davenjeip
09-17-2009, 12:39 PM
Did this on the old board, but hadn't towed since, so I never used the info. Will be buying in the next few days to the next week, so I can use it two weeks from now.
I tow with a 1996 Chevy K1500, with a limit of 7,000#. Trailer is a 16' and with the TJ on it it's an estimated 5,500#. Hitch is a rated to 5,000/500 normal or 10,000/1,000 with a WD setup, but I have upgraded all the hardware to grade 8.
Springs are really soft in the rear, so it sags real easy. It's very, very picky about the tongue weight, and just an inch or two difference in where the Jeep is loaded sags the rear a ton, and makes the difference between a great towing experience or a nightmare. From what I hear about what a WD setup does, my truck is begging for one (along with being 500# over my rating as I tow now).
Never had any trouble with sway when towing a Jeep, whether it be a light YJ, heavy TJ, or XJ with disconnected front suspension. I don't see a sway control being necessary, but couldn't hurt since they're not usually much more money. Is that a fair assumption?
Not sure whether to get one rated to 500 or 1,000# tongue. My truck seems to like it if I keep it light, but not sure what difference the WD setup would make. Can I adjust a heavier tongue down to a lower weight if the 1,000# seems to heavy, or should I go for the 500#?
Not sure what style is best, so I could use some advice on that, as well as where to buy for a decent price (as well as what that decent price should be).
FWIW, I will be switching back between a stripped out YJ (which may become a heavy YJ on tons), a heavy TJ, a '64 Chevelle, and a motorcycle. Not sure if that makes any difference in the adjustments, but I'd like to be able to easily make the switch.
What do I need to know?
I tow with a 1996 Chevy K1500, with a limit of 7,000#. Trailer is a 16' and with the TJ on it it's an estimated 5,500#. Hitch is a rated to 5,000/500 normal or 10,000/1,000 with a WD setup, but I have upgraded all the hardware to grade 8.
Springs are really soft in the rear, so it sags real easy. It's very, very picky about the tongue weight, and just an inch or two difference in where the Jeep is loaded sags the rear a ton, and makes the difference between a great towing experience or a nightmare. From what I hear about what a WD setup does, my truck is begging for one (along with being 500# over my rating as I tow now).
Never had any trouble with sway when towing a Jeep, whether it be a light YJ, heavy TJ, or XJ with disconnected front suspension. I don't see a sway control being necessary, but couldn't hurt since they're not usually much more money. Is that a fair assumption?
Not sure whether to get one rated to 500 or 1,000# tongue. My truck seems to like it if I keep it light, but not sure what difference the WD setup would make. Can I adjust a heavier tongue down to a lower weight if the 1,000# seems to heavy, or should I go for the 500#?
Not sure what style is best, so I could use some advice on that, as well as where to buy for a decent price (as well as what that decent price should be).
FWIW, I will be switching back between a stripped out YJ (which may become a heavy YJ on tons), a heavy TJ, a '64 Chevelle, and a motorcycle. Not sure if that makes any difference in the adjustments, but I'd like to be able to easily make the switch.
What do I need to know?