jim83m
Upstate NY
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I tow a small trailer with a GMC Savana 1500. I'd like to use a wt distribution hitch but my trailer is really low to the ground, only about a foot ride height.
This means there isn't much room under the hitch for the bars to attach. Is there a way to raise the entire deal up or otherwise configure a solution?
Thanks,
Jim
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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With that small a trailer I have to ask, "why would you need WD on it/" Excuse my ignorance but I thought a savana was a half ton truck.
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BarneyS
S.E. Lower Michigan
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The Equal-i-zer hitch should work. Also the new Reese Pro Series hitch should work.
Both of these hitches combine WD with sway control and do not stick down below the A frame as far as a normal WD hitch does.
Also, are you sure you need a WD hitch with a small trailer? What is the tongue weight and what kind of trailer are you pulling? That info would help others give you more informed responses.
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dodge guy
Chicago, western subs.
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What type and size of trailer?
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jim83m
Upstate NY
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Actually, I don't know if it's called a half ton or quarter ton van. The GMC website is mum on that description.
The trailer is 3500 pounds (small compared with what many of the people on this forum pull) with a 350 lb tongue weight. With the trailer hitched up and nothing stowed in the back of the van, there is a slight sag. I'd like to get more weight back on the front tires without reducing the tongue weight.
This is why I am considering the wt dist hitch.
Jim
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mkirsch
Rochester, NY
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Joined: 04/09/2004
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Pish and pshaw.
You're pulling 70lbs off the front wheels, tops. That's not enough to cause a handling/safety issue. The weight on the front wheels varies by that much with the front-seat passenger.
For giggles, measure the height of the fender wells unhooked, then hooked. You'll see it barely makes the front end lift.
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Tmeek
Jackson, MS
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Skip - I can assure you a Savana is a van! 1500 is the half ton (mine's a 7100# gvw model) Sierra is the pickup.
Jim - how high off the ground is the hitch ball? When you're hitched up, does the trailer appear to be level, nose up or nose down?
I'm curious because even when I use my standard weight bearing hitch ball in my hidden hitch receiver below the rear bumper, I have plenty of room for weight dist. bars...
2000 GMC Savana, 2007 HR Aluma-Lite 8308S
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jim83m
Upstate NY
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Tmeek,
All hitched up, the nose is up. Not a lot. But its up. If it doesn't matter, then great. I've been towing this trailer for 10 years with another vehicle and the van is new to me. Maybe I am over reacting.
But the trailer is low. The female end of the hitch is only about a foot off the ground. I had to readjust the male end of the hitch downward because of course the van is higher than the Roadmaster I had been towing with before.
Thanks,
Jim
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LarryJM
NoVa
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jim83m wrote:Actually, I don't know if it's called a half ton or quarter ton van. The GMC website is mum on that description.
The trailer is 3500 pounds (small compared with what many of the people on this forum pull) with a 350 lb tongue weight. With the trailer hitched up and nothing stowed in the back of the van, there is a slight sag. I'd like to get more weight back on the front tires without reducing the tongue weight.
This is why I am considering the wt dist hitch.
Jim
I don't think I would put a WD setup on that trailer for fear of damaging the trailer A-frame section. It's not made to handle some of the extreme loads that a WDH can put on the trailer frame. You also need to get that trailer level when hooked up and definitely not nose high.
Larry
2001 standard box 7.3L E-350 PSD Van with 4.10 rear and 2007 Holiday Rambler Aluma-Lite 8306S Been RV'ing since 1974. TRAILER MODS
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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You can beef up the rear suspension on the van to take care of the rear end sagging, therefore eliminating the need for weight distribution. You will then need to re-level the trailer with a lower drop ball mount or adjust your adjustable ball mount lower if it can go lower.
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