What hitch for 28'?

[dickschaak]

I just ordered a 2014 28 ft Signature. I have had 3 prior AS. I have used Reese dual cam hitch. Is that still good or do you suggest something else?

[moosetags]

If that worked for you on a 30 footer, there is no reason that it shouldn't work on your new 28 footer.

We have also had three Airstreams over the years and still use our 10 year old Hensley on our 2015 Flying Cloud 25FB.

Brian

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by dickschaak

I just ordered a 2014 28 ft Signature. I have had 3 prior AS. I have used Reese dual cam hitch. Is that still good or do you suggest something else?

You might ask two questions.

The first one you already have, which is a Reese dual ca.

But the second questions answer has to do with the rating.

The same size Airstream calls for a different weight rating bars, which TOTALLY depends on the exact tow vihicle.

What is your tow vehicle (exactly, along with original or different rear springs and/or air shocks or air bags).

All of those things spell out, and demand different rated hitch bars, for the safest rigging and towing.

Andy

[BAB]

I towed my 28 with a ProPride. Just know that your trailer has the heaviest tongue weight of any of the current crop of Airstream trailers. Heavier even than the Classic.

[dkottum]

Originally Posted by dickschaak

I just ordered a 2014 28 ft Signature. I have had 3 prior AS. I have used Reese dual cam hitch. Is that still good or do you suggest something else?

Hi Dick, did you order a 2014 or 2016 Airstream?

What's you tow vehicle today, and do you plan on carrying anything heavy in the bed?

Do you still have the Hensley hitch? That's my recommendation because that's what we now use and I know how well they work, very easy to hook up without heavy lifting (only the stinger is unlatched from the trailer tongue and I just pull ahead a few inches and store right back in the hitch head), and you can lower the tail gate fully while hooked up. Sweet if you already own it.

[switz]

Consider the second generation Jim Hensley hitch design called the ProPride. There are substantial user friendly improvements between the two generations.

I use an existing Hensley hitch I had in storage from the first Airstream (2013 25FB International Serenity) on a 2015 23D International Serenity behind my 2007 Mercedes ML320 CDI diesel (it did not work out on the 25FB). This tow vehicle has been to CanAm in London, Ontario to have the receiver reinforced and while there they tweaked the stinger by making it about 5" shorter and putting a small bend in it to preload the weight distribution bars. We are able to use the prior screw jack setting of 3" on the 23D.

I took the complete new rig above to CanAm on the way home to fine tune the Hensley. They replaced a screw jack and tack welded the frame brackets in place. I am using the 1,200 pound bars.

We use the ProPride on the 2014 31' Classic attached to a Dodge Ram 2500 HD Diesel truck. I use the 1,400 pound bars on this hitch as the tongue weight was at 1,375 pounds after modifications and is now 1,175 pounds. Screw jack ranges from 5.5" to 6" depending on the water and propane levels.

Since the Airstream literature tongue weights are understated for every model, on a 28' model you will probably find the atctual weight camping ready over 1,000 pounds.

A good tow vehicle decision is needed to consider this weight plus any other "necessary" items needed when hitting the road.

[Arcticfox]

We have the 28'FC and use the ProPride hitch. Very good hitch and have been very happy with nOt just the hitch but the customer service we get from the company


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[tjdonahoe]

The Reese duel cam is a very good hitch set up....we like ours..

[sheriff1]

I had the dual cam and hated it, ended up with equalizer. Just my opinion.


2015 F350 CC 4X4 6.7 Diesel
2010 27FB Silver Cloud "The Silver Spoon"

[DC Bruce]

I've been very happy with the ProPride pulling my 2015 FC28. Semis passing me at 80 while I'm doing 60 produce no sway. Aside from the cost, the other disadvantages to the PP are more difficult hitching than with a ball and a need to have the TV more nearly in line with the trailer to hitch or unhitched. Also, I think backing, the trailer responds steering inputs with some delay.

[dickschaak]

Originally Posted by DC Bruce

I've been very happy with the ProPride pulling my 2015 FC28. Semis passing me at 80 while I'm doing 60 produce no sway. Aside from the cost, the other disadvantages to the PP are more difficult hitching than with a ball and a need to have the TV more nearly in line with the trailer to hitch or unhitched. Also, I think backing, the trailer responds steering inputs with some delay.

I had Hensley on two of my prior AS. I totally agree with everything you said.

[laketime]

I agree with dkottum. You just can't beat a Hensley Arrow Hitch. I just bought a 30' Classic in Utah that came with a Hensley and pulled it home (1250 miles). Get a Hensley and be done with it. There are good deals on Airstream Classified sometimes.

[dkottum]

A couple of tips I have learned about hooking up the ProPride.

Alignment to the trailer is not important but alignment of the stinger to hitch head must be good or it will not go in. Also if the truck and trailer are not both level horizontally, you can tilt the hitch head with the weight distribution jacks to align them.

When getting close, raise or lower the tongue jack so the hitch head is maybe a half inch lower than the stinger alignment. The hitch head is resting at the bottom of it's vertical movement, and will lift slightly when going together.

I keep at can of CorrosionX handy to spray a shot on the stinger and into the hitch head to lube them so it slides together more easily.

