Setting Up WDH on the 3500

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OC455

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Okay,

Same camper I have had, same weight distribution hitch, new Class V drop shank/draw bar (2.5inch).

Camper leveled as previously, took some initial measurements (front & rear) of the truck before hitching and then hitching up the camper. Used the lowest position on the drop shank/draw bar because it sets just a bit higher than the top of the receiver of the camper.

34 1/4 inches at the front flat edge of the fender flare and 23 3/4 inches at the top of the draw bar/drop shank. Set the receiver onto the ball, the front measured at 35 3/4 inches and the rear measurement dropped to 22 1/4 inches.

The WDH I have (Curt TruTrack) has five positions. Started at Position #1. No dice there. Position #2, not enough to make a difference. Position #3, brought the rear up to 23 inches and the front dropped to 35 inches. I was thinking, okay, that's pretty good, some tension on the distribution bars and everything looks good eyeballing it. Decided to try position #4. Rear came up to 23 1/2 inches and the front dropped to 34 7/16 inches. I think I will leave it right where it is. Only going to take a short trip this year. Good tension on the spring bars and the truck and trailer look spot on eyeballing it.

I used position #5 with the weight distribution hitch when I was using my 1500 and that was where it needed to be to work good. This #4 position seems to work, I wouldn't have thought it would have needed to go to #4.

Thinking about it, if the position of the head was moved higher up on the draw bar/shank I would probably have to use a lower position, but then the front of the camper would be nose high...

Will see how it tows come May. And if the overseas trip doesn't work out, I'll be able to hit the closest CAT scale on our way to our favorite campsite.
 
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14hemiexpress

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I would leave it at 4 and give it a try. Having as much truck as you do I wouldn’t over think it. I’m not familiar with your trailers weight but if it’s a bumper pull on a dually you don’t have much to worry about. Keep the nose of the trailer level or slightly down not up. Keep the anti sway Hooked up and let the dually work.
 

sandawilliams

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Okay,

Same camper I have had, same weight distribution hitch, new Class V drop shank/draw bar (2.5inch).

Camper leveled as previously, took some initial measurements (front & rear) of the truck before hitching and then hitching up the camper. Used the lowest position on the drop shank/draw bar because it sets just a bit higher than the top of the receiver of the camper.

34 1/4 inches at the front flat edge of the fender flare and 23 3/4 inches at the top of the draw bar/drop shank. Set the receiver onto the ball, the front measured at 35 3/4 inches and the rear measurement dropped to 22 1/4 inches.

The WDH I have (Curt TruTrack) has five positions. Started at Position #1. No dice there. Position #2, not enough to make a difference. Position #3, brought the rear up to 23 inches and the front dropped to 35 inches. I was thinking, okay, that's pretty good, some tension on the distribution bars and everything looks good eyeballing it. Decided to try position #4. Rear came up to 23 1/2 inches and the front dropped to 34 7/16 inches. I think I will leave it right where it is. Only going to take a short trip this year. Good tension on the spring bars and the truck and trailer look spot on eyeballing it.

I used position #5 with the weight distribution hitch when I was using my 1500 and that was where it needed to be to work good. This #4 position seems to work, I wouldn't have thought it would have needed to go to #4.

Thinking about it, if the position of the head was moved higher up on the draw bar/shank I would probably have to use a lower position, but then the front of the camper would be nose high...

Will see how it tows come May. And if the overseas trip doesn't work out, I'll be able to hit the closest CAT scale on our way to our favorite campsite.

Just set mine up today. I could not believe my 2014 2500 was a lot lower than my 2021 2500. I had to turn the hitch over and set the ball down to end up close to level. Took truck and trailer on a test run and handled well. You might consider hooking up and taking for a ride to make sure it is as expected.
 
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OC455

OC455

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I plan on it. I have to get the camper inspected before I can travel. We just got it re-registered. Every year...
 
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OC455

OC455

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I would leave it at 4 and give it a try. Having as much truck as you do I wouldn’t over think it. I’m not familiar with your trailers weight but if it’s a bumper pull on a dually you don’t have much to worry about. Keep the nose of the trailer level or slightly down not up. Keep the anti sway Hooked up and let the dually work.
I measured the tongue weight with my weight safe hitch and it was at 710lbs, battery and semi full propane tanks 30# Added the electric jack too. The camper isn't fully loaded (clothes, food). But it does have a lot in the pass through front storage. I dont think the camper ever gets more than 5600lbs., loaded out at any time. I have no doubt the dually will handle anything I put behind, just kinda surprised the bumper pull dropped the ass end that much.

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk
 

14hemiexpress

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I measured the tongue weight with my weight safe hitch and it was at 710lbs, battery and semi full propane tanks 30# Added the electric jack too. The camper isn't fully loaded (clothes, food). But it does have a lot in the pass through front storage. I dont think the camper ever gets more than 5600lbs., loaded out at any time. I have no doubt the dually will handle anything I put behind, just kinda surprised the bumper pull dropped the ass end that much.

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk


I’m surprised as well. It probably has some serious progressive rate springs In the back trying to help that stiff ride.
 
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OC455

OC455

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I took the camper to get it inspected per NYS. I always check everything before I go out anyway. It is set at position 4 and it seems to handle just fine. I still think a set of Timber Groves would be an ideal addition to the back.
 
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OC455

OC455

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We have a short camping trip setup for this month for over the weekend, actually looking forward to it. I think I will be alright with the way everything is set now.
 
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OC455

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This past camping trip went fine, short jaunt to a local camp ground. Did well. Happy.
 

ramffml

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I still think a set of Timber Groves would be an ideal addition to the back.

Timber Groves for a 3500 dually with > 5000 pounds of payload and a tongue weight of 710 pounds? I must be missing something.
 

dhay13

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When I towed my step-sons 9300lb TT with my 2500 he had an equalizer WDH and we had the ball set as low as it would go. Weighed out good. My son has an 8100lb TT and has a Husky TS Centerline WDH and we have it set to the lowest setting also. I can't say for sure what the brackets are set at but here is a pic of my sons with the 8100lb TT and the Husky. Here is the CAT tiket from that setup. You might be able to see how far down the brackets are in the pic.

IMG_5919.jpg

Blaise_weigh_slip.png
 

14hemiexpress

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Here is my setup with weights you can compare.
 

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OC455

OC455

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Timber Groves for a 3500 dually with > 5000 pounds of payload and a tongue weight of 710 pounds? I must be missing something.

Hitching the trailer, it still squats pretty good. I was kind of surprised by that. More for load leveling than anything....probably not going to happen any time soon. Also looking at possibly getting a 5th wheel in the future, so it will probably something to look at if and when that happens.
 

Blkrvrbart

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My 2500 hitch dropped a lot more than I expected when I hooked up the camper. Tongue weight is 770#, total trailer weight is no more than 7500#. I attributed this to the coil spring rear suspension, since I’m new to that. Once I had it set up, it actually leveled out nice, but the front is about a half inch higher than it should be. I plan on taking care of that by tipping the ball mount back to put more load on the wdh arms. Have airbags to install, but I only use them to level up after everything else is set right, say if we change the tongue weight by 400#, or are towing the dump trailer which is 12000 loaded and 950# tongue weight, no wdh .
 
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