Trailering: Anybody using Tow & Stow?

[SkyPup]

The OEM Heavy Duty trailer package on our vehicles is 100% identical. You will need the electric brake controller installed as well as get a weight distributing hitch to put into your receiver hitch opening. The brake controller will be installed inside the cab and operate through a new electrical output which is installed on the rear of your vehicle, utilizing the original wiring harness. I am not sure which brake controller I have, but it is adjustable via electrical LED outputs to indicate the amount of current and therefore the amount of brake engagement, as well as the proper timed delay to avoid instant lock up when applied.

 

[SkyPup]

Your trailer coupler will have to be a weight distributing trailer coupler if it is not already a specific weight distributing trailer coupler. There are specific attachments for the weight distributing arms on it, to which your weight distributing hitch will attach to and you adjust the pressure of these two load leveling and sway inhibiting arms. The trailer coupler is on your trailer, not your vehicle.

Look at the Draw-Tite site again or the U-haul site under "Weight Distributing Trailer Hitch and Trailer Coupler Tongue" to understand what I am describing.

 

[ronjhall]

<font color="blue"> It also has a breakaway switch with battery, by the way. </font>
Make sure the wiring for your trailer connector has a lead that will charge the battery when hooked to your truck.
Please excuse my not stating what type of hitch you needed in the first place. If you had time to read the post I linked to. You will see why I was reluctant to come out and say you need something other than the Tow & Stow. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Rolando]

I believe J. D. Sanders is the RV dealer you're talking about. They're one of the dealers for 'Draw-Tite'. Is that the hitch brand you got?

 

[SkyPup]

I got mine installed @ J.D Sanders, they did an excellent job. You can also get the brake controller installed there too. The entire weight distributing hitch, trailer coupler, and brake controller installed are about $800. Talk to them, they have plenty of experience with weight distributing hitches.

Yes, mine is a Draw-Tite.

 

[Highbeam]

I am so glad that this thread evolved into what it did. The linked thread showed almost the exact same situation and turned into a hoopla. I was worried it was the same poster back under a new screen name to fire us up.

Rolando, I have pretty much the same truck as you, a half ton z71 GM pickup with the z82 HD towing package. I have a "tow rating" of 6500 and I purchased a 10,000 lb GVWR bumper pull trailer to haul my 4000 lb tractor. The total trailer weight is usually around 7000. I bought the bigger trailer for a safety margin and for future heavier pickups and loads.

I use a weight distributing hitch inserted into the GM class 3 receiver. The WD hitch system is rated as 10,000 lb trailer/1000 lb tongue combination which matches the receiver's rating exactly. I have no extra sway control like the dual cam or frcition sway control. The trailer has the bulldog coupling and I really like it though I have seen the more typical couplings used on heavy RVs so I know they make some stout ones. Be sure that every link in the chain is rated for the load. Right down to the fancy 2-5/16" ball which was 20$ for the one rated at 10,000 and only 7$ for the 6000 lb version.

I use a tekonsha voyager brake controller but next time I will step up to the tekonsha prodigy which is supposed to be quite a bit better though mine works just fine and was easy to install onto the wires that GM hid along the frame for just this purpose. 7-pin RV trailer plug. Safety chains and the emergency break away setup.

Oh and I found a newer brand of WD hitch at my local RV dealer made by Robyn industries for 260$. Very nice kit and the dealer had sold many with no issues. The other common name brand hitches were in the 450$ -500$ range.

 

[SkyPup]

No problem, I know Rolando and he is just getting started setting up his Yukon for some heavy duty towing, he will get it right, especially with everyone's help here (although he did purchase a ToolCat instead of a B-3030 /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif LOL )


Thanks allot for helping out! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Rolando]

Thanks, Joe and everyone else that that responded to this thread and put up with my ignorance,

The light bulb finally lit this morning. It's hard to communicate effectively when one of the parties (me) doesn't understand the terminology correctly. But I think I'm finally getting it!

That's the beauty of this forum. Despite my clueless-ness, I was finally able to absorb the useful information. The trailer dealer had yet to mention the weight distributing hitch, despite the fact that I ordered a 9,600 lb rated trailer. But that could be because he was assuming I knew what I was dealing with. In any case, I'm finally beginning to figure it out.

 

[Rolando]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( although he did purchase a ToolCat instead of a B-3030 )</font>

Hey!/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[SkyPup]

heheh, just had to rub it in! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif