Hitch confusion

[Dthiss]

I have an Equalizer WDH with built in sway control and wouldn't tow long distances without it. Equalizer doesn't make a 3" shank for my new 350 (why I don't know), so have been looking at other options and recently came across the Bulletproof that has an adapter specifically for the Equalizer head. I was set on going with a B&W 2-ball for everyday towing and then a 2.5" shank/reducer setup for the travel trailer, but would be nice to have one setup that does it all. Either way I go pricing is in the same ballpark...the B&W has some nice features (only one lock needed, lower profile)...the Bulletproof is built like a brick shithouse.

View attachment 18647

I’m glad I found this post. I also have an Equalizer WDH and was disappointed that they didn’t have a 3”. The one the RV dealer supplied was a 2”. I simply didn’t want multiple sleeves. I made them order a 2.5 receiver, but prefer a 3”. I’m going to do this.

 

[SuperNewbie]

good info here thanks.....so what # did you start with in your negotiation to end up at 29? Did you just go in saying "under 30"? or did you start at like 25 or something?

I've been looking at RVs online for over a year and keep thinking I need a huge hundred K 5er or something.....but then I know that would be like 5+years out to really afford. Stupid but it's hard to look at the photos and floor plans of an Imagine or even Reflection TT after looking at Solitudes lol....

But, I watch a lot of Keep Your Daydream utoob channel and that guy is like "just get the rv that gets you on the road...the dream rig can come later but you can start making family memories way sooner" or something like that....Now I'm really thinking this could be later this year or next year if I go with something that has a sticker of $40-50K and get it for 30-35ish. Stretch the financing out and just make double payments and throw a few grand a year at it at bonus time and be done with it in a few years.

Plus being realistic that this would be like 2 one week trips a year and then otherwise limited to weekends and some long weekends.....buying a giant luxe 5er would be stupid. Better off saving that for when the kids are grown up and I'm retiring lol. A 35-35ft TT would really be perfect for us.

Storage is a bitch too though. I have no land so storage places are the only option and they're like $200 a month.

It seems as though you are on the right track. First off, I’d walk out of the dealership if they laugh at taking 25% off. Everyone gets 25% off. Also let them know they will be throwing in the hitch and everything you need to get started. Sewer hose, fresh water hose, leveling blocks.
as for the unit you want to buy, 35ft is the magic number. A lot of campgrounds don’t have room for 40+ foot trailers, keep that in mind. It took me and my wife 3 years to find the right trailer. I thought I needed a 100k Fuzion toy hauler! Nope! Wrong answer. My TT is awesome! And it was half the price.

 

[ibeb]

I have a WDH that I used with our TT while towing with the F150. I have it, so just upgraded to the 2.5" shank with an extra 2" of drop for use on the Tremor - still need to set it all up. I also have a Weigh Safe 8" drop with the dual balls and scale that I use for my yard waste trailer. I will also use it for the TT for short trips or non-windy days. I am not really using the WDH for weight distribution as I feel I should be good with about an 800 pound tongue weight. I will be using it for the sway control. You have to remember that hauling a utility trailer etc is different than pulling a TT - you will have a solid wind sail behind you. If you get the tongue weight into the 10-15% range, that will help control sway, but when you are traveling and get stuck in 30-50 mph crosswinds, you may want to have that sway control for some extra comfort. Our TT is 29', 33' tip to tail and 6k dry about 7k loaded.

As far as pricing, we bought our TT in August 2019, asking was $30k and we were out the door with all taxes and fees for $25k. They included the Fastway E2 round bar system. Just tell them that you want to be set up to properly and safely tow it off the lot, or you won't buy it.

 

[WJK1]

good info here thanks.....so what # did you start with in your negotiation to end up at 29? Did you just go in saying "under 30"? or did you start at like 25 or something?

I've been looking at RVs online for over a year and keep thinking I need a huge hundred K 5er or something.....but then I know that would be like 5+years out to really afford. Stupid but it's hard to look at the photos and floor plans of an Imagine or even Reflection TT after looking at Solitudes lol....

