RAM 1500 and 21BHS

[ammobob]

finally picked up our camper this past Monday. Dealer installed the Anderson WDS and that worked as intended driving back to Yellowstone. Have not hit any scales yet and the truck is sqatting 2" so I am sure we are tongue heavy. Will work on that when we get back to civilization. 

[dh50]

I have read that the Anderson hitch, while effective in sway control, does not function as well at weight distribution. I have a 2014 Ram, and use a Blue-Ox sway-pro hitch for our 26 ft Axxess.

The newer Rams use coil springs that give a great ride, but cargo capacity suffers. Our truck squats over 3 inches before I tighten up the WD bars, then is dead-level.

[font size="5"]CONGRATULATIONS[/font] on your new LL!  We're sure it will prove to have been worth the wait!    

P.S. (Sure wish we were headed to Yellowstone!  Spent our honeymoon many moons ago in Estes Park, CO, just south of Y'stone and vowed one day to get back.  ENJOY GOD's GOODNESS!)

[leslie]

Happy to hear you are on your way in your new 21-BHS! No more anticipation! Just relief!

[geo92128]

Congrats on getting your new trailer! I recognize the delivery building (SunnyIsland) if Rockford. They also installed my Andersen WDH and had it pretty tight. I have it set at 8 threads showing for my rig.

Regarding tongue weight, I see you have the two tanks, power tongue lift, battery, and if you have the metal slide out in the cargo area your tongue weight is very near 700 lbs. That is what mine was when measured with a tongue weight scale when we got home. I have since been loading more in the back and added a bike rack on the back of the trailer which helped reduce the tongue weight a few lbs. My Chevy Colorado drops an inch in the back and 1/2 in the front when hooked up to our 21BHS.

[djsamuel]

We tow a 21BHS with a Ram 1500. With the hitch just on the ball, but no real weight on the truck, I hand tighten both nuts on the Andersen hitch.  I then use the wrench to tighten 3 full turns both sides.  The truck sits nice and level.  Level is the key, the TV will always drop a bit since it is taking on several hundred pounds of cargo.  The Andersen will be more than capable of meeting your needs.  Without a WDH, you will find that the Ram will drop a bit, but you still be able to keep it fairly level unless you have a lot of loading up front.  For example, the picture below shows our Ram and 21BHS sitting in front of our house without a WDH at all.  Just adjust the Andersen until the ride of the truck and trailer is the most comfortable for you.


Doug

[daplumbr]

Awesome setup ammobob. I look forward to your trip reports!

[gnies]

I see that you have a bike rack behind your trailer did you get the bumper reinforced ?

[ammobob]

[quote source="/post/12542/thread" timestamp="1434912260" author="@paul"]I see that you have a bike rack behind your trailer did you get the bumper reinforced ?[/quote]Yes Paul. Had it done by the factory.

[gnies]

[quote source="/post/12554/thread" timestamp="1434939412" author="@ammobob"][quote source="/post/12542/thread" timestamp="1434912260" author="@paul"]I see that you have a bike rack behind your trailer did you get the bumper reinforced ?[/quote]Yes Paul. Had it done by the factory.[/quote]Cool!

[shovelhead]

Looks great AmmoBob!  My RAM 1500 pulls the 21RBS without a hitch (No pun )  With a screen name of AmmoBob, I'm  guessing you're into shooting and/or reloading. My maiden voyage last year included a weeks stay at the NRA Whittengton Center.  What a blast (no pun again :-)

[ammobob]

Looks great AmmoBob!  My RAM 1500 pulls the 21RBS without a hitch (No pun )  With a screen name of AmmoBob, I'm  guessing you're into shooting and/or reloading. My maiden voyage last year included a weeks stay at the NRA Whittengton Center.  What a blast (no pun again :-)

Ammobob came from my Air Force career. I did 22 years and all spent in Munitions hence Ammo. This was my call sign for the later part of my career. When I retired in 1996 I got vanity plates for my vehicle that said Ammobob. Gave them up a few years latter. 2 years ago tried to get them back and they denied me because of the word AMMO. Funny how the world changes and a common word picks up negative connotations. But don't we all love the DMV  ;-|.

[ammobob]

[quote timestamp="1434711925" source="/post/12497/thread" author="@djsamuel"]We tow a 21BHS with a Ram 1500. With the hitch just on the ball, but no real weight on the truck, I hand tighten both nuts on the Andersen hitch.  I then use the wrench to tighten 3 full turns both sides.  The truck sits nice and level.  Level is the key, the TV will always drop a bit since it is taking on several hundred pounds of cargo.  The Andersen will be more than capable of meeting your needs.  Without a WDH, you will find that the Ram will drop a bit, but you still be able to keep it fairly level unless you have a lot of loading up front.  For example, the picture below shows our Ram and 21BHS sitting in front of our house without a WDH at all.  Just adjust the Andersen until the ride of the truck and trailer is the most comfortable for you.


Well Doug I tightened the Anderson up to 8 threads and still have not got the back end up to where I want. I would have to agree with others on this forum that the Anderson works well with sway and bounce (it did great on our trip back from Illinois to Yellowstone) but for me it is not helping in the Weight distribution area as they indicated. I still have not got my tongue weight done yet either and will do that ASAP. Suspect the suspension between your 2009 and my 2014 are not the same either. I read that RAM put springs in the newer models to soften the ride and that is part of my problem. I have ordered a airlift kit for my 2014 and will install it and try again. I'll work on my tongue weight too. Keep you posted as I move forward in solving this issue.

[geo92128]

When my Andersen WDH was installed by  Sunny Island  RV initially, they set it at 9 threads, I go between 8 and 9 threads as normal now for my rig.

[geo92128]

When my Andersen WDH was installed by  Sunny Island  RV initially, they set it at 9 threads, I go between 8 and 9 threads as normal now for my rig.

[djsamuel]

[quote source="/post/12497/thread" timestamp="1434711925" author="@djsamuel"]We tow a 21BHS with a Ram 1500. With the hitch just on the ball, but no real weight on the truck, I hand tighten both nuts on the Andersen hitch.  I then use the wrench to tighten 3 full turns both sides.  The truck sits nice and level.  Level is the key, the TV will always drop a bit since it is taking on several hundred pounds of cargo.  The Andersen will be more than capable of meeting your needs.  Without a WDH, you will find that the Ram will drop a bit, but you still be able to keep it fairly level unless you have a lot of loading up front.  For example, the picture below shows our Ram and 21BHS sitting in front of our house without a WDH at all.  Just adjust the Andersen until the ride of the truck and trailer is the most comfortable for you.


My 2009 Ram 1500 is the first year with the coil springs you have. The suspensions should be pretty similar, if not improved from 2009. That really has me wondering what is going on.