Posted 2011-06-02 6:42 PM (#134506) Subject: Problem with towing set-up
New User
Posts: 2
Location: s.e. michigan
Hi to all! New to forum so excuse me if I don't do something just right. trying to set up my rig and not doing too well. Towing a Featherlite 9407 2 horse bumper pull w/drsg. room in front with a 2007 Chevy Tahoe LTZ with P275/55/R20 tires....think their a little bigger than my last truck had. Problem is with the ball mount drop. Tried a 10" drop and trailer was close to level but jerked like crazy. 8" drop pulled a little better but trailer was not quite level and swayed a little (front of trailer was a little higher than back). Adding to the problem is the stupid little wheel under the crank on the front.....with either one of these drops, I have to take the wheel off when towing because it's too close to the ground and will drag. Something just doesn't seem right about that! Don't haul long distances and don't want to go to one of those hitches with the bars and big knuckle, too hard for me to handle. Anyone familiar with this setup, would really appreciate your advice! Have already bought 2 ball mounts @ $50+ each and can't take them back 'cause I boogered them up when I tried them out......can't waste any more on mistakes! Thanks! Ali
Posted 2011-06-02 7:36 PM (#134510 - in reply to #134506) Subject: RE: Problem with towing set-up
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
I've always set my hitches so that the front of the trailer is 3" higher than level. This does not put undue pressure on the rear axle and tires, and allows our trailers to pull straight and true without the need for any hitch accessories.
Posted 2011-06-02 7:41 PM (#134511 - in reply to #134506) Subject: RE: Problem with towing set-up
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430 Location: TN
If you went to the weight distributing hitch and bars, that would definately help with sway. It's not really that difficult to use. I'd rather set that up than fight the sway of my trailer!
Posted 2011-06-02 9:18 PM (#134514 - in reply to #134506) Subject: RE: Problem with towing set-up
New User
Posts: 2
Location: s.e. michigan
I'm also hearing about "tongue weight".... should be 10% of total load being towed. So how do you determine how much tongue weight you have?? Didn't think hauling my horses would be this complicated!
Posted 2011-06-03 4:06 AM (#134519 - in reply to #134506) Subject: RE: Problem with towing set-up
Regular
Posts: 88
Ali55,
I also have to remove the wheel from the hitch when towing. At first it was a pain but as you do it a few times it becomes easier. Just one of the things we deal with when hooking up the trailer.
I would suggest to go with the weight distributing hitch with sway bars. Call your dealer or local trailer sales. Check out the prices. Just had one done for our set up...wide range of prices. Remember cheaper may not be better. Do your homework. At first I thought it would be a pain to hookup everytime, but again the more times you do it the easier it becomes. My wife and I can hook everything up and load the horses and be on the road in 30 minutes. The first time it took us about an hour. Just takes working together and practice. Well worth the time to be SAFE when towing.
Posted 2011-06-03 8:55 AM (#134527 - in reply to #134506) Subject: RE: Problem with towing set-up
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
Apparently you have a 1/2 ton truck pulling a 2H bumper pull trailer. Is the tahoe "lifted"? Why would you need a 10" drop hitch with a stock truck? I wonder if the components they used to lift the truck are affecting your towing?
Your tahoe will have a rating for how much tongue weight it can support on the ball. If I get a squirrly trailer, its usually because I've exceeded the tongue weight. A stock class 3 hitch is probably rated at 600lbs of tongue weight. Weigh your truck with out the trailer hooked up and reweigh it with the loaded trailer hooked up. The difference in weight will be the tongue added to the truck. I tow construction equipment around almost daily, I can quickly feel if one of the guys drove the skid loader a little too far forward on the trailer, or if they loaded too much dirt in the front of the dump trailer. The excess weight on the bumper hitch makes the rig sway.
Problem with towing set-up
