Concerned about hitch

**Believer** · 04-23-2019, 07:56 AM

Just ordered a 2020 315RLST weight 9000lbs dry, tongue weight 1000lbs.. I have an Equalizer hitch from my previous TT. Weight was 6000lbs dry. 600lbs tongue weight 1000lbs bars. I replaced the 2"shank with the 21/2". Going to order new 1400lbs bars. BUT.... I have read cautions here that 1400 is to easy to go over. Would rather not have to buy a new hitch , but IF need be will. We have never really put that much in the nose of the trailer. Uaually moreso in the truck bed. What would you recomend?
Thank you
Drop

**TucsonJim** · 04-23-2019, 08:12 AM

Good morning Drop. You may be okay. I think the issue is more with Blue Ox hitches. They seem to do better when going to a heavier bar. On my 297RSTS, I run a hitch weight of around 1,400#. But the 1,500# bars were not bringing me back to level when set properly. I installed the 2,000# bars, and they worked much better. On the Equalizer with 1,400# bars, you may be fine.

Jim

**colo native** · 04-23-2019, 08:32 AM

I have a scale and my TT is 1200# tongue empty with a full tank of water it is 1500# and on most trips it is between 1200 and 1500. I have a Blue ox Sway Pro 2000 and I have 1500# bars too that I use most of the time. I would recommend a new hitch some have 1700# tongue weights.

**Chiefblueman** · 04-23-2019, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by 12ptdroptine

Just ordered a 2020 315RLST weight 9000lbs dry, tongue weight 1000lbs.. I have an Equalizer hitch from my previous TT. Weight was 6000lbs dry. 600lbs tongue weight 1000lbs bars. I replaced the 2"shank with the 21/2". Going to order new 1400lbs bars. BUT.... I have read cautions here that 1400 is to easy to go over. Would rather not have to buy a new hitch , but IF need be will. We have never really put that much in the nose of the trailer. Uaually moreso in the truck bed. What would you recomend?
Thank you
Drop

I don't know which tow vehicle you have but I would be concerned about the receiver hitch on the truck. Class V is definitely needed, Class 4 won't cut it.

One of the reasons I went with the Blue Ox was that the shank is rated at 2000lbs. The highest rated Equalizer shank was 1400 lbs. Easy to exceed 1400 lbs with the 315. I had the Equalizer with my previous trailer and was quite happy with it but went to the Blue Ox for its capacity. I'm very happy with the Blue Ox, it handles The BAT (Big A** Trailer) with ease, no sway, no grease, no noise.

**Steven@147** · 04-23-2019, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by 12ptdroptine

Just ordered a 2020 315RLST weight 9000lbs dry, tongue weight 1000lbs.. I have an Equalizer hitch from my previous TT. Weight was 6000lbs dry. 600lbs tongue weight 1000lbs bars. I replaced the 2"shank with the 21/2". Going to order new 1400lbs bars. BUT.... I have read cautions here that 1400 is to easy to go over. Would rather not have to buy a new hitch , but IF need be will. We have never really put that much in the nose of the trailer. Uaually moreso in the truck bed. What would you recomend?
Thank you
Drop

Drop, when we had our Imagine we used the Equalizer hitch. When I upgraded the hitch to 1400# bars I also had to get a matching 1400# Equalizer head (the part the bars fit into). Equalizer told me I could not go from 1000# bars to 1400# bars without changing the head. The Equalizer 1400 could work, but you will have to be very careful and methodical about your tongue weight. It will be very easy to go over the rating of the hitch. You should get a tongue weight scale and check it to be sure you stay under the 1400# rating and you have to consider the weight of the hitch itself.
For the Equalizer the max configuration is 1400#. You will have to get a new hitch other than the Equalizer if your tongue weight is consistently over 1400#.

Our Imagine 2950RL the tongue weight ran around 1300-1400#. I could not load fresh water into the holding tank without going way over the hitch rating. I had to move stuff around to stay under the hitch rating if carrying fresh water. You also have to keep enough weight on the hitch to stop trailer sway but stay under the Equalizer 1400#.

**DougW9876** · 04-23-2019, 10:13 AM

If you are towing with a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup the 1,000lb bars might be enough. Try them and see how it sets and handles before spending money on something that might not be necessary.

**Believer** · 04-23-2019, 10:52 AM

Tow vehicle is a 2018 Ford F250 Super Crew 6 3/4" box. 6.2 gas . Camper sway bar and heavier springs in rear. Snow plow suspension....heavier springs in front. Whatever hitch came from the factory. Havent checked that yet.
Thanks
Drop

**TucsonJim** · 04-23-2019, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by 12ptdroptine

Tow vehicle is a 2018 Ford F250 Super Crew 6 3/4" box. 6.2 gas . Camper sway bar and heavier springs in rear. Snow plow suspension....heavier springs in front. Whatever hitch came from the factory. Havent checked that yet.
Thanks
Drop

He Drop - If you have the 2-1/2" receiver on your '18 Ford, you have a class "V" hitch and are good to go.

Jim

**315RLTSinPA** · 04-23-2019, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by DougW9876

If you are towing with a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup the 1,000lb bars might be enough. Try them and see how it sets and handles before spending money on something that might not be necessary.

No way will 1,000lb bars cut it with a 315RLTS. We are at 1,700lbs with no water in the tank. As was stated, you can't just get heavier bars for the Equal-I-zer hitch. You need to buy a whole new hitch.

**Believer** · 04-23-2019, 06:24 PM

As I have found out. So it looks like a new hitch is in order also. Looking at the Blue Ox right now. Dealer really seems to like the Recurve R6. But I like what I am resdi g about the Blue Ox with 1700lbs bars. Between what we carry in the back of the truck and front of the camper it may well be needed. Please all....all helpful Comments are welcome
Thank You
Drop