Advisibility of using weight distribution hitch: pros and cons

[deryk]

Thanks Denny and your Rav4 doesnt look to be squatting as much as mine does without the airbags.

Well I canceled my order with jc whitney... I called back 12 hours later and they still could only tell me my order is processing... but they wont charge me till its marked shipped... well they charged me yesterday... I told them I am used to dealing with companies that if the part is in stock will be out the door by the lates the next day and up to 5 days for ups ground (but 3rd day isn't usually much more) their policy is 2-9 business days... good luck with that...

[Glenn Baglo]

Why not start by shortening up that stinger?

[deryk]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

Why not start by shortening up that stinger?

stinger?

[Glenn Baglo]

This is the best I can come up with to illustrate my hitch set up.
The WDH was installed so that the trailer with its high-lift axle would ride level. You can see ( I hope ) how close the ball is to the bumper.

[deryk]

I got a new hitch, naturally they didnt have the right sized ball so I will have to remove the old one and put it on... its about 5" closer to the receiver then the other one.

Although this 1 would get it even closer...http://www.etrailer.com/Ball-Mounts/...tch/80213.html

[deryk]

Called etrailer today and asked eta for delivery and after a lengthy hold was told its on a 3 week manuf backorder... called 3 other places from google searches that their merchandise ships from the manuf warehouses, till I found someone on ebay who checked they have 4 on their shelf.

Order placed!


deryk

[deryk]

Also ordered a shorter ball hitch Curt 2" Receiver Heavy Duty Trailer Hitch Ball Mount 8" Drop 6 3 4" Rise | eBay

Hopefully the shorter ball hitch and the airbags will remove the squat

deryk

[MC1]

deryk

Much Better!

[deryk]

Thanks! It was the shortest one with a good rise height on it. Even if with airbags my rav4 stays at the 9.75" from ground to the bottom of the receiver I need some extra height with the center style tongue jack sitting lower cause my ParkLine will be traveling off road with me alot and dont want the jack to bottom out lol


deryk

[cpaharley2008]

If the jack is the problem then you can fix that easily. Go to ETrailer and look at their tongue jacks and the specifications. I had one that was too low and I replaced it with a shorter one problem solved. You want your trailer to be level, if it scrapes then change the jack but do not raise the trailer tongue to compensate for an incorrect jack. Parkliner's stock jack may be set up for a truck and may be too low for your vehicle and needs to be changed.

[Francesca Knowles]

Um....Jim?

Since Deryk's problem is related to sag when he's hooked up to the tow vehicle, I'm not thinking a new tongue jack is going to help...unless it's got a highway tire on the foot!

Francesca

[deryk]

Well part of my problem is the sag, but I agree with Jim, it is possible that the jack was picked based on a vehicle whose rear is taller then my rav4's is.

deryk

[cpaharley2008]

I think he has 2 issues, both sag and low jack

[rabbit]

The dang coupler can only be at one hgt from ground on relatively level ground with no major discontinuties ( like a pungee pit where the jack foot is located) to produce a level frame and trailer. Admittedly, parked on a big slope with the trailer headed downslope, it is possible to run out elevation on the jack before the coupler is above the ball, necessitating the trick of maxing the tongue jack, placing screw jacks on the frame to hold the hgt., retracting the tongue jack and blocking under the foot to give the jack sufficient lift. Most tongue jacks leave a couple of inches under the frame where the tilting foot or dolly wheel is x-pinned. I'm burning a cell or two over this jack biz but I still think the RAV constitutes the problem.

jack

[cpaharley2008]

Jack,
A quick check at Etrailer's tongue jack page shows 5 jacks with the retracted height anywhere from 11" to 5", so that is a big range. Once Deryk gets his trailer level and no squat, then he may want to change the jack if it is too close to the ground. I must have 3 jacks in my garage from trailers that were to low when properly hooked up.
But I must say, the picture shows a very high mounting location. I'm surprised that Parkliner is at 16.5 . The Escape 19 is 21" high or 3.5" difference.

[Francesca Knowles]

I get it...I think...

Are these all A-frame jacks? If so, and access to tailgate/back tug door is also a problem, I highly recommend replacement with a side-mount swivel jack, available in various heights/throws.

I love being able to open the back hatch on my Kia all the way!

Francesca

[rabbit]

I fear my experience is not broad enuf to countenance the subtleties of jack foot protrusion. Much to my chagrin, I do understand dragging a jack foot that is not fully retracted. Number 1 among the reasons that I know how to cold set jack flanges with a BFH and that I suggest that one should always complete each item on one's preflight list before moving to another. On my list, the relevant item reads" "Tongue jack COMPLETELY!!!!! retracted."

lojack

[cpaharley2008]

Yes, they are all tongue and they all are in the way. My FJ cruiser has the same swing open rear and It will not work unless I get a swing up jack. But with the propane set up that is not an option. With the Ram set up, the tail gate hits the jack handle, until I found a jack with a removable handle.

[Francesca Knowles]

That has got to be a royal pain. I'm glad my trailer came with the swivel version! I just bought a replacement- I'd intended to rebuild the original since all that was functionally wrong was the "squeal" indicating worn-out innards....

But the top crank has always bugged me since the bag on the tongue interfered with its operation, so I bought a brand spankin' new sidewinder version a lot like this one:
.

Tell the truth department:
I didn't exactly buy the new jack...I just griped about it so much that my husband bought me one for my birthday, and promised to weld it on to boot! Ain't that romantic?

He really knows how to treat a woman...

Francesca

[deryk]

i don't care for the side jacks with an a-frame tongue. the center mount i feel supports it more evenly IMHO... once i get the squat problem resolved i can look into a different tongue jack...I think i read the ParkLiner is 20"...which prolly wont happen with my tv lol


deryk