I have a '78 Chevy Suburban (3 speed, 350 with a granny low) bumper hitch. I tow a four horse stock trailer, usually with three horses, maybe 500-1000 miles a year. It tows fine. It doesn’t go really fast, and we go slowly up hills. It doesn’t sway or seem unstable. It does weigh down the back of the Suburban. Would this help with that? I don’t mind getting it, I just don’t want to put anything on that won’t help.
Sway bars and a weight distributing hitch are certainly not going to hurt. Another thing to check, especially since you are towing with an older vehicle, is the Suburban’s suspension.
A Weight distributing hitch is not a “stabilizer bar”. Be careful of what you’re asking for. A WHD will move some of the weight on the hitch to the front wheels of your 'Burb. It acts like a wheel barrow handle. The increased weight on the front wheels will increase your control. Sway and stabilizer bars only reduce the movement between the trailer and tow vehicle.
The downside is the added steps when hitching up. The bars can be heavy and the latching of the bars to the trailer will need a handle to pry.
You’re right, hosspuller. I meant weight distribution hitch. I think I DO need that. These, right?
https://www.amazon.com/Towing-Weight-Distributing-Hitches/b?ie=UTF8&node=15737521
I leave my truck hitched to the trailer 99% of the time so I don’t need to do it a lot of the time.
Is any hitch better than another? Or just a good solid one should do the job?
Not to hijack, but how does one install a WDH? It seems they need to attach to the frame of the trailer- is this something you can do yourself? Is there anything additional that needs to be installed on the truck?
[QUOTE=Texarkana;8753597]
Not to hijack, but how does one install a WDH? It seems they need to attach to the frame of the trailer- is this something you can do yourself? Is there anything additional that needs to be installed on the truck?[/QUOTE]
BTDT … I can’t vouch for any brand of WDH. My trailer is a GN. You might look on some of the RV web forums. The RV crowd has embraced the use of WDH much more than the horse people. Likely due to those slab sided camper trailers pulled by too light vehicles, getting pushed around by wind & passing big rigs.
Texarkana … WDH hitches are like Wheelbarrow handles in function. The tow vehicle has a special ball hitch. The hitch has a place to hold a “spring bar” on each side of the ball. Then, you must attach the other end of the spring bar to the side of the trailer tongue. Here’s where it gets tricky … Like lifting the wheelbarrow handles, the spring bars must be tensioned. Two ways of doing this, one… use the trailer jack to lift both vehicle & trailer, then attach spring bars to trailer tongue, then retract the jack. Two … the trailer tongue attachments have a toggle link to lift the spring bars and hold them up. Many people use a combination of method One & Two to engage the bars.
To answer the install question… Depends on your mechanical ability, tools, and design of trailer tongue. Some bar attachments just bolt on IF the trailer allows. Other trailers need cutting and welding.
Please hijack. There are lots of videos on how to install:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1ASWIV38-o
I think I could probably do it, but I don’t know I have enough heavy duty tools to deal with bolts and such.
BTDT… Good find on the install video… The video shows the simple bolting on of the bar “bracket” to the trailer. It’s simple only because the trailer tongue is open. Some trailers tongues are covered. Then welding or cutting or drilling is needed.
You need the right weight rated WDH hitch to start with…none of mine require a pry bar…I highly suggest having someplace that specializes in hitches install and not DYI…also they aren t inexpensive…I have set ups on all my trucks.
Used them back in the day when we hauled with Station wagons! That dates me…
[QUOTE=Beentheredonethat;8753584]
I leave my truck hitched to the trailer 99% of the time so I don’t need to do it a lot of the time.[/QUOTE]
Unless you are towing frequently (a few times a week?), this isn’t recommended as it can be hard on the suspension of the tow vehicle.
I have an open tongue on my trailer, so I guess it would be easier. I’ll look into if there’s a place that does them around here.
I don’t two frequently, but leave it on the street, so it has to be hitched or it can cause legal issues. I could just leave it in the same position and unhook it on blocks, though.
I got a weight distribution hitch for my 3/4 ton Burb (was towing 2HBP) and found it helped (and it will definitely help if your trailer is pulling down the back of the Burb)
No idea what different brands there are but I have Reese and that is what I usually see in the trailer parking at competitions I go to. I had mine done at a trailer place.
If you have to park it hooked up, I would have the sandalfoot down and taking the weight. Also, if by legal issues you mean insurance only covers trailer damage if it is hooked to a vehicle, you should check and see if your homeowners insurance will cover damage if it is not hooked up (mine does).
[QUOTE=Beentheredonethat;8754211]
I have an open tongue on my trailer, so I guess it would be easier. I’ll look into if there’s a place that does them around here.
I don’t two frequently, but leave it on the street, so it has to be hitched or it can cause legal issues. I could just leave it in the same position and unhook it on blocks, though.[/QUOTE]
The open tongue is a plus for you. Installation time & effort of a WDH should be minimal. I recommend letting the place you purchase the WDH install it.
bambam 's suggestion of taking the weight of the trailer by using the trailer jack is a good one. Please put a sign on the steering wheel to remind yourself to raise the jack before driving off ! A friend tore his jack off the very first time he used his trailer. In his excitement of a new trailer, he forgot the foot was down !
