Towing new camper

[Grumpaw]

Any comments on this wdh, the distance to the bottom of the receiver on the Ranger is 20" , the ball height on the trailer when level will be ~ 19" , this wdh has 6 holes for height adjustment, tw up to 800 lbs and gross trailer weight of 8k lbs, I'll be well under both, uvw for trailer = 4161 lbs and togue weight of 472. My head was bulging from trying to select a TT , didn't think selecting the hitch would have as many parameters (I kind of understand why now) but l plead ignorance as this will be my 1st RV. The comments/advice on this board are awesome, extremely helpful and educational. This wdh even provides a $17 discount coupon at checkout, yes it's made in China but it wouldn't surprise me if most are made there. Curt I believe does US mfg.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BXDN71J8/ref=ewc_pr_img_2?
smid=A3N8U4EZR7DEGE&th=1

or I might spend a few more $$ and buy this Curt, for around $350

https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution-Hitch/CURT/C69JR.html

Between the two, get the Curt, if for no other reason it has a longer shank, 7 hole vs. the 6 hole import. May not sound like much, but it will give you an extra 2 inches of drop if you need it.
Curt also has a lifetime warranty to the original owner.

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[JimG_AZ]

Any comments on this wdh, the distance to the bottom of the receiver on the Ranger is 20" , the ball height on the trailer when level will be ~ 19" , this wdh has 6 holes for height adjustment, tw up to 800 lbs and gross trailer weight of 8k lbs, I'll be well under both, uvw for trailer = 4161 lbs and togue weight of 472. My head was bulging from trying to select a TT , didn't think selecting the hitch would have as many parameters (I kind of understand why now) but l plead ignorance as this will be my 1st RV. The comments/advice on this board are awesome, extremely helpful and educational. This wdh even provides a $17 discount coupon at checkout, yes it's made in China but it wouldn't surprise me if most are made there. Curt I believe does US mfg.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BXDN71J8/ref=ewc_pr_img_2?
smid=A3N8U4EZR7DEGE&th=1

or I might spend a few more $$ and buy this Curt, for around $350

https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution-Hitch/CURT/C69JR.html

For towing a travel trailer, I would want a hitch with 4 point sway control. I would not buy that hitch in the Amazon link since I believe add-on friction sway controls are junk.

The Curt looks like a better hitch. I would want one with the spring bars rated for 600-800 lbs.

 

[Grumpaw]

For towing a travel trailer, I would want a hitch with 4 point sway control. I would not buy that hitch in the Amazon link since I believe add-on friction sway controls are junk.

The Curt looks like a better hitch. I would want one with the spring bars rated for 600-800 lbs.

YES to THIS....I didn't notice the sway control add on to the import hitch...
The add on's are not worth the metal their made of. Also, everytime you have to back up and turn, like backing into a camping spot, you have to dis-connect it.
Have never, ever used one, even towing a 36 foot travel trailer.

 

[dtech]

Thanks for the advice, I tend to go cheap on some things, but just spent $28k on the damn trailer, interesting learning about hitches especially the drawbacks of going too cheap, doubt there is much if any regulation in this area, reminds of tires where the mfg rates their own tires and the only time the DOT gets involved if they start seeing failure complaints. I can understand why many TT owners just let the selling entity do the tow setup , the RV companies likely only will use proven brands as they have liability.
So end up ordering the Curt.

 

[JimG_AZ]

Thanks for the advice, I tend to go cheap on some things, but just spent $28k on the damn trailer, interesting learning about hitches especially the drawbacks of going too cheap, doubt there is much if any regulation in this area, reminds of tires where the mfg rates their own tires and the only time the DOT gets involved if they start seeing failure complaints. I can understand why many TT owners just let the selling entity do the tow setup , the RV companies likely only will use proven brands as they have liability.
So end up ordering the Curt.

Unfortunately taking advice from an RV dealer is like taking advice from a new car dealer. From past experience, I would not trust them with a hitch selection. They will sell you what they have in stock or gets them the best margins.

 

[Grumpaw]

Unfortunately taking advice from an RV dealer is like taking advice from a new car dealer. From past experience, I would not trust them with a hitch selection. They will sell you what they have in stock or gets them the best margins.

Something I have long found to be true. And, the vast majority of rv sales people know almost nothing about the products they sell, and that same majority do not or have not owned an rv.
Most in the big "box store" type rv sales places, the worst being Camping World, are only interested in getting units off their lot. Their sales people are paid on commission, so their only concern is to sell.
They are the one's who will tell you, "your 1/2 ton truck can easily tow that 36 foot triple axle 5th wheel", no problem.
They know even less about setting up a truck and trailer for proper towing.
Many times, for a "newbie" the best place to find info, and talk to people is to go to a campground and look for well maintained rigs, and talk to the owners. You will find rv owners will be the first to tell you whats right with their rigs, and most important whats wrong with their rigs. But, also, they will try to help you as much as possible...we were all "new" at one time.

 

[JimG_AZ]

Something I have long found to be true. And, the vast majority of rv sales people know almost nothing about the products they sell, and that same majority do not or have not owned an rv.
Most in the big "box store" type rv sales places, the worst being Camping World, are only interested in getting units off their lot. Their sales people are paid on commission, so their only concern is to sell.
They are the one's who will tell you, "your 1/2 ton truck can easily tow that 36 foot triple axle 5th wheel", no problem.
They know even less about setting up a truck and trailer for proper towing.
Many times, for a "newbie" the best place to find info, and talk to people is to go to a campground and look for well maintained rigs, and talk to the owners. You will find rv owners will be the first to tell you whats right with their rigs, and most important whats wrong with their rigs. But, also, they will try to help you as much as possible...we were all "new" at one time.