The edges of the back of the stinger are sharp and can catch going into the hitch head. I filed these edges just enough to take off the sharpness so it does not catch.

To make it easier to unhitch, after backing the trailer into its site, pull ahead a foot or so to take any side twisting tension off the tires and hitch assembly. And measure your front and back of the truck's wheel well heights on one side BEFORE hooking up. Then after releasing the weight distribution tension, raise or lower the tongue jack to get these same heights. You will be able to just drive away.

This soon becomes intuitive and can eliminate any hitching/unhitching problems.

[Kingsmen 33]

Originally Posted by dickschaak

I just ordered a 2014 28 ft Signature. I have had 3 prior AS. I have used Reese dual cam hitch. Is that still good or do you suggest something else?

I had an Equalizer for my 25' FC pulled by 5.5L V8 GMC. Pulled well.

Bought new 28' FC three months ago and pulled it across country with same hitch/tow vehicle. Towed well but at higher speeds getting below 10 mpg. The 5.3L also did a lot of downshifting going up hills.
Bought new GMC Sierra HD with Duramax diesel. This is 3/4 ton truck. Pulls 28' great at all speeds. The GM specs say weight distribution hitch not needed with a trailer under 10,000 pounds. Tongue weight rating is 1,500 pounds. I did a 500 mile test drive with the equalizer and then came home for 500 miles with just a tow ball and no weight distributing hitch. Their was no difference in handlling at any speed or road condition. Tested up to 85mph. I now use the ball only and have eliminated the heavy and dirty equalizer. I was surprised, but the heavier truck made a big difference.
I also have all of the tow data for MPG for the 5.3l V8 versus the 6.6L Duramax. If interested I can publish this data.

[laketime]

Originally Posted by Kingsmen 33

I had an Equalizer for my 25' FC pulled by 5.5L V8 GMC. Pulled well.

Bought new 28' FC three months ago and pulled it across country with same hitch/tow vehicle. Towed well but at higher speeds getting below 10 mpg. The 5.3L also did a lot of downshifting going up hills.
Bought new GMC Sierra HD with Duramax diesel. This is 3/4 ton truck. Pulls 28' great at all speeds. The GM specs say weight distribution hitch not needed with a trailer under 10,000 pounds. Tongue weight rating is 1,500 pounds. I did a 500 mile test drive with the equalizer and then came home for 500 miles with just a tow ball and no weight distributing hitch. Their was no difference in handlling at any speed or road condition. Tested up to 85mph. I now use the ball only and have eliminated the heavy and dirty equalizer. I was surprised, but the heavier truck made a big difference.
I also have all of the tow data for MPG for the 5.3l V8 versus the 6.6L Duramax. If interested I can publish this data.

I did the very same thing when I bought my 3/4 Silverado 6.6L Duramax. When it's hitched the trailer is level, the truck drops 1.5" in the rear to level and the front rises 1/4". Pulled it all over several states with no problem. It great not having to mess with WD. However; nobody seems to agree that it is safe. I even talked to the guys at etrailer and they say it's ok until it isn't. They said if the trailer weight is more that 50% of the tow vehicle you need WD. They have about scared me into putting my hensley back on. I'm not sure what to do at this point.

[dkottum]

" . . . it's okay until it isn't."

Towing without weight distribution and sway control may be fine going down the highway year after year until something happens. Swerving to avoid something in your lane, traveling downhill on a curve in the mountains hitting an extreme crosswind, many situations where you suddenly need the best possible steering control and resistance to trailer sway oscillations introduced by the event.

[nrgtrakr]

I think it also depends on TV and your level of comfort.
When we brought our new to us 75 Overlander 27' home it was on a normal hitch since neither I nor the PO knew what to do with the WD hitch it came with.
200 winding mountain road miles later with a section of 50mph crosswind gusts we made it home just fine. The F250 SuperDuty diesel never knew the trailer was back there.
Now that I know how to set up the WD hitch I'll try it next time we tow. If there is no noticeable difference I'll sell it.

[dkottum]

Good friends of ours rolled their F250/28' Airstream combination in severe crosswinds in Arizona a few years ago. Mountain highway, downhill cute, it began to sway and it was suddenly rolling. They were badly injured. That's when we began to take hitch setups more seriously and finally ended up with a ProPride/Hensley design.

[nrgtrakr]

Eeep!

[Alphonse]

I am an advocate of having a tow vehicle that is large enough for the service and admire folks for stepping up to that expense.

However, the major factor in optimizing towing stability is speed even with the big truck. That certainly does not mean faster is better. I do not want to be near anyone towing a TT at 85 mph, particularly in the absence of a proper hitch setup. My caution grows exponentially if their trailer is equipped with ST tires.

The notion that one can judge the setup by feel is false. Quoting a vehicle dynamics expert, “It is not possible for a driver, no matter how experienced, to assess (by feel) how that rig will behave in an emergency.” Just ask someone who has wrecked how it felt when all of a sudden it didn’t feel right any longer and things went real bad in a big hurry.

If you can afford the big truck and an Airstream, spend a little more and get a decent hitch setup properly.