RE: Reese Mini 400

[Preacher]

 
I just had the Reese Mini 400 put on my 2002 Westlake.  What a difference!  Not only does it make a big difference in the ride of our 2001 Jimmy it is so easy to put on and to take off.  Everyone that I had talked to that had the mini 350 talked about the " things"  they had to do to get it on or off, ie. parking the trailer on a curb or high point, etc.  With the 400 I don t have the problem of finding a high point at a campground.  I still had to have a sway bar, which I already had on the trailer.  The WDH fit nicely between my battery and propane bottle.
 
 I highly recommend you look at the 400 when you look at the 350.

[sure2rain]

 Preacher
Preacher, are you referring to the Reese single lever WD hitch? I m curious because I m seriously thinking of purchasing a WDH. I know the mini 350 is used by a few people on the board and works well, but it does have the draw backs that you mentioned. The Reese single lever doesn t appear to have the same difficulties, however you do need a seperate sway control.

[Preacher]

 Preacher
Sure2rain,
 
 Yes I am referring to the Reese single lever WDH.  To make it easier to put the lever on or to take off you use the tounge jack to slightly raise the tounge of the trailer and hitch on the TV.  I usually do this anyway to make sure that the coupler is securly on the ball, so it is no extra step for me.  If you need a sway bar now, you will still need one then.  It does not have any sway control capabilities like the mini 350 has.  I like the ability to control the tension on the sway control and I do not think you can do that with the 350.  I also like the option that it gives me that if I am towing my Westlake unloaded and nothing in the trunk, then all I put on is the sway bar.  When it is loaded, then I use the WDH.  The 400 is so easy to use the my wife can put it on and take it off in less then a minute.  I would recommend you seriously look at it.
 
 I did not put it on myself but had my dealer do it.  He charged me $275 for the WDH which included installation.  I thought that was a good deal and saved me time and skinned knuckles!  Also if something doesn t work right, its on them and not on me.
 
 If you have any quesions let me know.

[mike4947]

 Preacher
One other point of information on the Reese wd hitches. the WDH 350 has a limit of 350 pounds tongue weight and the WDH 400 is a 400 pound weight limit for those of you with heavy 12 footers.
 Since it s 10 to 15 % of the gross on the tongue you should figure what you tongue limit will be. SOme of the heaviest with 15% will even exceed the WDH400.

[sure2rain]

 Preacher
As always thanks for the additional info. I am going to go with the Reese 400 with a sway bar. I ve been putting off the purchase but the time has come. I saw the Reese 400 at a camping show two years ago but haven t heard much about it.