Towing

Got my new SR and am looking at a new trailer (GVWR - 7000lbs). I’m questioning whether I should go with the 2023 trailer or 2024. The 2024 has ABS the 2023 does not. Thoughts? Also, read an article stating the high priced hitches to help with sway can interfere with the truck’s own ability to assist with sway (tow mode) and the hitch may not be needed if you have trailer ABS. Help! I’ve paralyzed my decision making due to too much reading.

 

Whatever you get the best deal on. I assume models are the same, just year/features are different?

 

Trailers have abs brakes now? Dang.

 

Thought the same. I guess to prevent lockup if your gain is set too high?

 

Seems it would complicate the system greatly. Now you need an ABS actuator, wheels speed sensors and some sort of computer to modulate it?

 

Here’s the article on the ABS brakes if anyone is interested:

https://www.stresslesscamping.com/blog/abs-for-trailers?format=amp

 

Made by Lippert. The company that brings you bent and broken trailer frames.

 

Ahem "Lippert’s system was developed in-house and the company has already shown that they’re good at RV technology. "

 

I’d pass on the trailer ABS. Definitely need a WDH.

 

Why?

 

More wires, sensors, computers and software to break. Unnecessary in my opinion and have you seen what happens to the underside of a trailer when those china bombs let loose? I had to tape wires together on my father in law’s fifth wheel to fix the electric jacks after a blowout on the way to his destination.

 

Have any thoughts on weigh safe hitches? They’re going on sale in a few weeks at 4wp and debating about getting one since I might be doing a cross-country heavy haul next year

 

I thought SR trucks do not come with a hitch or brake controller? So one would have to add a hitch which is really no big deal. However, isn't the trailer wiring an issue as it is not ran to the back of the truck? Also have to buy and install an aftermarket brake controller for trailer.

 

Really don’t see the use for them - I don’t think knowing the precise tongue weight provides you with any useful information. The Tundra has built in indicator with the flimsy OEM leaf packs - we got 4” of squat hooking up the loaded race trailer yesterday - got it down to 3” with the weight distribution bars. Whether the tongue weight is 750 or 900 - doesn’t really matter much to me. It is whatever it needs to be to keep things level and balanced and we do that by looking at the trailer and load. Less tongue weight doesn’t always equate to better towing.

Theoretically our trucks can take about 1,000 lbs of tongue weight but without changing leaf packs, running air bags, or both - it would look terrible going down the road and I wouldn’t recommend it.

Hitting a Cat scale will provide much more useful information re overloading the truck / rear axle IMO.

 

Probably should have mentioned that I do run a one-piece forged draw bar for every ball setup I have. They’re 3x as heavy but you don’t have to worry about the integrity of a Chinese weld.

Reese Towpower (21330) Class III / V Forged Ball Mount

$53 Reese Towpower (21330) Class III / V Forged Ball Mount

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KKJRS6

 

If someone needs a tongue weight scale, I have one I could part with, a Sherline LM2000 I think, would need to double check the model number. Prefer to do that separately myself too, but my little 6x12 aluminum enclosed is never going to exceed 3k lbs / 300lbs tongue weight, so it's not been used much at all.

 

I also have a couple of those. They are.. SOLID... for a lack of better words. I have seen those cheap chinese welds break on draw bars before (not mine, fortunately) but the guy was crazy lucky to get it pulled over and stopped. I have some Reese forged ball mounts as well as a couple of Anderson products; their stingers are nice but the rapid hitch has some play in it from use. If my deck hitch were lower, I'd only use the forged tow bar and keep the Anderson stinger on the sequoia.

Is that the 1000 lb version or the 2000 lb version? Just curious if you think it's a quality product.

 

It's the 2000lb version, and I like it well enough but it's just not worth keeping around, I've only used it once in 2 years. And it lead to me buying the Tundra!

 

Still got this?

 

Sorry sir, someone's picked it up already!

 

Oops...

Works great, BTW.

 

Any scale to measure the tongue will be very helpful to make sure that you are in the right weight range for stability.

I would look for one that is more like the 1000 lbs range as it will be a bit more accurate at lower weights. And if a trailer has more than 1000 lbs of tongue weight, then it is probably not going to work well with the Tundras.

Contrary to popular opinion, I have a Weighsafe WDH hitch and it has been great for the last 4 years! I can always see what the hitch is doing as far as forces applied. This would be especially useful when using rear airbags to dial in the weigh distribution forces. Much more precise than adding washers or increasing the chain links

 

I have been using these for a very long time and will use nothing else.
https://www.weigh-safe.com/weight-m...CyCSE51KYfpG03QJ4XOkg7if_heFKZ1hoCm2EQAvD_BwE