Excellent advice! I could not agree more. In the past, the RV.Net forum was a great source of information. That forum had a ton of information on tow vehicles and tow vehicle setup. I have not been on it in a few years though, so I am not sure what it is like currently.

 

[brroberts]

Just saw this thread since I have been traveling. I tow with the truck often and far. I bought the truck for towing. This forum has lots of good setup info. I use a P3 in my 3/3 ton, but use thr Redarc in the Ranger for the AEB. I prefer the P3. It’s smoother and has more refined control.

As far as hitches, I really like Equalizers. Blue Ox is also very good. My only complaints with my Equalizer are cost and weight. Your hitch set up is more important than brand, but there are better brands, and it’s not the place to go cheap.

 

[Grumpaw]

Excellent advice! I could not agree more. In the past, the RV.Net forum was a great source of information. That forum had a ton of information on tow vehicles and tow vehicle setup. I have not been on it in a few years though, so I am not sure what it is like currently.

Agree about joining an RV owners forum...
To the OP...dtech...I advise you to look at/join the better of the owners sites, The Forrest River Owners Forum and the IRV2 forum.
Bothe will have a wealth of info on all types of RV's...Forrest River goes so far as to break down into sub headings all the different makes and models of their many lines.
If something goes wrong or needs repair, there is someone posting about "how to" and DIY fixes.
Like here, have a problem...ask away and you'll get lots of feedback.

 

[dtech]

Something I have long found to be true. And, the vast majority of rv sales people know almost nothing about the products they sell, and that same majority do not or have not owned an rv.
Most in the big "box store" type rv sales places, the worst being Camping World, are only interested in getting units off their lot. Their sales people are paid on commission, so their only concern is to sell.
They are the one's who will tell you, "your 1/2 ton truck can easily tow that 36 foot triple axle 5th wheel", no problem.
They know even less about setting up a truck and trailer for proper towing.
Many times, for a "newbie" the best place to find info, and talk to people is to go to a campground and look for well maintained rigs, and talk to the owners. You will find rv owners will be the first to tell you whats right with their rigs, and most important whats wrong with their rigs. But, also, they will try to help you as much as possible...we were all "new" at one time.

Well in my quest to find and buy an rv I visited 7 dealerships and had several more phone conversations, I'd say roughly 25% of the sales people I dealt with were knowledgeable about their products and the rv market, a couple were standouts, actually pretty good sales skills. That's probably on par with auto sales people or even slightly better. The dealers with competent people though didn't deal very aggressively on pricing. Did join Facebook nobo users forum, found some useful advice but also found several old school big iron respoders who were committed to convincing me a Ford ranger can't tow a 4k LB trailer.

 

[JimG_AZ]

...Did join Facebook nobo users forum, found some useful advice but also found several old school big iron respoders who were committed to convincing me a Ford ranger can't tow a 4k LB trailer.

Yes, you will run into people like this. LOL, if the trailer is bigger than a popup, they will want you to get a 3/4-ton truck.

 

[Grumpaw]

Well in my quest to find and buy an rv I visited 7 dealerships and had several more phone conversations, I'd say roughly 25% of the sales people I dealt with were knowledgeable about their products and the rv market, a couple were standouts, actually pretty good sales skills. That's probably on par with auto sales people or even slightly better. The dealers with competent people though didn't deal very aggressively on pricing. Did join Facebook nobo users forum, found some useful advice but also found several old school big iron respoders who were committed to convincing me a Ford ranger can't tow a 4k LB trailer.

At least once on every trip we have taken with the trailer, someone has stopped by our campsite to ask if "that Ranger really pulled that trailer?". The majority of the time it's from F-150 owners. And sometimes it's from big truck owners towing smaller trailers, and they had no knowledge of the Rangers towing capacity. Funny when I show them that aside from some suspension mods, the truck is basically stock, and pulls 7000 lbs without a problem.

 

[ctechbob]

The Forrest River Owners Forum and the IRV2 forum.

Be careful over on IRV2, you don't have enough truck for them to tow anything bigger than a small popup.

 

[mtbikernate]

They are the one's who will tell you, "your 1/2 ton truck can easily tow that 36 foot triple axle 5th wheel", no problem.

yeah, I didn't have very positive experiences shopping around for a bigger camper a few years ago. The guy at Camping World was pushing HARD for me to buy a particular camper right then. While it looked comfortable inside, I hadn't figured out how I'd store something that big (can't keep it at the house). Plus, while the weight of it was well within the Ranger's capabilities, it was REALLY TALL and my back-of-the-napkin calculations put it at almost twice the Ranger's permissible frontal area for a camper. I'm not the kinda guy who pulls the camper 20 miles down the road to hang out all summer. When I load up the camper to go somewhere, I'm going to GO SOMEWHERE. I didn't like the prospect of what all that wind resistance would do to my range.

when I get a bigger camper, it's going to be something different. probably from one of the brands that sells direct to consumers rather than selling through those shady rv dealers. I have a few different options on my radar.

 

[ctechbob]

Be careful over on IRV2, you don't have enough truck for them to tow anything bigger than a small popup.

*sigh*

https://www.irv2.com/forums/f45/ford-ranger-tow-capacity-621065.html

https://www.irv2.com/forums/f45/best-mid-sized-vehicle-to-tow-small-travel-trailer-623292.html

I wonder why I bother sometimes.

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