I am getting ready to purchase a Jayco 19ft Hybrid camper and have been told by some that I need a weight distributing hitch. In my 4runner manual it states not to use a WDH. Does this mean that I will need to replace the entire hitch receiver, then buy the WDH? I'm a bit confused on this stuff. I assumed I could just hook the thing up and tow away as long as it was under 5000 pounds. Thanks for any help.
Weight Distributing Hitch for 2004 V6
- Thread starter 4runnerk
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Camprunner
New member
4runnerk said:
I have the same camper a Jayco 19H and I love it. I also tow it with my 06 V6 with a few mods. The most the 19H should weigh under full load is 4,500lbs it's aprox 3,480 empty and yes the V6 will pull it fine.
Here are my mods:
Curt manufacturing hitch (goes from frame to frame) with WDH it's good for 5,500lbs.
I also installed a Haden trans cooler to my truck and I don't tow in fifth gear.
Im running a Rease hitch with spring bars and friction sway control.
To be honest after removing the stock hitch im not shure if I should have done so it was held on by many hardend bolts and I think there were six of them. I think it would have worked just fine. ???
PM me if you have any question on your camper I can also give you some things to ck on it and also some mods that I have done. Good Luck............
Thanks Camprunner. I'm a bit confused with all of this. I assumed that I needed a new hitch and the weight distribution system. You said that you have the Curt hitch with WDH. Then you added that you have the Reese hitch with spring bars. Does that mean I need to buy 3 seperate parts: hitch, WDH, and hitch with spring bars? Forgive my ignorance. I'm just a girl.
Do you really like the Jayco 19H? Does it pull well?
I am planning on adding a transmission cooler as well.
Do you really like the Jayco 19H? Does it pull well?
I am planning on adding a transmission cooler as well.
Camprunner
New member
First off the Jayco 19H is a great camper the wife and I love it .......we looked at many last year and decided on this one and we feal we made the right choice. It does pull easy if your hitch set up is correct and your V6 is more than up to the task.
Now for the hitch set up:
When I bought the camper I told the dealer that I wanted the hitch set up with the spring bars and the friction sway control this is what my dad used to tow three campers of all sizes over 25 years without a problem.
Im not shure what model Reese I have but I do know it is good up to something like 10,000lbs I would call Reese or look on line for the correct one. base the max weight at 5,000lbs even though you are at max 4,500lbs. There are lesser hitches with only one spring bar but I would not go for that.
I would recommend going threw the place you are getting the camper from and let them set it up for you. And if it's a private sale then go to a good RV dealer and let them set it up for you The set up is quite important. The ride hight of the camper and the back of the 4runner should be level under full load. If not you can get quite a bit of sway. (this is where the effect of the spring bars come in as they lift the ass end of the truck up under load)
As for the sway control I use (and recommend) the simple friction bar sway control. It's just a long bar with a brake that you tighten to reduce sway. This is an old tried and true system that works quite well. If the dealer says you won't need it ......... say (hay ya know what I wan't one anyway.) Trust me if you are ever going 65mph on the hiway and you get passed by a string of 18 weelers you will be glad you bought it!! by the way you can see one on the Reese web site.
Now I decided to change my stock truck hitch ............. The stock V6 hitch is not ment for a WDH set up?? (after I took it off I felt it was more than up to the task but I had the new hitch so I put it on. Would I do it again ......... "Um... Um" I think so ........ The Curt hitch mounts to the right and left of the frame and I think it's better. There are more heavy duty hitch recievers than the Curt but I felt the Curt was more than up to the task of the 19H and I don't plan on pulling anything that weigh's more than that. (the Curt is rated for up to 5,500lbs with a WDH set up and you are at max 4,500lbs.) More like 4,200lbs under load.
Before I forget you will have to not only remove the rear bumper to install the new 4runner hitch but you will have to relocate the rear plug set up. This was fun as I broke mine and it costs $ 230.00 to replace it so be carefull.
I know this can look overwelming but once you are set up it's all easy after that.
Now for the hitch set up:
When I bought the camper I told the dealer that I wanted the hitch set up with the spring bars and the friction sway control this is what my dad used to tow three campers of all sizes over 25 years without a problem.
Im not shure what model Reese I have but I do know it is good up to something like 10,000lbs I would call Reese or look on line for the correct one. base the max weight at 5,000lbs even though you are at max 4,500lbs. There are lesser hitches with only one spring bar but I would not go for that.
I would recommend going threw the place you are getting the camper from and let them set it up for you. And if it's a private sale then go to a good RV dealer and let them set it up for you The set up is quite important. The ride hight of the camper and the back of the 4runner should be level under full load. If not you can get quite a bit of sway. (this is where the effect of the spring bars come in as they lift the ass end of the truck up under load)
As for the sway control I use (and recommend) the simple friction bar sway control. It's just a long bar with a brake that you tighten to reduce sway. This is an old tried and true system that works quite well. If the dealer says you won't need it ......... say (hay ya know what I wan't one anyway.) Trust me if you are ever going 65mph on the hiway and you get passed by a string of 18 weelers you will be glad you bought it!! by the way you can see one on the Reese web site.
