Another newby question

[Travelor]

I have a 19' Jayco Hummingbird with a dry tongue weight of 300 pounds and a dry total weight of 3070 pounds. (This weight will of course go up after I provision the stores in the camper) I am pulling with a Honda Passport AWD and the drop of the hitch height is 2" when hooked up. Pulling it "home" after purchase from northern Arkansas to central Arkansas was very stable with minimal sway. I am hoping to take it on an extended trip out west this spring.

Should I get a weight distribution hitch?

 

[High Desert]

New Passports have a tow weight of 3500 to 5000 pounds, so you are clearly under that now. I doubt you will get even close to max weight. Best bet, to determine need for equalizer is to load TT and Passport as you would for a normal trip and see what the position is between the TT and Honda. If there is a "dip" between th two, at the hitch, then yes. The WD hitch will level out the TT and Honda. You might consider an anti-sway bar, too.

 

[Travelor]

the dip of the hitch height is 2" when hooked up.

 

[Rich W.]

...which means your front end is raised at least that much (if not more) which will make your steering light which could be a safety issue, and also make your head lights high which at best will be an annoyance. So Id say yes, get an equalizing hitch. It will put more weight (load) back on your front suspension giving you more control. You dont have much margin for error once you take your gear (cargo) into account, so I’d say you need all the help you can get.

 

[Travelor]

Rich W. Thank you

 

[Travelor]

I'm full of questions because this is all new to me: Which brand and model hitch would you recommend?

I have been surfing the web but with no knowledge of what I need.

 

[Rich W.]

I would contact etrailer.com tell them what you are towing, and what you are towing it with,and get their recommendation. There have been a lot of innovations and new products since I used this type of equipment.

 

[Travelor]

I dropped the credit card on a recommended hitch today. ( FastWay e2 Trunnion Style Weight Distribution Kit With Sway Control - 450 lb Part No: 92-00-0450 by Reese) Nice people and was given a $50 discount. So what is next to throw money into this RV money pit?

 

[Rich W.]

you’ll find plenty - dont rush it...