need help identifying the hitch accessories

[GoGoddess]

First time poster of pics, fingers crossed.

Im totally new to towing an Argosy. The TV is a 96 F250 diesel. The trailer already has some hitch points. Unfortunately funds are low so I want to see if I can use these pics to show what is already on there and reuse it to save money. What kind of WD hitch goes with this stuff?

Thanks for any and all help
Patrick and Heather

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by GoGoddess

First time poster of pics, fingers crossed.

Im totally new to towing an Argosy. The TV is a 96 F250 diesel. The trailer already has some hitch points. Unfortunately funds are low so I want to see if I can use these pics to show what is already on there and reuse it to save money. What kind of WD hitch goes with this stuff?

Thanks for any and all help
Patrick and Heather

The "snap-up" brackets are Reese.

The small round ball is for a "friction type" sway control. BAD!!!

Many different friction sway controls are made.

Andy

[saburkha]

Looks like they might go with a Reese hitch. Draw-Tite Weight Distribution Hitch (600 lb) with Trunnion Bars 7901

[Road Ruler]

It looks a lot like ours.

Vintage Reese Dual Cam with 750 bars.

[idroba]

Those are Reese snap up brackets. The little ball mount is for a friction sway control.

You will need a hitch ball and spring bar mount, a 2 5/16 ball, Probably 750# capacity spring bars, and you may want a friction sway control.

The most valuable part of what you have are the snap up brackets. Effectively you need everything else. Check Craigs List, you may find a used hitch system at a decent savings, assuming you know what you are looking at.

[GoGoddess]

Im reading reading and watching videos right now. How do I figure out the tongue weight on a 77 28' Argosy?

[overlander64]

Greetings GoGoddess!

Originally Posted by GoGoddess

Im reading reading and watching videos right now. How do I figure out the tongue weight on a 77 28' Argosy?

I agree that the "snap-up brackets" are most likely Reese. My suggestion would be to consider a 600 pound Reese Strait-Line hitch that includes Dual Cam Sway Control. My estimate is that your likely loaded hitch weight will be around 750 pounds, but with your heavy-duty tow vehicle the 600 pound weight distribution bars should perform wonderfully with a hitch weight up to about 800 pounds with a 3/4-ton diesel tow vehicle. I utilize 600 pound weight distribution bars with my Strait-Line hitch on my K2500 Suburban and slightly lighter bars would actually be a benefit on my combination, but 600 pound weight distribution bars are the lightest currently available for the Reese Dual Cam setup.

Good luck with your research and investigation!

Kevin

P.S.: The extra cost of the Strait-Line hitch with Dual Cam Sway Control will only be a few dollars higher than a standard weight distribution hitch with the troublesome friction sway control . . . the friction sway control must be adjusted any time that road conditions change including rain/snow (loosen adjustment) . . . wind (tighten adjustment) . . . wet oil/tar (loosen), etc. . . . and it can be necessary to remove the friction device for tight maneuvers as it can be bent if the angle between the tow vehicle and trailer is too great. Once the Dual Cam is properly adjusted, no further adjustment is necessary.

[Wazbro]

Another option is to buy an Anderson WD hitch might be a little cheaper then the rest of the parts you need for that hitch if you buy new parts. I have only heard good feedback from people who have used the Anderson WD hitch.

[john121]

Check with these guys.
Trailer Hitches - 5th Wheel Hitch - Gooseneck Hitch - Reese Hitch

[ROBERT CROSS]

GG,

Here's a foto of the complete set-up. The friction sway bar is between the two long weight distribution bars.

This combo werked well for 18 Seasons towing our first AS.

Until I came here and found out it didn't.

Bob

[idroba]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

GG,

Here's a foto of the complete set-up. The friction sway bar is between the two long weight distribution bars.

This combo werked well for 18 Seasons towing our first AS.

Until I came here and found out it didn't.

Bob

Took me 33 years to find out that it didn't work, so gotcha beat. And I never bothered with the friction sway bar, although I have one. Trailers up to 25' anyway. Maybe 200,000 miles towing.

That said, my Andersen should be here today. I wanted to try something new as I get old.

[dznf0g]

I also used a friction control for 17 years and it worked! BUT, that was a 5500#(fully loaded), 22'er. I wouldn't want a friction control on the big dog I have now.

Actually, I used it on the pop-up before that, now that I think about it.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Yep....small is much easier to control.



Wouldn't consider it for the Classic Beast.

Bob

[AIR-Quarius]

Go Goddess I have two spring bars...since Robert sold me his set up (the photo he showed) Are you interested?

[Airstreamer67]

I have been using the friction type sway control (with the little ball) on my 27-foot trailer for the past 26 years with great results. A few years ago I added another little ball on the other (left hand) side and bought another friction sway controller (total cost about $60). A second sway controller is generally recommended for trailers over about 26 feet or so. Since my trailer is slightly longer than 26 feet, I added the second sway controller on principle alone. It works great too.

I currently tow with a 1996 F250 too. It's a fine tow vehicle, as I'm sure you will quickly find out.

[casa3805]

Originally Posted by GoGoddess

Im reading reading and watching videos right now. How do I figure out the tongue weight on a 77 28' Argosy?

Here is a site I found that helps a bunch. Not specific to Argosy but I would bet the 78 Airstreams, same length, are in the ball park with your Argosy.
airstreamguy.com - ** Airstream Lengths, Weights and Tongue Weight

[AIR-Quarius]

The small round ball is for a "friction type" sway control. BAD!!!

Andy why did you say Bad?

[GoGoddess]

Reese SC Weight Distribution System w Sway Control - Trunnion - 10,000 lbs GTW, 600 lbs TW Reese Weight Distribution RP66151

Thanks for the help. This looks like the one we want. Please do chime in with any and all opinions?

[GoGoddess]

Strait-Line Weight Distribution System w Sway Control - Trunnion Bar - 10,000 lbs GTW, 600 lbs TW Reese Weight Distribution RP66082

this one looks like a better one? again any thoughts will be apreciated:-)

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by GoGoddess

Strait-Line Weight Distribution System w Sway Control - Trunnion Bar - 10,000 lbs GTW, 600 lbs TW Reese Weight Distribution RP66082

this one looks like a better one? again any thoughts will be apreciated:-)

Have a friend that uses this one....works very well for him, others with first hand knowledge will no doubt chime in.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I have been using the friction type sway control (with the little ball) on my 27-foot trailer for the past 26 years with great results."

"The small round ball is for a "friction type" sway control. BAD!!!"

"Andy why did you say Bad?"

Billy,

Not bad...just old technology. It worked well for us, for 18 years, it'll be fine for you.

Bob