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02-28-2016, 09:44 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Chardon
Posts: 79
Ohio
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Help. Hitch problem.
Trying to get my TT hitched up. Only time I did it before was with the dealer.
There we put the weight distributing hitch on the 4th chain link. But now for some reason I can BARELY get it in the second link.
What could have changed? What can I do?
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02-28-2016, 09:48 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Chardon
Posts: 79
Ohio
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Nevermind I'm an idiot. Forgot to take wome pressure off the hitch with the trailer jack.
Well I wont forget that again.
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__________________
2016 Dutchman Denali 287RE
2008 Toyota Tundra Limited
https://s244.photobucket.com/user/Lilkinsly/slideshow/Trailer
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02-28-2016, 09:51 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Middletown
Posts: 39
Pennsylvania
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Not an idiot. Just learned a lesson. I have learned the same lesson, as have many others.
Good luck!
Denny
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2016 Voltage 3970 Full Body Paint (Earth tone/Burgundy)
2014 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn, 6.7, AISIN, 4.10
2012 Can-Am RT Limited, Lava Bronze
President, Susquehanna Valley Chapter Shelby Dodge Auto Club (SDAC)
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02-28-2016, 10:05 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Chardon
Posts: 79
Ohio
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Hmm maybe not. Taking weight off the truck let me get into the 2nd link. But nowhere close to the third let alone 4th. What would change?
__________________
2016 Dutchman Denali 287RE
2008 Toyota Tundra Limited
https://s244.photobucket.com/user/Lilkinsly/slideshow/Trailer
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02-28-2016, 10:41 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Sparta
Posts: 1,726
Tennessee
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I have to pick my truck rear end way up with the camper jack to get my chains connected.
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2014 Aerolite 213 RBSL
2016 Chevrolet Colorado
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02-28-2016, 11:20 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Dalzell
Posts: 714
South Carolina
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The tilt of the terrain is a big factor. Actually more for the truck than the trailer. If the truck's front end is pointing up, you have to take a lot of weight, perhaps even lift the rear end of the truck, to get those WD bars pointed they way you want them.
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02-28-2016, 11:23 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
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If the truck or trailer is tilted to one side or the other it can affect the hookup too. Typically I was raising the rear of my truck a good 12"-14" above the empty level mark. I bought a power jack because I got tired of cranking... then traded the trailer in.
Aaron
__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
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02-29-2016, 12:21 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Sierra Vista
Posts: 314
Arizona
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It helps to consider how your tow vehicle sits with respect to the trailer. If the TV is pointed downhill WRT the trailer it should reduce the amount of force required but if it's going uphill you can expect to use considerable force. Also the angle of the TV to the centerline of the TT can make one side require more force than the other.
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2012 Dutchmen Denali 289RK
2013 Ford F250 Lariat - 6.7L Powerstroke Diesel
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02-29-2016, 12:26 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Chardon
Posts: 79
Ohio
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Thx for the tips. Everything was flat this time, but at the dealership it was not. So maybe 2nd link is my "normal" one.
Thanks all. Learned a lot today.
__________________
2016 Dutchman Denali 287RE
2008 Toyota Tundra Limited
https://s244.photobucket.com/user/Lilkinsly/slideshow/Trailer
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02-29-2016, 02:45 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Mesa
Posts: 198
Arizona
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Are you saying the 2nd link from the tension bar? If so, I am under the impression that you need to be at least 4 or 5 links from the bar to have enough give to allow the hitch to work. How many links from the bar are you?
RichH
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2017 Ram 1500 Tradesman EcoDiesel
2010 Dutchmen 24 FB-SL
Curt 10,000# WDH
Never underestimate the stupidity of people in large groups.
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02-29-2016, 03:36 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 573
California
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My two cents and once hitched up the bars need to be level with the trailer tongue. Good video
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Mike & Emily-Sacramento, CA
Our 4th trailer (2016 Aspen Trail 1900RB)
2018 F150 STX 2.7 Eco Boost
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02-29-2016, 04:57 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: kamloops
Posts: 2,152
British Columbia
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There is an important part of the equation missing, how much weight needs to be distributed to the front end of the TV.
Without knowing that, it's just a guess as to what "normal" is for a given setup.
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Jim
When I was a kid I was going nowhere fast, now I'm an old man I'm going everywhere slow.
