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(More customer reviews)That's one question you need to consider when choosing a weight distribution hitch. The web consensus is for trunnions unless your trailer needs the frame clearance of round bars. The other question is, "How heavy of a WD hitch is required?" For this you need to determine the maximum tongue weight of the trailer plus contents and choose the lightest WD hitch that equals or exceeds this weight.
My trailer hitch socket is mounted on top of the frame so it seemed that trunnions might bind on the frame during turns, or need to be pointed down excessively to clear the frame. This factor pushed me toward the round bars, and my measured 900 lb maximum tongue weight dictated the 1200 lb Reese 66067.
Installation wasn't bad using the included instructions along with a healthy supplement of Youtube instructional videos. Installing a WD hitch requires some tweaking of the height on the shank, tilt, bar tension and snap-up bracket position. Making these changes, except for the bar tension and bracket position, involves unhitching the trailer which is a pain. It took me about two hours to dial this in, trying different settings and observing the effect.
I wasn't done yet. This hitch plus shank extends further from my truck than the original which meant having to buy longer safety chains and a longer breakaway brake cable. Getting the lengths of the chains and cable to function correctly but not drag on the ground (chains) or bind on the hitch during turns (breakaway cable) claimed another three hours and required multiple trips to the hardware store.
So how does it perform? The difference in the ride is better than I expected. The truck now rides level, and dips in the road and braking don't cause the rear end to lope up and down as before. With the Reese 66067, I might forget I have 7000 lbs behind me! I also hope this hitch stops the premature wear that's been occurring to the front tires of the truck. I'll have to report back on this one.
I posted a picture (Amazon reduced the resolution - sorry) that shows towing before (top), the level of the truck unhitched (middle), and finally towing with the Reese 66067 (bottom). Look to the "grass horizon" above the truck bed. It tells the story about how the Reese eliminated the squat of my tow vehicle.
Other quick notes:
-The 66067 does not include a shank or hitch ball. You'll need to buy these.
-The 66067 does include a snap-up tool (a.k.a. pipe). Don't buy one like I did.
-The 66067 includes a shim which I needed to use with the Reese 63971 shank. Placing the shim correctly to get the bolts through during height adjustments was the worse aspect of the installation. I'd give the 66067 ½-star less for this if I could.
-Don't leave tools out of your total cost calculation. I needed to buy wrenches for the hitch ball and for the 1-1/8" hex heads on the 66067.
-The directions say to use, "several drops of oil at the spring bar / ballmount contact points." Given the additional tension that's put on the hitch ball and socket with spring bars, oiling the hitch ball (something I didn't do before) seems like a good idea to reduce wear on the ball and socket. WD-40 works great and wipes off nicely after you disconnect.
Good luck, and happy towing!
Tire Wear Follow-up (November 7, 2010):
We put new tires on the truck last Fall, and my wife hauled (horses) more than usual this season. Normally I would expect to see a good amount of wear on the outside of the front tires but with the Reese 66067 they appear to be wearing evenly now. So not only does the WD hitch provide a better and safer ride, it's probably quickly paying for itself by reducing uneven tire wear.
Admittedly, connecting up the trailer is more complicated with a WD hitch than without. I thought my wife might grouse at using it, but the ride is so much better she's glad to have it and she's become an expert at hooking up.
Happy hauler and happy husband!
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Reese Towpower 66067 Heavy Duty Weight Distributing Hitch
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