Towing with 3500 from 1500

[HopFanatik]

Forgive any ignorance, I'm coming from a 1500 mindset and need to learn/adjust to my new HD environment.
Comments, suggestions, corrections, all welcome.

On my 1500 I was pulling a 33' TT @ approx 8k fully loaded. Yes, I was over payload. No it wasn't an awesome towing experience. Yes, the 1500 w/ 3.92 rear end, Timbren 'springs' and the fun-loving 5.7L could do it... but it wasn't optimal. However, it was a great learning experience where I got my feet wet and here I am now trying to make it better/safer.

I was using a Fastway e2 Weight Distribution w/ 2-Point Sway Control and am under the impression that sway control is still necessary while WD is somewhat up for debate. I thought anything over 5K strongly recommended WD.

Trailer is perfectly level. Truck is at stock height.


Clearly, ball sits much higher than it did on the 1500. So i was thinking a drop shank would be suitable.
eg:
https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Fastway/FA92-02-4315.html While 7" drop is more than i need (5" should be enough?), i wanted to give myself some flexibility in the future if i make any changes to suspension or tire size.

Xplant the fastway head onto the new adjustable drop shank and still use my existing WD w/ sway control.

Sound logical? Am I missing anything in particular? Is there a better way to hook up my trailer?
Trailer:

Location: Dry Falls / Sun Lakes, Coulee City, WA


Thanks for reading.

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

Sounds like you’re on the right track.

Each truck and trailer is different but it looks like you’ve done the part that many people skip which is to actually measure yours. I agree with you that 5” looks about right. I also agree that wiggle room is good. For my trailer I needed 7” drop. I ended up buying an 8” drop hitch which is adjustable in 2” increments and I mostly use it on the 6” setting to keep the ball from dragging (it’s a flip ball, so the other ball hangs low)

keep in mind your tongue weight might squat the truck a little, depending on how much tongue weight you have. Probably not much but it could be an inch.

also keep in mind your old truck had a 2” receiver and your new truck has a 2.5” receiver. I know you got a 2” adapter with that truck but I don’t like stacking tolerances so I spent the coin on a 2.5” shank hitch.

 

[HopFanatik]

@Rockcrawlerdude Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I, too, would like to use a 2.5" shank instead of the 2" adapter, What I'm not sure on is whether ANY 2.5" shank with X" drop will have the same sized holes for the fastway head to bolt onto or not. Are those more or less standardized? That would give me more options when picking out an adjustable shank.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

@Rockcrawlerdude Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I, too, would like to use a 2.5" shank instead of the 2" adapter, What I'm not sure on is whether ANY 2.5" shank with X" drop will have the same sized holes for the fastway head to bolt onto or not. Are those more or less standardized? That would give me more options when picking out an adjustable shank.

They are pretty standard hole spacing on the shanks.... yes, a weight disturbing hitch is pointless with that little bit of tongue weight but a sway control bar is always not a bad idea....