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02-29-2016, 05:02 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Desert Hot Springs
Posts: 1,761
California
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"Normal" is on level ground both tow vehicle & trailer will be sitting level.
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Mike
2002 42' Monaco Signature Triple Crown tow 2014 F-150
2014 Voltage V3605 Sold 5/3/17
2012 F-350 6.7l CC 4X4, Sold 10/10/17
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02-29-2016, 05:05 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Cape Coral
Posts: 15
Florida
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Just as a helpful hint, I back up to the trailer, when I'm two feet away I put 2 x 8 boards down in a ramp fashion and back up on them to hitch the trailer on the ball. This raises the back of the truck up without having to jack it and the nose of the trailer sky high to hook up the chains on the spring bars.
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David and Vicki
5 year old Springer rescues Sydney and Piper
2013 Silverado 2500HD LTZ Crew Cab Duramax/Allison stock "Big Red"
2016 Dutchmen Denali 287RE "The Dog House"
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02-29-2016, 10:26 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Chardon
Posts: 79
Ohio
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I am talking from the end of the chain. The second link there.
Before it was at the 4th link in which was about the middle. Is this ok?
__________________
2016 Dutchman Denali 287RE
2008 Toyota Tundra Limited
https://s244.photobucket.com/user/Lilkinsly/slideshow/Trailer
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02-29-2016, 10:42 PM
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#16
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Cape Coral
Posts: 15
Florida
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I'd have to look at the 'destructions' but if I remember, they want 5 links between the bar and the frame clamp. What you DO want is the bar to be parallel with the trailer frame. You may need to tilt the ball at the trunion head to get the right angle to get that setup.
__________________
David and Vicki
5 year old Springer rescues Sydney and Piper
2013 Silverado 2500HD LTZ Crew Cab Duramax/Allison stock "Big Red"
2016 Dutchmen Denali 287RE "The Dog House"
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02-29-2016, 11:41 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Scottsdale
Posts: 53
Arizona
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I use my weight distribution on the 2nd link all the time. I did not like the way it rode on the 3rd link. As long as the bars are level with the A frame you should be fine. I did install an electric tongue jack to assist with the lifting of the tow vehicle and trailer especially in the 110 degree Phoenix summers. Might also want to try placing a few scrap boards under the jack.
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The Epic RV Adventures of the Karlin Family
www.campfireshenanigans.com
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03-01-2016, 04:41 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Dalzell
Posts: 714
South Carolina
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeF
Thx for the tips. Everything was flat this time, but at the dealership it was not. So maybe 2nd link is my "normal" one.
Thanks all. Learned a lot today.
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Not good. The setup should have been done on level ground. Here's what to check. Get your trailer, loaded normally, hooked to the truck, and on level ground. From front of truck to rear of trailer. Then check with a bubble level. Both the truck and the trailer should be level, front to back. If not, you need to get that hitch re-done, so you know when you're on the 4th, 3rd, or whatever link, that you should be level. FWIW, ours came out of the dealer on the 3rd link, but once we got it loaded and traveled a little, we had to have the receiver moved up a notch. There is more to it than just which link to hook up.
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03-01-2016, 05:54 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Chardon
Posts: 79
Ohio
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I did check and everything was level, used a bubble level.
This is not good, as I am leaving to drive cross country on Friday.
With the second link, the bars are parallel to the hitch and the chains are really tight. So this wont work? It sucks because the dealer is 3 hours away.
__________________
2016 Dutchman Denali 287RE
2008 Toyota Tundra Limited
https://s244.photobucket.com/user/Lilkinsly/slideshow/Trailer
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03-01-2016, 06:15 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Dalzell
Posts: 714
South Carolina
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeF
I did check and everything was level, used a bubble level.
This is not good, as I am leaving to drive cross country on Friday.
With the second link, the bars are parallel to the hitch and the chains are really tight. So this wont work? It sucks because the dealer is 3 hours away.
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Sounds like you're OK. Bars being parallel to hitch is good, but secondary to truck and trailer being level. I'd say, if those are good, go ahead and hit the road. Check it as you go. There are a million places to check it out, we got nervous at a campground in FL, and a mobile guy, recommended by the camp, came and adjusted us for $100. Everything "felt" better afterwards, or did I just have to tell myself that after dumping a $100? LOL
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