Looking for suggestions for weight distribution hitch/sway bar for tacoma?

Legit question.

Having towed my Starcraft RV with and without a WDH I can say it is a must have. I agree as others have said it makes it so much easier to drive, particularly on the highway. My two cents to add are that you should unhook/remove the stabilization bars when you are on the trail and require more articulation.

I use the Husky Tow brand WDH appropriate for my camper weight. The RV dealer sales guy was actually helpful in picking this one (the guy uses it himself, showed me on his rig). But there are also some cheaper one if you look on YouTube.

Also a brake controller is very helpful. I am running the Redarc tow pro. Fits right into the dash. Super easy to install.

Happy camping!

 

I tow a 3,500 lb. TT and do not use a WDH, just a sway bar and blue Sumo Springs. No issues towing, and the longest trip has been from Phoenix to Seattle and back. I have towed this TT with my Tacoma over 15,000 miles...When I had a Tundra and towed a 28' TT, I'm certainly did need a WDH, and used one.

 

No apologies necessary! Just helpin ya out! Plus you may find even more information that you didn't know you needed.

 

My dealer installed an Eaz Lift on mine. NoBo 19.6 @~4300# unloaded. It does come with a sway bar attachment.

 

Have a great time camping! Smart man you are! Is that still ok to say these days?

 

thank you all

 

I have a 19' bumper pull travel trailer I frequently rent out on RV sharing platforms. The tongue weight is only 300 lbs. Without a weight distributing hitch it will sag the hell out of a Tacoma and many 1/2 ton pickups. A powerboost F150 was one of the worst I've seen. I have an Equalizer brand hitch I send off with most customers. It does weight distribution and sway control. It was easy to set up just right for midsize and 1/2 ton pickups. I have even used it with my 3/4 ton truck when I took my camper to the Grand Canyon. I didn't need the weight distribution for my truck, but I did appreciate the sway control for hundreds of miles of freeway travel. You will have a much better time towing if you use one with your Tacoma.

 

i think you need a wdh, but im not up to date on the details for a 3rd gen. I just picked up my 3000lb dry, 4000 gross camper and dry it sags quite a bit. The WDH evens things up for me. I have the husky centerline TS. does just fine. It came with the camper so it wasnt my original choice. I was looking at the andersen and fastway e2. The husky i think has better antisway than the e2 with 4 points instead of 2. Andersen looked great for its weight savings.

 

In April I bought a 22’ r-pod 192 that’s about 4900lbs with fresh water full. I use the e2 wdh and a brake controller and I have had no issues going down the hiway or pulling it into the hills with my ‘19 DCLB off-road. I have stock suspension but I did add sumo springs (blue) to dampen the porpoising on the hiway. So far I’m pretty happy with my setup.

 

I am looking at the anderson hitch. i havent picked up my camper. the camper is a 2''ball, the camper tongue is 17 inches off the ground, the dealer sent me a picture of what looks like the front of the camper and one bar is 3 inches x 2 inches. i frankly dont know why he sent me those pictures but do you know what drop hitch size and bracket size i would need?

 

I can't know what size drop hitch for sure without actually measuring the tongue height on the trailer. Sounds like you'd need the bracket that supports a 3" tall frame, so the 3",4",5",6" option.

 

thanks for response. dealer sent me a pic that the camper tongue is 17 inches off the ground. does that help? i assume that measurement is relevant for the drop hitch size?

how do i figure out what receiver size i need?

 

I would just measure the height of the hitch receiver from the ground (etrailer article about how to determine this). When you install the hitch the ball is usually set about 1" above the top of the trailer tongue. I forget how high the Tacoma's receiver sits, but if its about 17" then I'd opt for the 6" drop receiver. If its drastic and you need more then probably the 8". Here's a video of the install, which should shed some light on it.

The Class IV hitch that comes with the tow package uses a 2" receiver. To confirm, simply measure the opening on the truck's hitch receiver. It should measure 2" on the inside up and down.

 

thanks! 3/4/5/6 bracket, 2 inch ball, 2 inch receiver and 6 or 8 drop height is what i will get. thanks

 

I asked my dealer about Anderson hitches when I purchased my trailer. He stated they weigh a ton and are overpriced.
What I am trying to figure out is why YOU are trying to figure out what is needed. Your dealer should be recommending a hitch and installing it for you.
Reality is you are making this way to much work and making yourself crazy trying to "get it right" on your own. JMO

 

i apologize for the questions but its my nature to "trust but verify" and decide for myself what is best price/option rather then be told what to buy and for how much.

the anderson hitch i looked at online weighed 60lb so i thought that was pretty good

The dealer is pushing camco r6

 

I called a few Andersen dealers looking for an in-stock hitch. One said they don't keep them in stock because the margin is small for them. My feeling would be that RV dealers sell what they feel works well AND has the best margin for them.

My Tacoma (stock SR5) hitch height is 18" ground to top (inside) of the receiver. If your trailer is 17" then you should be OK with 0" drop (according) to Andersen.

Ask your dealer how tall the frame rails are and the height from the ground to the bottom of the frame rail. You may need raised brackets.

Andersen has a good fit guide. see attached.

EDIT: one more reason I'm happy with Andersen, It fits with room to spare in a ridgid case. It would probably fit in a Milwakee or Dewalt too. https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-2-0-Pro-Gear-System-Power-Tool-Case-254069/320483553

 

I get that. I am the same way. The EaZ hitch I have is made by Camco. They have been around forever and make a decent product at a reasonable price.
I am not sure what your concerns are with a WDH. The reciever/ball mount will not fail on any major brand. You are more likely to have failure at the attachment point of your trailer frame from poor build....it happens.
You do you and whatever seems to make you happy, but for the average person with a weekender trailer that will likely weigh under 4K pounds loaded, you are overthinking this. Everyone has an opinion, and as they say, they are like a**holes, but this a**hole thinks you will likely be fine with what the dealer has to offer.
Here is the one my dealer sold me.. likely a heck of a lot less expensive than what your dealer is trying to sell you and is very well rated on reviews.

Camco EAZ-Lift Elite 1200lb RV Weight Distribution Hitch - Adjustable Sway Control & Interchangeable Spring Bars - Pre-Installed Hitch Ball & Sway Control Ball - 1400lb Max Tongue Weight (48069)

https://www.amazon.com/EAZ-LIFT-48069-Distribution-Capacity/dp/B00GBQ3YXM?hvadid=664253902780&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1013469&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=18326613294269905324&hvtargid=kwd-620565278136&hydadcr=18944_13537698&keywords=camco+r6+weight+distribution+hitch&qid=1689544348&sr=8-14&th=1

 

An R6 is probably too big. I had an R3 and it was great! Quiet, near silent. Easy anti sway adjust and better ground clearance vs many WDH. The R3 has a max tounge weight of 800lbs. With the tacoma payload that is plenty more than you'll need. The R6 will be heavier and more capacity than your truck is capable of.

 

youre doing it right, trust but verify. In my camper shopping experience, theyre just trying to get you out the door, the techs they have working are mostly idiots, and often sell what they have at a good margin rather than what you need at a good price. and them installing it, most ive talked to have had to readjust themselves.
I was talking to a dealer that was selling one hitch, $900 installed, ($500 hitch) If i wanted to do my own, had to show up, install in parking lot and had to bring my own tools. all about the money.