What hitches are you using? Anyone using an EL with an EQ/31ft bunkhouse successfully?

[daftdesigner]

Hi there - new to the forums, which I turned to to get some help with towing info.

We have a 2016 Expy EL XLT 4wd and just purchased a Keystone 31ft Bunkhouse. I am using an Equalizer hitch but on its first run was sagging a lot in back. I have adjusted the hitch (which is very noisy) and while it helped, I am trying to learn more from others who have be doing this for a while.

I see others; setups appearing very level - was wondering what mods or adjustments others have done (especially with the EQ hitch) or what hitch others were using to tow.

I have a friend who is offering me up his Hensley Arrow for nothing - is it really as good as people claim?

Hope this is not too much to ask and so glad to have found this resource.

Thank you!

 

[BullittBrian]

Hey, I'm new here as well. I have a 2015 EL that we use for towing a 27' Bunkhouse. I found that when I hook up the bars on the hitch, it helps to get as many links down the chain as possible before you put any weight from the trailer on the hitch. That seems to help keep the trailer level and actually tows better.

 

[B-McD]

I pull a 30' Apex Ultra Lite camper using and Equalizer WD hitch setup. Regular WB Platinum with the 22" wheels. I drop about an inch when attached. Trailer specs are 5977 lbs unloaded and we likely put 500 lbs of gear/provisions. Specs show a tongue weight of 672 lbs - likely a bit higher when loaded Empty tanks. No real issues if you use a little white lithium grease on the ball and the spring arm contact points to keep the creaking down.

Longest trip so far was 350 miles each way. On a shorter trip I had side winds for a good portion of the drive. 65 mph and all was good, just a few sways when a semi was passing and would suddenly block the wind. Always seemed like that drop in side wind wanted to suck me closer to the truck. Can't imagine what that would be like without the WD hitch and it's extra sway control.

 

[Jimdar]

Hi there - new to the forums, which I turned to to get some help with towing info.

We have a 2016 Expy EL XLT 4wd and just purchased a Keystone 31ft Bunkhouse. I am using an Equalizer hitch but on its first run was sagging a lot in back. I have adjusted the hitch (which is very noisy) and while it helped, I am trying to learn more from others who have be doing this for a while.

I see others; setups appearing very level - was wondering what mods or adjustments others have done (especially with the EQ hitch) or what hitch others were using to tow.

I have a friend who is offering me up his Hensley Arrow for nothing - is it really as good as people claim?

Hope this is not too much to ask and so glad to have found this resource.

Thank you!

View attachment 20620

I tow a 25" travel trailer with an 04 Expedition. I have been using the Equalizer hitch for over a decade. The Equalizer needs to be properly set up properly for your tow vehicle/trailer combo if you want it to tow level. There are adjustments to be made on the hitch itself and the trailer too. Having said that, if someone was offering to give me their Hensley Arrow I would jump at the opportunity. People that use them swear by them. However, if it isn't set up for your situation it also won't be level.

 

[Triplet Dad]

I tow a 29' TT with slide at 5900lbs empty with my 2007 EL and don't seem to have issues. I use the WD hitch from Harbor Freight and I agree...the more chain links you get in the better. When I went from 3 to 4 links it made a world of difference. You also have to set up the height on your hitch at the proper position.

 

[briangelc]

If your tow vehicle is sagging then your tongue weight possibly needs adjustment. The hitch will not affect the trailer' tongue weight, but a anti-sway or load-distributing hitch will help manage lateral forces. Also, dont carry a lot of crap in the truck when yo are towing. Overloaded rear axles burn out quicker, as do rear wheel bearings, tires, and differentials.
Buy a scale. Move some of your gear to the rear of the trailer (over or behind the trailer's axles) until the weight is withing the correct range.

 

[KonaBean]

Hey, I'm new here as well. I have a 2015 EL that we use for towing a 27' Bunkhouse. I found that when I hook up the bars on the hitch, it helps to get as many links down the chain as possible before you put any weight from the trailer on the hitch. That seems to help keep the trailer level and actually tows better.

BullitBrian, what do you mean when you say "get as many links down the chain", do you mean keep the chain between the pin and the spring bar as short as possible? We are struggling with getting our 2015 Expy EL 4x4 with load-leveling set up so we don't exceed our rear GAWR.

 

[Triplet Dad]

Are you using a weight distribution hitch?

 

[KonaBean]

Are you using a weight distribution hitch?

we are using a EAZ lift elite 1000 which is rated for 1200lb max tongue and 12000 max trailer weight. But we seem to keep fighting the load-leveler which is a Nivomat system and can't be turned off.

 

[Triplet Dad]

Sorry, I am not familiar with that. The chain links we are referring to are on our weight distribution hitches.

