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11-19-2015, 11:30 AM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
1977 29' Ambassador
Richmond
, Virginia
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 22
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Tow without a hitch? a 30 footer?
Does anyone out there regularly tow without a WD hitch? Seems like I can drive 55 under near perfect conditions and fair ok. However, it also looks like a WD hitch is quickly rising to the top of my Necessary list of acquisitions. Just behind a P3 break controller and ahead of the desired renovations. So for now, I have new tires and wheels will install the break controller, acquire a 9V battery and convert to LED's and plan to get a WD hitch ahead of a fixing or replacing the generator, functional plumbing, built in heating, stopping the few leaks and a full restore. oh that list.
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11-19-2015, 11:39 AM
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#2
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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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Just my opinion, but I wouldn't tow a 30 footer around the block without a properly setup WD hitch with anything short of a Kenworth. Also, I wouldn't tow it at all without a properly working brake controller.
However, some may consider me overly cautious.
__________________
Regards,
Steve
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11-19-2015, 11:50 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
Manassas
, Virginia
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 562
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveH
Just my opinion, but I wouldn't tow a 30 footer around the block without a properly setup WD hitch with anything short of a Kenworth. Also, I wouldn't tow it at all without a properly working brake controller.
However, some may consider me overly cautious.
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I totally agree! Better safe then sorry
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11-19-2015, 11:57 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,190
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Ditto what Macnric said
I meant to say what steve said
Also…..do you mean a 12 volt battery
About the WD hitch, besides the more important safety issues. Not having weight distribution will cause the rig to bob up and down, if you go over bumps or seams in the highway.
About brake controller. IT'S ILLEGAL to not have brakes on a trailer that is over 2000 lbs. ( laws vary state to state ) You are inviting a jack knife situation, and are endangering others on the road. Also your increased stopping distance could cause an accident as well.
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11-20-2015, 01:35 PM
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#5
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4 Rivet Member
1966 24' Tradewind
2005 22' Safari
Bastrop
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 329
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definitely not 30 ft , but we drove the entire 11,000 mile round trip in two months , to Alaska and back using nothing but a 2.5/16 ball and a single sway bar .
Had a wonderful time with no problems or concerns whatsoever .
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11-20-2015, 02:53 PM
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#6
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2 Rivet Member
1985 25' Sovereign
Wichita Falls
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 65
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There are a lot of things you can do, back in the 50's and 60's we pulled all kinds of trailers with only a plate bolted to a car bumper with a ball attached but back then we drove slower, dealt with much less traffic and did not know any better. Today most roads have heavy traffic going 70+ and we have numerous safety features we can take advantage of so why not be as safe as possible, I enjoy the road trips more when I am relaxed and not worried about getting a high speed wiggle or if I can safely stop.
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11-20-2015, 03:08 PM
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#7
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1987 Avion 34W owner
Vintage Kin Owner
Good Ol'
, USA
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,090
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What he said.....
Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveH
Just my opinion, but I wouldn't tow a 30 footer around the block without a properly setup WD hitch with anything short of a Kenworth. Also, I wouldn't tow it at all without a properly working brake controller.
However, some may consider me overly cautious.
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11-20-2015, 03:22 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2020 28' Flying Cloud
Upper St Clair
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,943
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Have a 30', have had another also and would never tow without a WD.
Bud
__________________
2020 28' Twin Flying Cloud
2021 F350 6.7 King Ranch
USAF Master Training Instructor (TI) & (MTI)- 68-72
Volunteer K9 Rehabilitator & Trainer
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11-20-2015, 03:29 PM
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#9
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4 Rivet Member
2000 30' Excella
2014 30' Classic
Princeton
, Iowa
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 302
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I have been pulling a 30' Classic for 5 yrs, half the time with WD hitch and half with out. I would never go back to a WD hitch. I have pulled almost 15,000 miles with out the hitch. Easy hook up, not heavy stuff to lift. Yes, going down hill in the wind at speeds over 65 you can have trouble. I do not go down hill in the wind at 65 miles per hour. It is true I am 73 years of age and I am not it a hurry.
Now I have not checked it out, but when it comes to Weight distribution there are 2 things. My ball is about 9 inches closer to the back of my truck so the weight of the trailer has less effect on the weight on my rear end. Two setting normal there is about 800 less weight on my rear end than front end. Now I add 750 lbs. from my trailer and my rear end is just a little heavier than my front end.
Ask the people who tow the trailers from the factory to the dealers, they do not use WD hitches.