Now I decided to change my stock truck hitch ............. The stock V6 hitch is not ment for a WDH set up?? (after I took it off I felt it was more than up to the task but I had the new hitch so I put it on. Would I do it again ......... "Um... Um" I think so ........ The Curt hitch mounts to the right and left of the frame and I think it's better. There are more heavy duty hitch recievers than the Curt but I felt the Curt was more than up to the task of the 19H and I don't plan on pulling anything that weigh's more than that. (the Curt is rated for up to 5,500lbs with a WDH set up and you are at max 4,500lbs.) More like 4,200lbs under load.
Before I forget you will have to not only remove the rear bumper to install the new 4runner hitch but you will have to relocate the rear plug set up. This was fun as I broke mine and it costs $ 230.00 to replace it so be carefull.
I know this can look overwelming but once you are set up it's all easy after that.
Thank you so much Camprunner. You have answered alot of questions for me. First and foremost, how will the 4runner do with the Jayco. Some have told me that it will not tow well and others have said that it should do okay. It good to hear from someone with the same vehicle and camper. What kind of gas mileage do you get when towing the Jayco? I also understand what I need hitch-wise. I'm going to ask the dealer to throw it in, or at least the equilzer hitch. I'll pay to have the receiver changed out if I have too. And I already have a Reese sway bar that I used on my popup. That should take care of it.
Camprunner
New member
4runnerk ........ The wife and I started with a new Jayco popup camper but it did not wan't to go up and down 
So after many frustrating problems we bought the 19H. As for towing I think it does just fine ....... It takes a little bit to get her moving like getting on a hiway on ramp but I can hold 70 mph no problem. My 4runner is a 5 speed auto and I was told to drive it in forth gear when towing so I do. I get about 10 mpg when towing the camper I don't think you can do much better than that even if you had a V8.
A few things to remember when towing if you notice the truck shifting often then down shift it yourself and let her rev it's better to work the engine then heat up the trans.
Now about that Jayco 19H:
Make sure you ck the lug nuts on each wheel after your first time out. Next year greese the EZ-lube axle's with a high temp greese and don't use a synthetic greese use a high temp lithium based greese (with a drop point of 400 plus deg.) the axle's should be greesed once a year.
Always ck the RV tire pressure they should be at 50 psi.
Always ck everything before you go out the Fridge, the Stove, The Heater etc, etc.
A little hint if you can't get the fridge to fire on gas then light the stove first and let it run and then switch the fridge to gas and it will most likely light off.
Go to the camping world web site and get yourself some leveling blocks and some wheel chocks. I also have a set of wheel locks that you put between the tandem camper wheels. This keeps the camper from rolling down a hill when you un hook the camper from the truck.
When you get the 19H you should season the tent sides by opening them up and spraying them with water and then letting the sun dry them. You should do this about three times before use as it will srink the seams.
After you come back from your trip don't forget to leave the fridge open and the next day empty the drip pan as it will have water in it.
Make sure you get a pressure relief valve for your drinking water hose as most campgrounds run quite a bit of pressure in there lines. ck with camping world for this stuff.
When I think of other things I will post more info
Where do you live??
So after many frustrating problems we bought the 19H. As for towing I think it does just fine ....... It takes a little bit to get her moving like getting on a hiway on ramp but I can hold 70 mph no problem. My 4runner is a 5 speed auto and I was told to drive it in forth gear when towing so I do. I get about 10 mpg when towing the camper I don't think you can do much better than that even if you had a V8. A few things to remember when towing if you notice the truck shifting often then down shift it yourself and let her rev it's better to work the engine then heat up the trans.
Now about that Jayco 19H:
Make sure you ck the lug nuts on each wheel after your first time out. Next year greese the EZ-lube axle's with a high temp greese and don't use a synthetic greese use a high temp lithium based greese (with a drop point of 400 plus deg.) the axle's should be greesed once a year.
Always ck the RV tire pressure they should be at 50 psi.
Always ck everything before you go out the Fridge, the Stove, The Heater etc, etc.
A little hint if you can't get the fridge to fire on gas then light the stove first and let it run and then switch the fridge to gas and it will most likely light off.
Go to the camping world web site and get yourself some leveling blocks and some wheel chocks. I also have a set of wheel locks that you put between the tandem camper wheels. This keeps the camper from rolling down a hill when you un hook the camper from the truck.
When you get the 19H you should season the tent sides by opening them up and spraying them with water and then letting the sun dry them. You should do this about three times before use as it will srink the seams.
After you come back from your trip don't forget to leave the fridge open and the next day empty the drip pan as it will have water in it.
Make sure you get a pressure relief valve for your drinking water hose as most campgrounds run quite a bit of pressure in there lines. ck with camping world for this stuff.
When I think of other things I will post more info
Where do you live??
Well, I have most of the accessories that you mention since I already have a popup. Thanks for the info though. I will definitely follow your tips too. Interestingly, the Jayco dealer just called their other location just got in a Coyote 20C (expandable trailer). So I am going to look at it tomorrow. I'll probably go with the Jayco though unless it just blows me away. I've never seen a Coyote.
I'm in Memphis.
I'm in Memphis.
Just wanted to say thanks for all of the helpful info, especially from Camprunner. I decided to get the Jayco 19H and will pick it up in a few days. I changed out my receiver to one that bolts to the bumper and can now use a WDH which the dealer is throwing in. I also added a transmission cooler so if all goes well, I'll be headed out pulling the new camper behind the 4runner.