 

[KonaBean]

If we ever get it figured out I'll let you know. Thanks.

 

[Bedrck47]

To all the members that have responded to the OP and this thread A BIG

THANK YOU

This is the first time I have seen other members give good advice about towing a RV

Normally there will be replies that tell a OP he can tow anything with the expy or the answer is that they tow 10 to 15k with no problems

I would normally suggest to an OP that they go to a RV forum and ask questions of people that tow RV's on a regular basis. That way they will get better answers and information on towing, hitch set-up etc.

I also noticed that the responses that were provided in this thread were from some new members and some older members but most that replied have very few post/

And again THANK YOU for the very informative replies.

One thing I would suggest about towing and sway is when a big rig is passing you.
Keep to the far right of your lane as possible and also the next time that you fell you are being sucked over towards the big rig Try and increase you speed by about 2 to 3 MPH just at the time when the big rigs cab is by your drivers door This will not affect the big rig but will cause your weight to shift rearward and also cause a brake in the vacuum between your rig and the big rig.

Also the information in the attached link is good to know about weights

http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f37/how-to-weigh-your-tv-tt-3871.html#post24549

 

[briangelc]

wow it is amazing how some people here don't even know what these devices do, or how they work, yet they are hauling around 35ft trailers. I recommend that anyone who doesnt understand tongue weight or GVW go back to their RV dealers and ask them to set up the trailer properly. Also learn how to pack your trailer so that it does not change the tongue weight that you measured at the dealership.
These trucks were not designed for 1200+lb tongue weights. You will break your truck!
Also, it would be wise to monitor Transmission Fluid Temperature. Any vehicle without a TFT gauge can be instantly monitored by using a Scangauge II. These are $160 at Walmart.com. They just plug into the OBDII port under the steering wheel, and also double as a code reader. Plus it gives MPG's and displays many other gauges that Expeditions lack.

 

[07xln]

You can tow anything with an Expy and tow 10-15k with no problems

 

[KonaBean]

I plugged our weight #s into

http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f37/how-to-weigh-your-tv-tt-3871.html#post24549

(I made a spreadsheet out of it) as well as this one

http://changingears.com/rv-sec-calc-trailer-weight-tt.shtml

and both of them seem to indicate that we need to take gear out of the truck and load it into the trailer, over the axle. And/or take less stuff with us!

But with the right load balancing we should have no problem getting our rear axle weight down and front axle weight up.

When we are done with this I may write a manual for newbies, while I still remember what I didn't know and when I didn't know it.

 

[07xln]

I have a 35' toy hauler and when we travel we load everything in the garage of the trailer. I mean everything. I have my wallet and phone, wife has her purse and my kids have their Ipads, that's it as far as the expedition goes. Everything else goes in the trailer, luggage, coolers, kids bikes and toys, food etc. I would rather be at max on the trailer weight then max out the load capacity of the Expedition plus the trailer.

 

[Tank_Snake]

I just haul my db around
I have an 8000lb hitch with a 400 pound limit hauler

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

 

[briangelc]

You can tow anything with an Expy and tow 10-15k with no problems

No.
No.
No.
Please check your owner's manual. Towing limits vary with year/submodel/engine/rear diff ratio, etc.
These sorts of replies are not accurate.

 

[07xln]

No.
No.
No.
Please check your owner's manual. Towing limits vary with year/submodel/engine/rear diff ratio, etc.
These sorts of replies are not accurate.

Ugh!! I was just being sarcastic in reply to an earlier post.

I'm well aware of the limitations of my Expedition

 

[ludlow]

I have a 2014 EL with the HD tow package. I tow an Apex 30ft bunkhouse. Dry weight is ~5000lb, loaded weight ~6000lb with ~630lb tongue weight. I use a four point Equalizer. There are actually two hitches called Equalizer. The E2 only has pivot points at the bars on the camper tongue, this is sold by Fastway. The only adjustment for this is the height of the L brackets.

The "true" Equalizer has pivots at the camper tongue and the hitch head.

I have the later type. There are different weight classifications for this type as well. This hitch has adjustments at the camper tongue (height of the L bracket) and at the hitch head (angle of the ball and bar brackets) that affect how the load is distributed. The L brackets are adjusted by bolt holes, the hitch head is adjusted by adding or removing washers and then torquing the mounting bolts.

If you haven't done so I would suggest reading through the installation manuals and setting up the hitch according to the manual. It took a few adjustments to get the measurement on my front wheels to be where it needed to, but well worth the time spent.

https://www.equalizerhitch.com/manuals/6k-14k-owners-manual

I also added Sumo springs on my rear coils.
https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Ve...-pc-Jounce~Style_Springs-pm-SuperSprings.aspx