WDH with Swing-away Tongue

[MudDog]

Resting on the front jacks has not been an issue for me (and yes, I believe the jacks on all of the recent models are each rated at 5,000 lbs).

I felt it was better than having the weight rest on the small pivot point of the frame when the hitch is swung around.

The extra two feet helps A LOT in my garage.

--jim

[Bill]

Dave -

Yes, you have a swing tongue, which I consider a great thing. Mud Dog has given you all the right answers. Let me add a couple minor points.

First, in some TMs, only one pin can be pulled - the other is swaged in tight. On mine, only the right-hand pin is removable, so the tongue will swing only to the left. But I'm not sure that's universal.

Second, once you have pulled the pin and swung the tongue, do NOT crank the jack back down and put weight on the uncoupled tongue. Jim's advice is right on the money there, too. The uncoupled swing assembly is NOT designed to take the twisting forces that would result.

You live only about 20 minutes from me. If you have any confusion, you are welcome to come up and see mine.

Bill

Facing my TM, my pin is on the left, I swing my hitch to the right.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by moaboy

Facing my TM, my pin is on the left, I swing my hitch to the right.

Same as mine, I think, but I was facing forward. My curbside pin is removable. No matter ...

Bill

[ThePair]

Both pins are removeable, but only the street side will pivot, at least on mine, and his pics look the same. If you pull one pin, pivot, you can then (if needed) pull the other pin and the whole nose will come off. Sometimes this can be useful.

In my setup, if I didn't have the swing-away, I wouldn't be able to fit. Even as it is, I will sometimes remove the nose entirely to make more room. If you choose to do so, keep in mind that there are two washers (iirc) that you will want to retain for future reconnection--they may initially stick to the frame, so look for them. I tend to stick them back on the pin and then drop the pin into the frame hole for storage.

I can take pics if needed

[ThePair]

Originally Posted by KevinP

This was a very interesting thread. I'm surprised there aren't more reports of swing hitch failures with the wdh. I passed by Custom RV a few months ago, and I saw two versions of swing hitch design. The factory design places the passenger side lock pin inside the frame, held back only by a 1/4" thick plate that connects the rear frame members (and the frame is thin, maybe 1/8"). Custom RV buils the swing hitch with both lock pins attached on the ouside of the frame, passing through heavy guage upper and lower L-brackets welded to the frame. The factory version looked susceptible to structural failure under stress, especially if a few hundred pounds of tension are transferred through the area with a WDH.

There were reports of a few failures in the past. I spoke with the factory about the issue, and they were well aware of the issues and told me that they had "slightly" redesigned the swing-away hitch so that these failures shouldn't happen anymore. They were rare to begin with, but newer models should be (relatively) immune.

I do things just a little differently than Mud Dog. Because my garage is so tight I can't really reach the starboard side stabilizer jack. I do think you need some support on that side during storage because all the weight is being supported by the pin on the port side where you have just swung the jack wheel. You can either use the jack to lower the A frame where the swing away portion usually rests onto a jackstand or other support or, as I have an extra scissors jack, I just raise it under that corner until it is snug and the front of the TM is pretty much equally supported on both front corners. - camp2canoe

Yes Bill, pin to remove that allows pivot is on the curb or door side.
I've also found - usually when I "store" mine in my garage for the winter and use the stabilizer jacks to spread the weight out, I can raise it such that the nose wheel gets very light easily.
Anyway I really like my swing hitch as I don't have to back the TM in as far which gives me more room behind it.

[ThePair]

Originally Posted by camp2canoe

I do things just a little differently than Mud Dog. Because my garage is so tight I can't really reach the starboard side stabilizer jack. I do think you need some support on that side during storage because all the weight is being supported by the pin on the port side where you have just swung the jack wheel. You can either use the jack to lower the A frame where the swing away portion usually rests onto a jackstand or other support or, as I have an extra scissors jack, I just raise it under that corner until it is snug and the front of the TM is pretty much equally supported on both front corners. - camp2canoe

I can't really reach the far jack either, so I put them down to the height where I want so the TM will be level, then use the tounge jack to lift the front so the stabilizing jacks are ~1/2" off the floor. Roll the TM to final position, and then raise the tounge jack up, which lowers all the weight onto the corner stabilizers, even though I can no longer get to the far one. TM is level, no weight on the nose, which can then swing to the side, or whatever.

Thanks all for the help I really appreciate it. I seen those pins since I bought the TM in May and I never though I had a swing tongue. I guess I got lucky. Now I have 2 feet between the TM and the garage door it is so nice to have that room. I also have 2 feet on the back of the garage so I can walk around the TM without stepping over a hitch that is wonderful...

New TM owners!!! spend $12.00 to join you will never regret it the information here is awesome!!!

Dave