Hitch Ball for a Reese

[flyingcloud]

After reading a LOT of hitch threads here, we've decided to go with the Reese Dual Cam Sway Control. I found one here:

Strait-Line Weight Distribution System w Sway Control - Round Bar - 12,000 lbs GTW, 1,200 lbs TW Reese Weight Distribution RP66088

Though Im having trouble finding a hitch ball.

The ball needs to be
1-7/8 Inch Diameter Ball
7,600 lb GVWR
1-1/4 Inch Diameter Shank per the description Reese Weight Distribution - RP66088

etrailer.com writes back to me today:

I am sorry, but none of our suppliers offer a 1-7/8" hitch ball with a 1-1/4" diameter shank. This is due to the weight capacity of the balls in this size--I apologize we do not offer anything that would work for your needs.

Anyone know where I can find a hitch ball for a Reese Dual Cam?

[wkerfoot]

I have seen sleeves to reduce the shank hole to the smaller shank. Why do you need a 1 7/8" ball with the 1200 lbs bars? That size ball would be way under sized for that weight.

Bill

Originally Posted by flyingcloud

After reading a LOT of hitch threads here, we've decided to go with the Reese Dual Cam Sway Control. I found one here:

Strait-Line Weight Distribution System w Sway Control - Round Bar - 12,000 lbs GTW, 1,200 lbs TW Reese Weight Distribution RP66088

Though Im having trouble finding a hitch ball.

The ball needs to be
1-7/8 Inch Diameter Ball
7,600 lb GVWR
1-1/4 Inch Diameter Shank per the description Reese Weight Distribution - RP66088

etrailer.com writes back to me today:



Anyone know where I can find a hitch ball for a Reese Dual Cam?

[flyingcloud]

Originally Posted by wkerfoot

Why do you need a 1 7/8" ball with the 1200 lbs bars?

Our sales guy at SuttonRV told us that was the size ball we need. We're getting a 2012 Flying Cloud.

Re: the bars, a friend of ours who is extremely knowledgeable told us:

I would consider going with the 1200-lb weight distribution bars instead of the 800 lb bars. The factory spec tongue weight of the 27FB Flying Cloud is 791 lbs, and yours will definitely be higher than that once loaded, especially if you add batteries. You may need the extra stiffness to distribute weight efficiently to the front axle of the truck.

[wkerfoot]

No offense, but I believe that your sales guy is crazy. The trailer should have a 2 5/16" ball. What is your tow vehicle? I have only 1000 lbs bars for my soft suspension Lincoln.

Bill

Originally Posted by flyingcloud

Our sales guy at SuttonRV told us that was the size ball we need. We're getting a 2012 Flying Cloud.

Re: the bars, a friend of ours who is extremely knowledgeable told us:

[flyingcloud]

None taken!!!

Maybe I should contact Airstream directly.

We've got an F350.

[ROBERT CROSS]

POI...the loaded tongue weight of our 25 Classic is 1170# using a Sureline tongue scale. Factory weights are empty and notoriously low. I use 1000# bars.

Your TV is? The stiffer the suspension, the lighter the bars. Just saw the above post...800 should be good w/350

[Mexray]

I concur...you need a 2-5/16" hitch ball - that's the size of the coupler on new AS's...

Also, 1000# bars will give you plenty of capacity and are right in the ballpark for the 800# tongue weight with propane tanks filled and batteries installed...

Have a great time with your new AS...

[flyingcloud]

Thanks you everyone - I emailed Airstream to confirm (and also wrote back to the sales guy saying "are you sure?")...

looks like this should work:
Strait-Line Weight Distribution System w Sway Control - Round Bar - 10,000 lbs GTW, 800 lbs TW Reese Weight Distribution RP66087

[flyingcloud]

And sales guy just responded:

2-5/16"

What was I thinking?

[barbann]

Is there a site with specifications for old Airstreams? Tried Airstream.com but couldn't find it. Thanks, Barbann

[wkerfoot]

1969 was the basic transition from 2" to 2 5/15" trailer coupler. I believe that some 1969 units had the 2" coupler. A 1987 would have a 2 5/16" coupler.

Bill

Originally Posted by barbann

Is there a site with specifications for old Airstreams? Tried Airstream.com but couldn't find it. Thanks, Barbann

[Beginner]

My 84 31 foot Excella has a 800 lb toung weight (measured with a calibrated portable scale like the state troopers carry in their trunk).
I use 750 lb trunion bars and after spending several hours at a CAT Scale managed to have 3200 to 3400 lbs on each axle and the ride is soft/easy on trailer.
Beginner

[Mikethefixit]

2 5/16 should be the ball size and with a F350 550 lbs bars NO MORE.
This is the setup we use and we get a great ocean wave ride. I might qualifi some,we are using a REESE DUAL CAM/Strightline hitch with 550 lb bars.
THE PO gave us a hitch with the trailer the bars were either 1000 or 1200 lb bars. I already had th Reese Dual cam. I sold the 1000 lb bars ASAP after getting the trailer home. Those things had so much rebound it dam near wrecked us on the way home. I am or was an Experienced OVER THE ROAD Truck driver and can handle almost anything but that really scared me.

[Scott J-24]

I also have a Reese dual cam WD hitch with 1,200 lb bars that the PO gave us when we purchased our 2009 27' FB Ocean Breeze a couple of months ago. My TV is a 2010 Tundra 5.7L CrewMax 4x4 with AirLift bags on the rear suspension. With all of this talk of 800 lb and 1,000 lb bars providing a smoother, more stable ride, should we also be using softer bars or is this the correct setup for us? Still a newbie and want to make sure we are doing things correctly.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by Scott J-24

I also have a Reese dual cam WD hitch with 1,200 lb bars that the PO gave us when we purchased our 2009 27' FB Ocean Breeze a couple of months ago. My TV is a 2010 Tundra 5.7L CrewMax 4x4 with AirLift bags on the rear suspension. With all of this talk of 800 lb and 1,000 lb bars providing a smoother, more stable ride, should we also be using softer bars or is this the correct setup for us? Still a newbie and want to make sure we are doing things correctly.

IMHO....I would try your 1200# bars first. Get your rig set LEVEL, go to the Cat scales see what the numbers look like and how it rides.

Look at post #47 here...http://www.airforums.com/forums/f464...post998467..to get an idea of what you are trying to accomplish.

Good Luck....

[Andrew Selking]

I had the 1200 bars and just switched to the 800 bars. I had to do some adjusting but it works fine. The ride is much smoother with the 800 bars. I have a 2011 Avalanche with a 2007 25ft FB. E-trailer had the bars for $64 a piece. I now have a set of 1200 that I would like to sell.

[thecatsandi]

1200 lb bars seems very stiff for a "lighter" trailer. I had 1200 lb bars on my 31 classic. I am switching down to 1000 bars for a 10,000 GVW trailer.