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Old 02-28-2016, 09:44 PM   #1
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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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Old 02-28-2016, 09:48 PM   #2
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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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Old 02-28-2016, 09:51 PM   #3
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Old 02-28-2016, 10:05 PM   #4
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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?
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Old 02-28-2016, 10:41 PM   #5
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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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Old 02-28-2016, 11:20 PM   #6
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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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Old 02-28-2016, 11:23 PM   #7
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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.

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Old 02-29-2016, 12:21 AM   #8
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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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Old 02-29-2016, 12:26 AM   #9
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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.
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Old 02-29-2016, 02:45 PM   #10
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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?
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Old 02-29-2016, 03:36 PM   #11
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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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Old 02-29-2016, 04:57 PM   #12
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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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Old 02-29-2016, 05:02 PM   #13
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"Normal" is on level ground both tow vehicle & trailer will be sitting level.
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Old 02-29-2016, 05:05 PM   #14
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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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Old 02-29-2016, 10:26 PM   #15
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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?
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Old 02-29-2016, 10:42 PM   #16
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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.
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Old 02-29-2016, 11:41 PM   #17
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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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Old 03-01-2016, 04:41 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeF View Post
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.
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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Old 03-01-2016, 05:54 AM   #19
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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.
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Old 03-01-2016, 06:15 AM   #20
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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.
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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