Looking to join the group

Originally Posted by jjneff

How long do the propane tanks last? I am interested to know if anyone here runs both propane and AC on the hot water heater and if it makes a difference. Oh I am getting a reece hitch installed what size of ball head do I need to hook-up to the trailer? The electrical will be a socket on the bumper will the cord from the TM be long enough? My TV is a Dodge Ram 1500 V8 Quad Cab 2002 SB

I have a 2005 2720. We have been out for 20 nights this year, all 2 to 4 day weekends. I think I have maybe used one bottle of propane. We have used the furnace 3 nights.

My cord is so long that I wrap it once around the jack to take up the slack.

My 2720 that has an axle weight when fully loaded of 3380 pounds. I have never weighed the tongue. I do not use any sway bars or WD hitch. I have never felt any sway or drag. I think my truck is a little larger than yours, 2002 Chevy Silverado full crew cab 4wd 6.0 liter automatic.

I have the Valley Odyssey brake controller. Very similar to the Prodigy, but with a couple of enhanced features.

I have used the water heater on electric once. We normally stay in forrest service campgrounds with no hookups. I did not notice any difference in recovery time for the water heater between electric versus gas. I have never run out of hot water, but we also don't take showers in the TM.

Ohters have claimed that you can run both propane and electric at the same time on the water heater if you need quicker recovery time. I have never tried it. I will use electric when I have hookups, else use propane.

I would seriously suggest an Equalizer hitch -- I know folks drive without any sway control. We were in a terrible accident last year and had sway control (not with a TM, but with a trailer not significantly heavier) but not the Equalizer. It sounds as if you are taking safety very seriously. You are right to also get the brake control. ALl of these features may help you in an emergency. We ordered the cover that TM suggests -- a bit more expensive, but this TM is quite an investment. As for the propane. We have been out about 4 weeks since we got the TM in April and usually camp in full service campgrounds. We used almost 2 20-pound bottles of propane and used the heater lots in April and May. We also cook and like hot water. Happy camping -- you are asking all the right questions! Queeniereads and Judi

Thanks to all of you for the information. Now for a really dumb question. What is the difference between a WD hitch and an Equalizer hitch? Do you have a link to the Trailmanor cover or is it on their website. Thanks again, and I did find out the frig is 3way.

[fcatwo]

No difference -- Just two commonly used names for the same thing. The situation is further confused by the fact that one WDH manufacturer is named Equal-i-zer so when someone uses the word "equalizer" they may mean that brand of WDH or just any WDH. Usually they mean any WDH but sometimes you just have to guess. Equalizer (capitalized) falls into the guessing category. WDH stands for weight-distributing-hitch and usually implies the use of some form of spring bars to distribute part of the hitch weight forward to the front axle of the TV and back to the trailer axle(s).

Various forms of sway (fishtailing) control are often added to WDH's but everyone (except those people who have experienced it) knows TMs don't sway.

[Frenchy]

The "Equalizer" brand hitch is a combination weight distributing and anti-sway hitch. The bars that redistribute the weight also act as anti-sway bars. As far as I know, it is the only hitch that does this. Go to http://www.equalizerhitch.com/ for further information.

[Bill]

Not so, I think. Any WDH with "dual-cam sway control" combines weight distribution and anti-sway. These "dual-cam" units are offered by many of the standard hitch manufacturers, such as Reese and Draw-Tite. All of these units operate in a completely different way from "friction sway control".

You might read Rocky Mountain Ray's tutorial on sway and sway control in the TM Reference Library, aka TM Info You Won't Find Anywhere Else.

Bill

[fcatwo]

We have an Equal-i-zer and I like it but it is not in the same league as the $3,000.00 Hensley (and probably several other ultra-expensive hitches). People who have owned both the Equal-i-zer and Hensley say there is no comparison and IMO an Equal-i-zer would not have prevented the type of accident that totaled Denny's TM last year or the more recent accident involving three blown tires. Hopefully it will prevent less severe sway situations however.

Anyone wanting the best possible sway control hitch will have to pay a lot more than $300-500.00 to get it.