8.5x22 Livin'Lite Toyhauler rig

[katienoellewis]

[attachment id="27" thumbnail="1"]
Pulling our new 2014 8.5x22 Axxess - Polaris edition with our Ram1500, 4.7 liter.  Just got an equalizer hitch and airbags put on... may be overkill, but want the best ride possible!

[dhedstro]

How does the wdh hitch work for you?  I'm just about to get the same unit for my rzr and pull with a Tahoe so the Tahoe requires a wdh for over 600lb tongue weight. Want to make sure this setup works well before buying.  Thanks.

[djsamuel]

Have Ram 1500 with the 4.7L to tow our 21BHS. Even though they don't make it anymore, the 4.7L is a nice engine.

[stevepro]

Towed my 13 8.5x22 VRV with a '12 Ram 1500 with 5.7 hemi just fine.  too bad I was at the payload capacity with the kids and stuff in the bed.  I traded it for a ram 2500 and now got plenty of extra payload.  My VRV without toys but will full gear for camping was only 5200lbs but a whopping 875lbs of tongue weight!

[vrvinmo]

[quote source="/post/1931/thread" timestamp="1405036145" author="@stevepro"]Towed my 13 8.5x22 VRV with a '12 Ram 1500 with 5.7 hemi just fine.  too bad I was at the payload capacity with the kids and stuff in the bed.  I traded it for a ram 2500 and now got plenty of extra payload.  My VRV without toys but will full gear for camping was only 5200lbs but a whopping 875lbs of tongue weight![/quote][p]I tow my VRV with an F150 and don't like the payload rating. I'm considering a 2500 as well. Could you tell me was it worth the upgrade for you?  Can you talk about the how the new truck tows compared to the old?[/p][p]
[/p][p]Thanks!
[/p]

[bam]

My escalade handles it great with 6.2L I love the auto load leveling suspension.

[stevepro]

[quote source="/post/1933/thread" timestamp="1405048653" author="@vrvinmo"][quote source="/post/1931/thread" timestamp="1405036145" author="@stevepro"]Towed my 13 8.5x22 VRV with a '12 Ram 1500 with 5.7 hemi just fine.  too bad I was at the payload capacity with the kids and stuff in the bed.  I traded it for a ram 2500 and now got plenty of extra payload.  My VRV without toys but will full gear for camping was only 5200lbs but a whopping 875lbs of tongue weight![/quote][p]I tow my VRV with an F150 and don't like the payload rating. I'm considering a 2500 as well. Could you tell me was it worth the upgrade for you?  Can you talk about the how the new truck tows compared to the old?[/p][p]
[/p][p]Thanks!
[/p][/quote]Sorry, I know this is old but in case anyone else needs the info, even though the RAM 1500 towed the trailer just fine (no sway or anything) the Ram 2500 is just as solid plus I have an extra 900lbs of payload (or kids growing up) without hitting the payload limit.  1/2 ton trucks will run out of payload with a toy hauler before the towing limit is hit.  Some people like to gamble, I don't.

[777]

Anybody else using a Weight Distribution Hitch? I'm just wondering if there are any adverse effects to consider?

[thudd3r]

there are alot of opinions (here and elsewhere).  when i inquired about running a wdh the dealer stated that livin lite specifically said not to.  i guess they are worried about the extra pressure on the aluminum frame rails.  that being said, some dealers even install a wdh for the buyer so go figure.  i never bothered to look into it, but i think some of it may have to do with if the wdh brackets clamp on or are drilled into the frame (the latter may be what ll wants to avoid)

many of the people here are using a small tow vehicle (jeeps, suvs, subarus, etc.) so i can see their desire to use a wdh.  with everything being aluminum, and the tongue weight being so low, you probably wont need a wdh (again...depending on your tow vehicle)

in my experience (and this was with a chevrolet 1500), down sides included a stiffer ride , crap traction in sand (always unhook before pulling through sand), having to unhook prior to backing, can be pretyty lound/obnoxious, etc..  i felt they were a pita and would use one unless really necessary

everyone has their opinions...i am sure others will chime in with theirs

[777]

Thanks thudd3r. I've been using one lately, and maybe I don't need to. My TV is a 2015 Tundra Crewmax 4x4. I was spoiled with a prior TV having load leveling air ride. I don't like any sag, but hate the added hassle and noise of the WDH. Maybe I'll opt for air bags. I use mine weekly riding dirt bikes, I haul any where from 3-6 bikes and gear and generator. Always er on the cautious side and am thinking I have to much tongue weight. I'll play around with loading variations/positioning and return and report.