But, I watch a lot of Keep Your Daydream utoob channel and that guy is like "just get the rv that gets you on the road...the dream rig can come later but you can start making family memories way sooner" or something like that....Now I'm really thinking this could be later this year or next year if I go with something that has a sticker of $40-50K and get it for 30-35ish. Stretch the financing out and just make double payments and throw a few grand a year at it at bonus time and be done with it in a few years.

Plus being realistic that this would be like 2 one week trips a year and then otherwise limited to weekends and some long weekends.....buying a giant luxe 5er would be stupid. Better off saving that for when the kids are grown up and I'm retiring lol. A 35-35ft TT would really be perfect for us.

Storage is a bitch too though. I have no land so storage places are the only option and they're like $200 a month.

For this one we just said get it under $30k and we will come right back to sign the papers. Then we walked out. I think the next day they called with a price of $35k. Simply said no. Need to be under 30. At some point we said we would check a few other places to see if they would be willing to get us where we need to be. That’s when they started moving a bit faster on the deal.

I never like to negotiate same day or in person anymore. I like to leave so they have to work that much harder to get me to come back. Like playing hard to get ?.

 

[Loshad]

I did all negotiating on our TT and Tremor by email - no time pressure except that I knew my trailer was in high demand and not many are made. That was last June. Only a month or two later dealers weren't dealing.

 

[Billaquiles]

I ran into the same problem when I realized the 350 receiver was a 3”. I wanted to get away from using reducers so found this shank and was able to mount my old weight distribution head onto it. They said it’s rated to 14k. See link below.

Saved me from having to buy the entire kit as everything else was unchanged for my set up.

I believe the holes for wdh heads are somewhat universal so you should be able to use most standard heads on other shanks.

Eaz-Lift 48654 3-Inch Forged Drop Shank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084PV4Q1...abc_DN2GN92QWJTZ8CX1YPBA?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

[ibeb]

I did all negotiating on our TT and Tremor by email - no time pressure except that I knew my trailer was in high demand and not many are made. That was last June. Only a month or two later dealers weren't dealing.

I did the same and now, trailers are just like Tremors, most dealers won't budge much. My boss is getting ready to move overseas and was able to sell his TT for what he paid for it 2 summers ago.

 

[Tx-Tremor6.7]

I ran into the same problem when I realized the 350 receiver was a 3”. I wanted to get away from using reducers so found this shank and was able to mount my old weight distribution head onto it. They said it’s rated to 14k. See link below.

Saved me from having to buy the entire kit as everything else was unchanged for my set up.

I believe the holes for wdh heads are somewhat universal so you should be able to use most standard heads on other shanks.

Eaz-Lift 48654 3-Inch Forged Drop Shank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084PV4Q1...abc_DN2GN92QWJTZ8CX1YPBA?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

The 3“ shank is a diesel thing, not an F350 thing. If you buy the gasser you get a 2.5” shank, regardless of the meaningless side emblem on a Tremor.

 

[Billaquiles]

Well I got the diesel thing with the 3” receiver in my driveway ??‍

 

[Tx-Tremor6.7]

Well I got the diesel thing with the 3” receiver in my driveway ??‍

As do I and mine has the 2 instead of the 3 before the 50 on the side emblem.

 

[73Trmr]

I went with the B&W 3” receiver hitch. It has the full capability of the Tremor. I didn’t want the hitch to be the weak link for towing.

Ponied up for the 2.5” B&W with 8” drop for my inbound 7.3. Didn’t want a weak link between me and the boat or another item to rattle.

 

[SuperNewbie]

Took the camper to the shop today to get it ready for next month. First trip out with the 2021 350. Camper was about 10,000 lbs today. Hitch worked excellent. The sway control helped huge as it was a little windy today. And the 3”-2” husky reducer worked great. Less slop using one reducer.

 

[jrisalvato]

When I first got my 250 Tremor all I had was my R6 Recurve WDH with 2" receiver. The first time I towed our 8,600lbs TT I had to use it with two reducers. I found those reducers created more sway. I drove from Vegas to FL. It was fine but I bought the Bulletproof 3" receiver with 8" drop, no weight distribution or anti-sway, tows beautifully. Better than with the WDH with the reducers I have.

