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Towing without WD Hitch?

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Frank

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I'm in a bit of a pinch with a camping trip planned for tomorrow and need some trustworthy advice.

I have a new 2020 2500 Cummins. I previously had a 1500 and towed our camper with a WD hitch that had a shank with 2 1/2 in drop, I had it on the next to last hole. That hitch is too high to pull the camper close to level, it's about an inch higher than my tongue jack maxes out at so can't even hook up.

I ordered a shank with enough drop from Camping World, they swore up and down it would be on the truck that got unloaded today. It was not, and even though there are 100 in the warehouse they are having a hard time getting them to send the store any. I've checked all the hardware and trailer shops in town and nobody carries drop shanks. I could have ordered from Amazon but it's too late now.

I am used to the universal 500 lbs rule on half tons. The book mentions nothing on tongue weight. My TT dry weight is 6,100 lbs, tongue weight loaded down is probably in the 750 to 800 range. Is this doable without a WD hitch? I need to get a regular drop hitch anyway to pull the boat. I know a WD is preferable but that is not really an option right now. Campground is 40 miles away on a country road, no interstate.
 
I've pulled +10K equipment trailers with my old 04.5 2500 without issue. Take it slow and you'll be fine. The WD/sway with a TT is as much to offset the sail than it is the weight.
 
Brutal_HO said:
I've pulled +10K equipment trailers with my old 04.5 2500 without issue. Take it slow and you'll be fine. The WD/sway with a TT is as much to offset the sail than it is the weight.
Click to expand...

Without enough tension on the bars, the 1500 pointed at the sky and swerved all over the place. I'll get it setup and give it a go around the storage lot. I hate doing everything last minute like this...
 
Manual says to use a WD for anything weighing over 5K...
FWIW, I rented and towed this 30ft AS across FL for about a week... alleged hitch weight is close to 900#
I just took my time and had zero issues really...

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I have seen plenty of people towing without weight distribution where the front end is looking to the sky. If you don't mind killing yourself and your family, by all means go for it.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
 
Class V regular ball mount hitch with 5 in drop and 13k capacity.

Front of truck dropped 1 1/2 inch, rear 2 inch. Trailer frame is at 20 1/4 inch which is near perfect.

Numbers sound safe? Still doing chains and whatnot in the parking lot.
 
Sorry 1/2 rise in front 2 in drop on back.

Handled a hair better than the 2019 1500 did with 1,000 lbs bars and sway control. Short run at 65 mph then city streets to the house. Still will get the WD set up for long trips but good to know I have this option now when I'm just going local.
 
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My camper is 5700lbs...i use a 7-3/4 inch drop 2.5 inch ball mount. Rated at 1300 tongue and 13000 with a 14000 ball.

I tow it every weekend. No issues for me.
 
Before I put the bars on my WD I measured a front end rise of 0.3", or probably actually nothing since that's easily eyeball error territory with a 6400lb TT.

I would be surprised to see a 19+ factory un modified truck squat with 7500#s. That's not even half of what these things can tug. You won't be pointed toward the sky and killing people lol.

40 miles away on a county road? I bet you'll have to remind yourself it's back there.
 
I live in the Ozarks so I have seen some stuff on the road. 25+ ft pontoon pulled by an S-10. Front end loader loaded all the way forward on the trailer pulled by a half ton dragging chains. 15 round hay bales (1k+ each) leaning for miles before tipping over on the freeway. Those people exist.

It's pulling perfectly fine, but I didn't want to go buy a setup last night guessing if it was in the ballpark. My FIL stopped by this morning to chew the cud and its the same setup he used on his truck when we picked up the camper. And I can hook and go and then set up the WD at home instead of a gravel storage lot. Validates why I upgraded to the bigger truck so quickly.
 
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