[gbpack]

Yes, there are some downsides to traditional WDH's (those that have solid arms or tension bars). Other discussion threads on here related to this talk about how they might bend the aluminum frame members of the trailer, even if the brackets are clamped on and not screwed into the frame. One option to consider is an Andersen WDH which doesn't have the solid metal tension bars. The Andersen hitch has chains which doesn't put as much pressure on the frame and the brackets are clamped on. It's a lot lighter than most WDH systems so it doesn't add much to the tongue weight. Also, you don't have to unhook everything before backing up. We bought the Andersen not so much for the WDH capabilities but for the sway control that they provide as well. The tongue weight on our 21BHS isn't that much (around 480 lbs) and our Jeep Grand Cherokee with auto air bags handles that just fine, but we still wanted the Andersen hitch for the sway control, which we were very happy to have on a recent trip down to the Florida Keys where we encountered 30-35mph cross winds while driving across Seven Mile Bridge. Even with the Ansersen hitch it was still a bit of a white knucker, and I wouldn't have wanted to be in that situation without it. Some of the guys have said that you may not need it, but there will be times when you're glad you have it. Just an option that you may want to think about. There are some good videos on the Andersen website that show how it works and how easy it is to install.

[777]

Here is a pic of loading up.

[charliem]

[font size="3"]777,

The use of WDH is a controversial and much discussed subject.  The detailed pros and cons are left as an exercise for the student, but the bent coupler is worth highlighting.  LL typically installed the hitch coupler with just four vertical bolts on their Camplite models. This method is incorrect and inadequate and led to bending of the coupler when WDH was used. The fix for this is the addition of two more bolts on the sides of the coupler as documented on many posts here.  There is some evidence that LL used a heavier coupler and side bolts on toy hauler models, but you should verify this. If the coupler uses only the four vertical bolts this should be corrected. If all six bolts are present you should be OK with any bolt-on WDH. There is no evidence of frame damage on CLs using WDH.

WD hitches are not primarily designed to eliminate sag. Pickups are designed to sag under load providing the payload is properly applied directly over the rear axle. This is not the case with bumper pull trailers; hence the need for WDHs. If weight is properly distributed between TV front and rear axles any remaining sag can be adjusted with air bags. Air bags will not correct improper weight distribution, the primary effect being loss of weight on the steering axle.

Sway control, although often combined with weight distribution, is a completely separate function.  IMO the Fastway, Equalizer and Reese products do a good job with this combination. From user reports the Andersen hitch is better with sway control than weight distribution, but not all applications require maximum WD. [/font]

[billmoore]

Most half ton trucks (including our F150) have a max tongue weight of 500 lbs without a WDH, and pretty much all of the LivinLite toyhaulers will exceed that weight when loaded up. Take a look at the floorplans... Almost everything is in front of the axles. Sure loading toys into the garage space will take some load off the front, but even so, it is really, really hard to get the tongue weight under 500 lbs.

Our dealer took one look at our truck, saw it was a half ton and said "You're going to need a WDH". No questions.

The toyhaulers have a significantly beefier front frame and coupler to handle the heavy tongue weight (compared to the Camplites), which tells me that LivinLite knows this to be true even if they won't recommend one (and I have yet to see anywhere that they actually say not to use one)...

[billmoore]

Also the comments above about noise from a WDH... Our WDH is the typical torsion bar/chain type with bolt-on brackets. It doesn't make any noise at all. On the other hand, the sway control is the typical friction type, and that is very noisy.

We always use the torsion bars, but usually leave the sway control off (unless we are unusually heavily loaded or it is windy).

Backing up with the torsion bars connected is not a problem unless you are doing tight turns. But backing up with the sway bars on is a really bad idea...