Best hitch receiver and brake controller? Class 4 minimum
#2376101
09/24/17 10:31 PM
09/24/17 10:31 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,996 Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
gregsdart
OP
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Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
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I just acquired a 2015 Itasca Suncruiser 37f, and need to upgrade the hitch from a 3 to a 4 or better. I also need to install a brake controller. The race trailer is a year 2000 Haulmark Edge, 28 ft enclosed. Total loaded trailer weight should be 9,000 lbs loaded. What is a good hitch receiver and brake controller?
8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky
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Re: Best hitch receiver and brake controller? Class 4 minimum
[Re: gregsdart]
#2376111
09/24/17 10:44 PM
09/24/17 10:44 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,174 PA.
pittsburghracer
"Little"John
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"Little"John
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,174
PA.
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You may want to consider getting a Trailer Toad to save wear and tear on your motorhome
1970 Duster Edelbrock headed 408 5.984@112.52 422 Indy headed small block 5.982@112.56 mph 9.42@138.27
Livin and lovin life one day at a time
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Re: Best hitch receiver and brake controller? Class 4 minimum
[Re: Dragula]
#2376125
09/24/17 10:59 PM
09/24/17 10:59 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 492 South Jersey, NJ
DragDart360
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 492
South Jersey, NJ
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I also use a P3, Works great.
I took my motor home to a local trailer dealer and had the hitch reinforced to handle the tongue weight of my 24' EDGE
70 Dart Swinger, 2850 lbs SB 408, Bullet roller 264/268 @50 .636 SSDS stage 2 Edelbrock heads, 1 7/8 Headmans, 1050 dominator by Dom, 9.867 @ 133
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Re: Best hitch receiver and brake controller? Class 4 minimum
[Re: gregsdart]
#2376216
09/25/17 01:56 AM
09/25/17 01:56 AM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,163 Bend,OR USA
Cab_Burge
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,163
Bend,OR USA
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Buy the best brand and load weight kit you can get and look at a load leveler kit add on also I think mine is a Load Leveler brand, maybe it's a Eazy Lift brand ![confused confused](/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/custom/confused.gif) , on that with no sway dampener either. I tow my 24 ft. Pace Shadow that weighed right at 8650 Lbs. on both axles with around 750 lbs on the back of my 2006 Ram 3500 4WHd four door long box single wheel pick up for many miles with that set up with no issues ![up up](/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/custom/thumbs_up.gif)
Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
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Re: Best hitch receiver and brake controller? Class 4 minimum
[Re: earlymopar]
#2376327
09/25/17 11:32 AM
09/25/17 11:32 AM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
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Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
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Number one thing.. set your trailer up so its level and weigh the tongue and get the height but that should be 19" to the top of the ball that way you can get the proper hitch height and get a set of lift bars that match your set up.. I've been using the Prodigy controller but a older one on a 43' trailer it stops great
Last edited by MR_P_BODY; 09/25/17 11:36 AM.
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Re: Best hitch receiver and brake controller? Class 4 minimum
[Re: 340Cuda]
#2376378
09/25/17 12:25 PM
09/25/17 12:25 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
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Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
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Leave it to us at Moparts to give you advise you did not ask for but I think the Trailer Toad is an excellent idea.
It appears there is a lot of overhang behind the rear axle and while the factory hitch is rated at 5,000 lbs, that may be really all the rear frame of the coach is rated for also.
Good Luck!
Bill I use to stiffen up frames and do the hitches for about 4 year and did hitches at Chrysler and the add on parts are out there.. some parts might have to be made up.. my lift coupler is rated at 10k ![wave wave](/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/custom/wave.gif)
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Re: Best hitch receiver and brake controller? Class 4 minimum
[Re: MR_P_BODY]
#2376389
09/25/17 12:39 PM
09/25/17 12:39 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,174 PA.
pittsburghracer
"Little"John
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"Little"John
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,174
PA.
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On my third motorhome and I have lots of friends that tow with motorhomes. They are completely different that any other vehicles out there that we use to tow with and some are very weak in the rear. If not beefed up or a Trailer Toad used it can and will be destroyed towing close to 10,000 pounds. No all, but most
1970 Duster Edelbrock headed 408 5.984@112.52 422 Indy headed small block 5.982@112.56 mph 9.42@138.27
Livin and lovin life one day at a time
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Re: Best hitch receiver and brake controller? Class 4 minimum
[Re: gregsdart]
#2376402
09/25/17 12:56 PM
09/25/17 12:56 PM
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 259 n.c.
geo.
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: May 2015
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n.c.
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I don't know on what chassis your Itasca is built. Crawl under the back and take a look at the frame. Many(most?) motorhomes have frame extensions welded on. Some drop down to much smaller tubing or channel than the original frame. I guess the mfg. is assuming you're only flat-towing a small car. My Xplorer Xcursion has the same size channel welded to the Ram3500 frame. And then they welded a truss underneath! And an X brace between the rails. I'd accept nothing less for a 9000lb load.
Last edited by geo.; 10/13/17 01:00 AM.
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Re: Best hitch receiver and brake controller? Class 4 minimum
[Re: gregsdart]
#2376710
09/25/17 08:44 PM
09/25/17 08:44 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,996 Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
gregsdart
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Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
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The chassis is a Ford v 10 F53, 26,000 gvwr, 30,000 combined weight. Not sure what the coach weighs. The wheelbase is 248", coach length is 37,6" I will have to crawl under there and see what the frame is like, although with a 30,000 combined weight rating, it ought to be pretty stout. I am guessing a lot of guys tow with vehicles that don't have a high enough combined rating? My previous rig, I bet I was over by a lot. Thanks for all the input, asked for or not.
Last edited by gregsdart; 09/25/17 08:45 PM.
8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky
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Re: Best hitch receiver and brake controller? Class 4 minimum
[Re: gregsdart]
#2379346
09/30/17 02:40 PM
09/30/17 02:40 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,996 Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
gregsdart
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OP
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Posts: 9,996
Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
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I checked on a few things, and here is what I found. The same chassis has two or three different GCWR, or total mh and trailer weight combined. It is an F53 Ford, and mine is 30,000 GCWR. There is another 2015 Itasca Suncruiser model coach that is less than a foot longer than mine and has a 32,000 GCWR. I checked, and the frame and brakes are the same. That leads me to believe the extension on the frame for the higher rated coach is made better/stronger. The extension on mine is about half the size of the original frame, and the shop I found to do the class 4 hitch does a good job of strengthening the frame back to the new receiver so it can take the stress and load. It ain't going to be cheap, but good work isn't. I had forgotten about this shop; the last hitch they did for me was in 1977! Thanks again. I plan on using the Techonsha 3, I already have a Reese equalizer with 1200 pound bars, and my trailer is about 9200 loaded. If I did a lot of fast, up and down hill towing, I would worry about the tongue weight. But I don't, racing two to four times a year now, 115 miles away, 60 mph top speed on good, pretty flat roads.
Last edited by gregsdart; 09/30/17 02:43 PM.
8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky
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