Questions on Reese WDH

[Haoleman]

I picked up a used Reese weight distribution hitch recently with 600 lb bars. I had the hitch (pictured) on the left which is quite a bit heavier but never had any bars for it. It appears to be the same and the lighter bars fit. I'm just wondering if it is OK to use them on the heavier hitch assy. Now I have a little ball welded on the A frame for an anti sway control. I would like to install one but how can I attach the smaller ball to the hitch head? I see that most newer hitch heads have a place to attach one. These don't or is there a way to do it?

[overlander63]

The piece that holds the sway ball gets welded on the ball mount.

[idroba]

The Reese hitch square bars will fit both hitches. I think I have 500's 700's and 1000's for mine, all picked up over the years. The little ball for the friction sway control bar is generally welded on. The larger of the two hitches you show is one with an adjustable mount, and can be set up for different hitch ball heights and tilts of the head. The other is a welded setup and is pretty fixed in how it can be set up.

[Haoleman]

Thanks for the info. The bars I got with the smaller assembly are square so I guess I will get a friction control and have my son weld the plate on it. That should take care of the situation. Plan a trip with the Argosy 20 from Minnesota to Florida in a month. I want to have all my ducks in a row when we leave. Anyone know a cheap RV park in the Ft Meyers area? I don't need ammenities and social stuff. Just a place to hook up and search for a home while there.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Haoleman

Thanks for the info. The bars I got with the smaller assembly are square so I guess I will get a friction control and have my son weld the plate on it. That should take care of the situation. Plan a trip with the Argosy 20 from Minnesota to Florida in a month. I want to have all my ducks in a row when we leave. Anyone know a cheap RV park in the Ft Meyers area? I don't need ammenities and social stuff. Just a place to hook up and search for a home while there.

The Reese dual cam sway control, is far superior to a friction sway control, hands down, and no doubt it.

The friction has no brain, the dual cam does.

Andy

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by Haoleman

Anyone know a cheap RV park in the Ft Meyers area? I don't need ammenities and social stuff. Just a place to hook up and search for a home while there.

Sun-N-Shade

[john121]

Just want to share this site for those who might be needing hitches:
Largo, FL Trailer Hitch - 5th Wheel Hitch - Trailer Parts

[TomW]

Originally Posted by Haoleman

... I'm just wondering if it is OK to use them on the heavier hitch assy. ...

Yes.

I have never used a friction sway control bar like the type that mounts between the two balls you mention. After reading about everyone else's problems with them, and knowing how well my Reese dual-cam sway control works, I have no plans to EVER try one.

Tom

[dwightdi]

If you do go with the frictional dampener, remember to take it off when you are in tight corners backing into a site. You will bend it if you jack knife the trailer. I sometimes use a frictional in addition to the dual cam for the 34 ft trailer fully loaded. It does improve stability.

[TomW]

Originally Posted by dwightdi

If you do go with the frictional dampener, remember to take it off when you are in tight corners backing into a site. You will bend it if you jack knife the trailer. ...

Give that man a CiiiiiGaarrrr!

That's the principle complaint I read about. Even Perry has bent one.

Tom

[idroba]

I have the same trailer, and Argosy 20' (mine is a '74) and towed for years with no sway control at all with both my Reese square bar and my Draw Tight round bar hitches. The Argosy 20 is a tongue heavy very stable trailer to begin with.

I now use an Andersen, and it is also an excellent combination. The Andersen has sway control built into the hitch.

Just my experience with the Argosy 20, over the past 14 years and probably in the range of over 75,000 miles.

[Haoleman]

Well, I picked up a sway control from Harbor Freight. Total cost with coupon was $30.00. I've used these before and they work fine for small trailers. I'll have my son weld the mount for me and I should be good to go. When driving the trailer home, I didn't notice any sway at all and had more than one truck pass me. I guess we'll see how it does on a long trip.