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Old 07-31-2016, 08:55 AM   #1
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T-1950 towing

Hi John B, you are definitely the Guru in towing the Sunnies. We have a 2001 Solaris T-1950 and we love it, it is like new I keep it stored inside at all times winters harsh here in PA to keep it nice. But anyways I have a 2013 F-150 Ecoboost 4x4 Supercab. My towing capacity is somewhere around 9600 lbs. with my rear axel. I would like to know what my tongue weight is of my trailer and would like to get a new weight distribution hitch. The one I have now is so heavy which I think is an overkill (we are planning to get a bigger trailer in the future, so I bought a heavier hitch). I think it is rated around 20,000 lbs., does that sound right? It has no tags and one sticker that has XTC on it but it sure is heavy. What would be a good hitch rated for my trailer to purchase?
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Old 07-31-2016, 09:47 AM   #2
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Hi wrigger,

Thanks for the good words, I will see what I can help with.

I looked up your 2001, T-1950 and it has a "dry" tongue weight of 380#. Dry means the day it left Sunline on a standard equipped T-1950 with no water, no LP in the tanks and no battery.

The camper is rated at a 5,000# GVWR and weighed 3,455# again dry. This leaves you 1,545# of cargo (aka stuff) you can add before reaching the limit of the camper.

I will estimate your "loaded" ready to camp tongue "might" be 500 to maybe 550#. the high end may top out at 600# but this does all depend on what you load in the camper and where.

Now to the hitch, if you can, take a few pics of the hitch you have and post if at all possible and any stickers on it. We can spot the brand most times just from the pics.

We also need what size weight distribution bars are on it. There should be a sticker on the bars or a size stamped in them.

You mentioned the hitch rated at 20,000#. That is a big number but they do make them that big. That would be a pull rating, not a tongue weight rating. Check that number again and or include in a pic.

Depending on what size WD bars that hitch has on it, it could be too stiff for a T1950 and you can damage the trailer A frame given the right conditions. Lets see what you have first and then compare notes.

Your truck, that will be a very good tow vehicle for this camper once the hitch and truck are all set up and adjusted correctly.

Once we see what it is you have, I can make a better recommendation of what may be a good working option for a hitch. We also have to work through the hitch shank situation. The trailer needs to tow level or very close to level once we get all the cargo loaded in the truck and the camper and the hitch adjusted. The hitch shank needs to be an adjustable one, but in the right size so it can be adjusted for your camper and truck.

If you can provide these 2 dimensions, we can help tell what size hitch shank you will need.

1. Camper ball height: Level the camper with the tongue jack unhooked from the truck. Measure from the ground up to inside the ball coupler, that dimension is the ball height.

2. Truck receiver height: With the truck on level ground and having loaded gear in the truck bed ready to go camping, measure from the ground up to the top inside of the 2" square pin box on the truck receiver.

Get us some more info and we can help you work through what to do.

Thanks

John
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Old 07-31-2016, 10:17 AM   #3
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John B,
Wow thank you for such a quick reply and all of the information. I did not know ther was so much to know about the proper hitch for I have towed motorcycle, boat, and snowmobile trailers over the years! I will take some pictures and get some measurements for you. I really would like to know what I have! I found another thread which you replied to Squeaky 7/15/16 about towing a T-1950 calling for the Reese SC #66151 hitch. Could this be compatible for me?
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Old 07-31-2016, 12:25 PM   #4
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Hi wrigger,

The Reese SC hitch, #66151, yes that is for sure a good choice for you. Your camper is newer and as such, heavier then Squeaky's and opens up other options. The Reese SC with 600# WD bars still works well with your camper and truck. It also can be upgraded with heavier bars if you upgrade campers some day.

The SC hitch does not hang down to the ground as much as the Reese DC but the DC can be an option if you really wanted it for future upgradeablity as it comes in 600# WD bars all the way to 1,700# bars, Your tongue weight is heavier then Squeaky's and it gets you into a 500# TW and then the DC is an option. But again, need to check the ball height on the camper as with the DC it can create a ground clearance problem on some of the very low rider campers, which your T1950 can be in. That model camper has been around a long time and keeps getting upgraded. There was one more up size since yours.

Your long wheel base truck helps a lot. That is good starting place with the camper length ratio and the weight ratio of the truck to the camper helps too.

You will need to work through the WD shank drop though regardless of which hitch so we can level out the camper with your higher up truck.

And yes, towing a TT is a lot different then boats, cargo trailers even flat bed equipment trailers. The wind and where cargo can go dynamics are much more pronounced on a TT. You will notice the wind drag in your fuel mileage like your towing a dead stump back there.... All TT's and 5th wheels have the wind drag issue, some more then others but all have it. The WD hitch comes into play when you get into heavier tongue weights and needing anti sway control.

When you get the info and pics, we can go from there and see what we can identify on your mystery WD hitch.

Thanks

John
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Old 12-28-2016, 04:31 PM   #5
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T-1950 Hauling

I haul my 1950 with an 08 Tacoma . Reese load levelling hitch with 500lbs. torsion bars . No problems , hauls great
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Old 12-29-2016, 10:30 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by raemac View Post
I haul my 1950 with an 08 Tacoma . Reese load levelling hitch with 500lbs. torsion bars . No problems , hauls great
Downhill?
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Old 12-31-2016, 12:56 PM   #7
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Tacoma is rated for 6500lbs. Trailer dry is approx. 4000lbs. As I said , works great. Have you pulled a T-1950 with the Tacoma and had problems ?
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Old 01-01-2017, 05:22 PM   #8
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Tacoma is rated for 6500lbs. Trailer dry is approx. 4000lbs. As I said , works great. Have you pulled a T-1950 with the Tacoma and had problems ?
There is no doubt my T1700 is behind my 2011 Tacoma and it's a 6 spd adding another 1500+ pounds would involve a WD hitch and lots of shifting the 4L engine will not pull below 2,000 RPM so you'll need to start shifting if you see a hill and in the case of an automatic OD is out of the question but 10 MPG is not.
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