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Old 01-07-2014, 05:12 AM   #1
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2014 2500hd and 23 ft fc fb wd hitch

I have a 2014 GMC 2500HD pickup crewcab and a 2011 flying cloud fb. Is a weight distributing hitch absolutely neccesary?
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Old 01-07-2014, 06:07 AM   #2
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Set the trailer on the ball and see how much the truck's rear suspension compresses. That will answer your question. If the suspension compresses more than 1/2"-1" I would want a weight distributing hitch.
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Old 01-07-2014, 06:14 AM   #3
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Here is another clue if the truck is overloaded with too much tongue weight and needs a weight distribution system. If the pickup rear end of the truck squats too much, your high beams will let you see the raccoons in the tree tops and the low beams will nicely illuminate the lower branches about ten feet off the road. However the road surface will only have back scatter light.
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Old 01-07-2014, 06:15 AM   #4
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Ditto....what do you plan to carry in the bed? If more than a couple of hundred pounds + the AS hitch weight, then a little WD will probably make your handling better. Measuring the trim heights empty and loaded will help with your decision....as well as proper scale readings.
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Old 01-07-2014, 09:19 AM   #5
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I have a 2012 Chevy 2500HD crew cab 6.0 gas engine and tow a 25 foot AS. I have towed once without the benefit of WD with an empty truck and the steering was not a problem. To me one of the major benefits to a good quality WD hitch is that it will also give you sway control. So my answer is that you need a good quality WD hitch in order to have good sway control which will basically give you sway prevention. I have a Propride hitch for my rig. The electronic sway control that comes on some of the newer trucks does not prevent sway, it takes control when it senses that sway is happening. You want to make sure there is no sway for the truck to need to act on.
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Old 01-07-2014, 09:25 AM   #6
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Bud is correct for many hitches which need WD to perform anti-sway. A PP and HAHA do not require any substantial WD to prevent sway.
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Old 01-07-2014, 10:16 AM   #7
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The 23FB's seem rather light on the hitch until you load it. Then you load the pickup bed (which is the only reason you need a 3/4 ton to tow). This will lighten the truck's front axle less than ideal for steering control, sway resistance, and headlight aim.

The w.d. hitch is a great and simple device, why not take advantage of it.
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Old 01-07-2014, 03:24 PM   #8
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How much tongue weight ?
What is the receiver rated to carry, WC, and WD ?
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Old 01-07-2014, 05:12 PM   #9
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I tow our '09 23' Flying Cloud with a 2006 Silverado 2500 HD diesel. We use the Reese dual cam WD and sway control hitch, am happy with it and, personally, would not tow without some brand of WD and sway control/prevention. The old saying "just because you can doesn't mean you should" comes to mind. The diesel motor in our 2500 is heavy and probably offsets some of the tongue weight of our trailer, but measuring the rise/squat in the front/rear wheel wells with trailer tongue on hitch ball clearly showed a need. I am more confident knowing I have the truck-trailer system as level/balanced as I can get it, using WD.

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Old 01-07-2014, 08:17 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gmw photos View Post
How much tongue weight ?
What is the receiver rated to carry, WC, and WD ?
Tongue weight approx 500 to 600 lbs. reciever class V 13000, ball Class V 12000. I had older Suburban and the 23ft Airstream came with 10000 lb equalizer hitch , seemed too stiff and replaced it with A 6000 lb equalizer hitch. Just havent installed on new 2500hd , havent even pulled the AS with new truck yet. It is sort of iced in where it is stored. So I got the 2.5 inch hitch and put the ball on it. Cant wait to get rollin. Didnt want the HD WD equalizer with the new truck. Im sure i'll get the new WD hitch put on , just wanted feedback on those who have similar setups without the WD hitch. I'll know alot more ehen I can finaly get hooked up. Really appriciate all your advice. Thanks so much.
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Old 01-08-2014, 07:42 AM   #11
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Originally Posted by submirj View Post
I have a 2014 GMC 2500HD pickup crewcab and a 2011 flying cloud fb. Is a weight distributing hitch absolutely neccesary?
Read through the owners manual on towing requirements (and distinguish them from recommendations).

Take the truck & trailer across a certified scale to get axle weights with and without trailer in tow. Obtain separate weight readings for trailer axles and tongue.

Work from real numbers, not guesstimates. Get truck tire pressures dialled in per the scale (load versus pressure tables inside of boundaries set by factory) ideally wheel-by-wheel weights with and without TT attached.

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Old 01-08-2014, 07:47 AM   #12
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Keep in mind that hitch platforms have weight limits stamped on them for dead loads (non weight distribution) and when using weight distribution hitches. If your Airstream hitch weight exceeds the dead load rating of the hitch platform, then you must used a weight distribution hitch. In many cases the load limits on the platforms are about 50% less when not using weight distribution.

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