Sizing a hitch

[wkerfoot]

As you know, we have two tow vehicles and two Airstreams. The two Airstreams are similar in weight but not in length. The two tow vehicles are not at all similar in carrying capacity or ride quality. In addition, my daughters friend has a 2004 1500 Dodge pickup. I am looking for to size a hitch which would work for both the 1500 Dodge and my 1973 W200 Dodge PowerWagon (which rides like an oxcart). I have a Reese trunnion style hitch now with 1000 lb bars for the Lincoln.

What capacity bars does anyone suggest for the two Dodge pickups?

Bill

[purman]

Man, I have a '75 dodge T100 Which is rally a 3/4 ton.. Extended cab,,, well for back then it was.... I have air bags in the springs and it rides like an oxcart also... I don't know about you but my dodge is so stiff, when I hook the trailer up it drops like 1/4 inch maybe... without air in the air bags..

I've had 4200 lbs of rock in the back, air bags full, and only dropped 2 inches... So if your dodge is like mine you may not need bars just sway control....

[wkerfoot]

Originally Posted by purman

Man, I have a '75 dodge T100 Which is rally a 3/4 ton.. Extended cab,,, well for back then it was.... I have air bags in the springs and it rides like an oxcart also... I don't know about you but my dodge is so stiff, when I hook the trailer up it drops like 1/4 inch maybe... without air in the air bags..

I've had 4200 lbs of rock in the back, air bags full, and only dropped 2 inches... So if your dodge is like mine you may not need bars just sway control....

The early 70's Dodges are stiff. I had a 1500 lb camper for years and it dropped the rear bumper only 1 1/2". If I use a short draw bar the back does not drop, but if I use the 15" drawbar (which has the sway control) from my Reese the back drops quite a bit because of the leverage.

Bill

[purman]

Can you use the sway without the bars??

[wkerfoot]

Originally Posted by purman

Can you use the sway without the bars??

No connector for it on the short drawbar and I still need to size the 1500.

Andy says to always use weight distribution gear.

Bill

[overlander64]

Greetings Bill!

I have been using 600 pound weight distribution bars with my K2500 Suburban and '64 Overlander with good success. The Reese Dual Cam performs flawlessly with this combination. When I had my '95 K1500 Z71 pickup, its suspension was so stiff that I utilized 350 pound weight distribution bars -- these were offered during the '80s with their then new light weight receiver hitch system -- I have seen them periodically at the WBCCI International flea market, but I don't believe that they have been available from Reese for quite some time.

Kevin