get to scales yet, I think it is looking pretty good. I'm using 6 links on the chains as 5 jacked the rear up without too much difference to the front. I am thinking that is because of the big diesel sitiing up on the front axles of the truck. 6 links kept everything about the same with out too much stress on the bars.

Will try and post pictures in here; maybe some of you can give it an eyeball and let me know what you think. Trailer is a 23' Flying Cloud with lounge. Specs say max 6000# and a 750# tongue weight. For reference, there is about 7" inches clearance from the bottom of the hitch shank to the ground. Thanks for the help.

Airslide · 03-26-2011, 07:43 PM

Sounds good... but you know we love pictures.

Hit the scales to be sure.

Vinnie

Lucky Dog · 03-26-2011, 07:43 PM

I don't think the pictures made it, will re-size and try again.

Lucky Dog · 03-26-2011, 08:13 PM

OK, lets try for some pictures again.

Airslide · 03-26-2011, 08:22 PM

The only problem I see is that the bars may make contact with driveways and such. You might consider the angle of the hitch and tip it a bit more. This will allow the bars to be a bit more horizontal when under load and a bit more ground clearance when out on the road. There are several threads here to better describe this. The overall setup looks level and a nice overall outfit.

Vinnie

Lucky Dog · 03-26-2011, 08:38 PM

I will re-check the distance from the ends of the spring bars to the ground before hooking up the trailer and perhaps tilt the ball head a notch (forward, toward the tailgate I assume you mean). Thanks, I appreciate the help.

Inland RV Center, In · 03-26-2011, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucky Dog

I will re-check the distance from the ends of the spring bars to the ground before hooking up the trailer and perhaps tilt the ball head a notch (forward, toward the tailgate I assume you mean). Thanks, I appreciate the help.

A perfect setup with Reese bars and their sway control, is to have 5 links "under stress".

Your bars are too close to the ground.

Andy

Airslide · 03-26-2011, 08:47 PM

Heres a picture of mine. Its a bit different because Im using an airsafe hitch and have round bars vs trunnian style. Even with my bars like this I still make contact once in a while.

Vinnie

ROBERTSUNRUS · 03-26-2011, 09:40 PM

Hi, Lucky Dog. Other than what has already been said, I have two things to add. If you are actually towing like this [or maybe just testing] I would install a lock or pin in the coupler latch. And when you are happy with your adjustments, I would cut off the excess on the bottom of your shank. I cut one hole off of mine.

Airslide · 03-26-2011, 09:45 PM

Thats a good point Bob. When you slam down on that you know it! and too often the chains find their way under it and grind away on the street.

Lucky Dog · 03-27-2011, 06:34 AM

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I do usually have a lock in the coupler and thought about cutting the last inch or so off of the shank. It bottomed as I was putting the AS back up into the driveway when we were done for the day. I will remeasure, adjust and get back to 5 links on the set up as Andy suggested. Vinnie, I can see how your bars are more parallel to the ground. Thanks again for the help. I appreciate it.

kry226 · 03-30-2011, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

A perfect setup with Reese bars and their sway control, is to have 5 links "under stress".

Your bars are too close to the ground.

Andy

Andy, since I am usually on the slow bus when it comes to visualizing what people write, I assume you mean that the fifth link from the cam/saddle should be hooked, correct? TIA.

Inland RV Center, In · 03-30-2011, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kry226

Andy, since I am usually on the slow bus when it comes to visualizing what people write, I assume you mean that the fifth link from the cam/saddle should be hooked, correct? TIA.

Correct.

How many chain links are under stress is important.

How many links hang loose, means nothing, since sometimes there are more links to the complete chain on one side than the other side.

Therefore counting the number of links under stress is very important as well as directing a person attention to any twist that might be accidentially put in the chain, which decreases it's length, which would place a different load on the torsion bars from one side to the other.

Andy 10.3

AirsDream · 03-30-2011, 06:37 AM

One other comment: I'd re-route your breakaway switch cable ... it looks to me as if the breakaway chains are going to rub on / interfere with that cable. You don't want the cable to get tangled in the chains and then accidentally have the cable pulled. It also appears to be hooked right to the hitch receiver ... and if the hitch should fail completely and fall off, is there a chance that it would go sliding down the road with the trailer for a while, resulting in a non-activation of the trailer brakes? I don't know the answer, but I always attach mine (using a carabiner) to something other than the hitch receiver itself.

Perhaps others with more experience can comment on whether I'm just paranoid ... well, even if I am ...

Chuck · 03-30-2011, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AirsDream

Perhaps others with more experience can comment on whether I'm just paranoid ... well, even if I am ...

you're right. That is considered a "best practice". I replaced one of my license plate bolts with a stainless-steel eye hook, and attach to that.

I'll also add that the break-away cable should be longer than the umbilical, so it is the last thing to disconnect from the tow vehicle.

kry226 · 03-30-2011, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

Correct.

How many chain links are under stress is important.

How many links hang loose, means nothing, since sometimes there are more links to the complete chain on one side than the other side.

Therefore counting the number of links under stress is very important as well as directing a person attention to any twist that might be accidentially put in the chain, which decreases it's length, which would place a different load on the torsion bars from one side to the other.

Andy 10.3

Great. Thanks!