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11-20-2015, 03:42 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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I tow a thirty foot Avion with two sway controls and no WD. Of course I have a one ton truck. Anything less and I would use WD.
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11-20-2015, 03:45 PM
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#11
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4 Rivet Member
1973 31' Sovereign
Middletown
, California
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 424
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I would go for good brakes way before a WD hitch! My 3/4 ton Chevy doesn't need anything other than a ball when towing my 31 footer although passing semi-trucks does cause a little lane wobble. I'm very curious if any hitch could fix the bow wave of a large truck pushing sideways on my trailer? The handling of every rig is different and there are many variables, the most important thing is being able to stop straight and quickly. Most rigs would probably benefit from a WD hitch but if you luck out on the way the tongue weight, hitch overhang, wheelbase and tire flex combines you might not need one. Leland
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11-20-2015, 04:29 PM
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#12
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4 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Box Elder (formerly Long Island, NY)
, South Dakota
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 363
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No SteveH, you're NOT overly cautious.
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11-20-2015, 04:37 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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Hensley design hitches or ProPride version flat eliminates the bow wave issue, the crosswind issues, and downhill heavy braking issues. Flat can't sway. I won't tow without one
Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
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11-20-2015, 04:38 PM
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#14
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begorragirl
2017 25' Flying Cloud
Denville
, New Jersey
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,029
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I do not if out on vacation with unloaded car. i do when loaded for festivals. I use a 3/4 ton and have Bambi.
__________________
2006 Bambi CCD ("EireStream!!")
2010 Funfinder
2005 T@B
2001 Teardrop, Mountain Hardware Tent
For some perfection takes a little longer...
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11-20-2015, 05:19 PM
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#15
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:SPACE A" S/O 11 Air19745
2006 34' Classic S/O
Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,766
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If you hit a high gust of wind while dealing with a large vehicle bow wave without a trapezoid design hitch, you are going to get diverted. A friction sway control will help up to certain point, then all hell will break loose as/or if the sway oscillations become dynamically unstable. This combination has probably caused more towing wrecks than any other cause. It only take an instant for all this to happen.
guskmg
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11-20-2015, 05:31 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2000 25' Safari
Davidson County
, NC Highlands County, FL
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,493
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[QUOTE=MACINRIC;1712652]Does anyone out there regularly tow without a WD hitch? .....snip... [QUOTE]
You do not say what your tow vehicle is. If you are towing with a half ton truck or a SUV you probably need WD hitch to transfer load from the rear axle. If you are towing with a 3/4 ton or larger with a heavy diesel engine you probably do not need any load transfer, so WD is not necessary with the larger tow vehilce.
__________________
Alan
2014 Silverado LTZ 1500 Crew Cab 5.3L maximum trailering package
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11-20-2015, 06:11 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2013 31' Classic
billings
, Montana
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,577
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveH
Just my opinion, but I wouldn't tow a 30 footer around the block without a properly setup WD hitch with anything short of a Kenworth. Also, I wouldn't tow it at all without a properly working brake controller.
However, some may consider me overly cautious.
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I know that you are right!..
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11-20-2015, 06:46 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
1972 31' Sovereign
1975 31' Excella 500
Currently Looking...
Benton
, Arkansas
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,868
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Tow without a hitch? a 30 footer?
I towed for a few trips "on the ball" it was safe enough to about 60 MPH, but things are so much sweeter at any speed with my "unnamed" premium hitch.
Trailer brakes? I never leave home without them.
Brevi tempore!
__________________
The fact that I am opinionated does not presuppose that I am wrong......
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11-21-2015, 09:32 AM
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#19
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4 Rivet Member
1967 26' Overlander
Spartanburg
, South Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 437
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For me, the 2 main purposes of WD is to level the TV and ensure good steering traction. When I towed with a 1970 Cadillac with coil springs in the rear, leveling was more important as the car was almost as heavy as the loaded 26' trailer. Now with a long bed Chevy 1500 PU with HD leaf springs in the rear, steering traction is more important. A sway bar is always good insurance.
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11-21-2015, 04:52 PM
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#20
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2 Rivet Member
1975 31' Sovereign
North Fort Myers
, Florida
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 59
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Every trailer to towing vehicle is different with many variables. The primary concern related to the physics is TONGUE WEIGHT. See your owners manual to see what the max is supposed to be, then go to a truck scale and measure the "downforce" weight that is put on your tow vehicle. Your tow vehicle, if it came with a factory hitch will also provide max to the hitch. The engineering is done for you! Do not ask for opinions when it comes to safety, rely on the engineering data.
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