I have 1,250lbs of hitch weight. The purpose of WDH is to transfer some of the weight from rear axle to front axle and "level" out the truck. Don't really think that's much of an issue with these trucks, so in my opinion, WDH isn't needed for most travel trailers.

 

[Monster]

Has anyone looked at the Gen y torsion hitch or have any experience with them. I know they’re expensive, but they look like it’s well made for heavy towing. Was thinking of going with one for towing a enclosed car trailer (10,000 pds.)

 

[mink]

I ordered a 2022 F250 Tremor 7.3 gas, What will the receiver opening size be 2.5" or 3"? and will it come from the factory with a reducer to a 2" shank? Just starting to get some accessories ordered.

 

[TimmyTheKid17]

I ordered a 2022 F250 Tremor 7.3 gas, What will the receiver opening size be 2.5" or 3"? and will it come from the factory with a reducer to a 2" shank? Just starting to get some accessories ordered.

The 2020 and 2021 gassers come with a 2.5” receiver so I would imagine the 2022’s will. The diesels come with the 3” receiver.

I’m not sure about the reducer, someone that actually has theirs already (I’m still waiting for mine sob, sob) can let you know. I thought I remembered someone saying that the diesel came with a reducer from the factory but I’m not sure about the gasser.

 

[ibeb]

2020 F350 7.3 - 2.5" and no reducer sleeve included.

 

[DanMan583]

From what I’ve gathered by talking to my coworkers, WDH seems to only be a thing with Travel Trailers and it seems to be mostly related to size rather than weight. The longer the trailer, the more the need for a WDH, and also the taller the trailers are the more the need for anti-sway.
I say this because I tow multiple trailers on a regular basis, most are equipment trailers not usually very large in size but very heavy in weight. The trailers weigh anywhere from 8k-16k pounds, they’re all usually under 22’ in length. I pull them with an F350 Dually Reg. Cab. 2008 model Gasser using a Bulletproof hitch 2-5/16” ball. No WDH, so sway control, and I never have any issues controlling these trailers. The truck handles them just fine and is never pushed around, and never feels out of control. The truck just feels a bit under powered at times while taking off from a standstill but it is only a 5.4L V8 Triton Motor.

 

[NE Tremor]

Don't mean to thread hi-jack but is anyone on here using one of these weigh safe hitches? I am thinking about getting one as my Andersen 6 inch doesnt have enough drop for my 4 place enclose snowmobile trailer. I like the fact that this is 3inch shank with the tongue weight scale built in but wanted to see if anyone had experience with one

https://www.amazon.com/Weigh-Safe-WS8-3-KA-Hitch-Built/dp/B07CSH8P2F/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=weigh+safe+3+inch&qid=1616590451&sr=8-6

 

[JimmyG79]

Got a dumb hitch question. when towing a travel trailer everyone seems to say you need a weight distribution hitch. Fine.

But then everyone on this forum seems to favor B&W hitches....from what I can see they don't offer a weight distribution system.

So my questions:

1) are B&W hitches compatible with weight distribution bars/chains that people add from other manufacturers?
2) or are people towing with B&W hitches with no weight distribution? If so, what are you towing and how much does it weigh such that you feel you don't need a weight distribution hitch?

I'm kind of looking at GD Reflection TTs (315RLTS) that has a 1065lb hitch weight, GVWR is 11295. Does a 1K trailer really need a WDH on a F350 or is that just overkill?

I had a friend back in MA that helped me re-plant a lawn. I had 17 yards of dirt to spread so we took his old (like mid 90s) F350 to home depot and rented a Bobcat mini excavator that IIRC weighed about 8000lbs, plus the weight of home depot's utility trailer it sat on. He used no WDH and it drove fine from what I could tell, granted we only had like a 15 mile drive.

Great question! I also was confused on this as well. I have the 250 6.7 and bought the B&W hitch as well. I pull a 3320BH Passport Touring that has a loaded weight of 7500 lbs max. Tongue weight is 750 lbs. It rides perfectly level. Check it out. Plus I’m at about half of the towing capacity.