RE: Reese mini 350 WDH

[Preacher]

 I know that several of you have the Reese mini 350 WDH and I have a couple of questions for you about it.  I pull our 2002 Westlake with a 2001 GMC Jimmy.  The Jimmy pulls it well, but the front end is a little lighter than I like it.  I ve pulled it many miles with it like it is, but again wouldn t mind improving the ride, so am considering a WDH.  I DO have to have a sway bar on my set up as is, so would I still need a sway bar on it with the WDH?  Lastly, due to all the things that I have going on at the church, hospital, funerals, etc., it seems as if I hardly have time for anything else much less trying to put a WDH on the Jimmy.  The dealer where I purchased my popup quoted me $280 which includes instillation.  Does that seem like a fair price?  I know that I can get it over the net for around $240 shipped, but am thinking it would be worth the $40 to have someone else put it on.
 
 Thanks in advance for all your help.

[tlhdoc]

 Preacher
It sounds like $40 well spent to me.

[Y-Guy]

 Preacher
I d spend the $40 too, though I d watch them install it so I can see how it works.  I did that with my Equal-i-zer WDH.  I know that 6Quigs has a Reese mini 350 you might PM him too.

[mike4947]

 Preacher
Well, the 350 does have built in sway control and they make a model with a bar that clears the Coleman side mounted jack.
 But one thing you might want to do is weight the tongue on your PU in loaded travel mode. The Reese 350 as it s name implies is good for only 350 pounds of tongue weight. If you tongue is over that you ve either got to put the PU on a diet, shift some weight around or go to the next higher WD hitch the WD400. The 400 is a single bar hitch and does not have sway control built in.

[AustinBoston]

 Preacher
I have a Reese Mini-350 that I installed myself.  It took me (working at a slow pace) about 2-1/2 hours (and a few skinned knuckles) to install.  For $40, I d pay someone else.
 
 The Reese Mini-350 has sway control built in, but it is not outstanding, and it can not be adjusted independently of the weight distribution.  If you want more sway control, you have to increase weight distribution.  If you need to decrease weight distribution, you will decrease sway control.
 
 In my experience, using sway control to get rid of sway is a poor way to go.  First, fix the rig so that it is stable.  This includes things like having sufficient tongue weight (12%-15% of total weight), loading heavy items near the center of the trailer, balancing the load side-to-side, and making sure everything is secure.  Then, if you want to add sway control, you are using it as intended.
 
 If you really do need sway control, you might want the Reese Mini-400, which is made in such a way that you can continue to use the sway bar you have now.  The second ball will have to be attached (probably welded) to the Mini-400 s draw bar (aka stinger).
 
 If you do get the Mini-350, here are two tips that will speed hookup and disconnect.  If there is an open area such as an empty parking lot nearby, pull in and swing around until you are close to jacknife.  The inside spring bar can be installed (or removed) without jacking.  Swing the other way to install the other spring bar.  If there is no available parking lot, then you want to get the rear axle up higher than the front ant trailer axles.  You can use a dip in the road (put the front axle in the dip), a speed bump (put the rear axle on the speed bump), or whatever you use to level your trailer (Lynx levelers, boards, etc) under the rear axle.  The idea is to get the tow vehicle and the trailer into an upside-down v-shape.  This can save some (sometimes difficult) cranking.
 
 Many have found that after 500 miles or so, the Mini-350 has to be tightened one notch to continue to provide sufficient weight distribution.  This is a one-time readjustment.
 
 Austin

[6Quigs]

 Preacher
As Y-guy said, we have a Reese Mini 350 and are very happy with it.
 i did install it myself, with some help from Civil-War-Buff, so the $40 that your dealer is asking is well spent, especially if there are any issues that I have heard of, such as the battery tray, or the supports for the bunk ends, or the dolly jack having to be relocated, then the dealer can do it.
 Before we got our Reese mini 350, we experienced a lot of sway, and found that by loading the trailer properly, we eliminated a lot of it. Then by driving more cautiously, and anticipating sway on bends, when someone is passing, or going down hill, and by applying the electric brake override on the trailer brakes, I had no more sway.
 Since adding the Reese Mini 350, I have never had to apply the trailer brakes manually.
 I have some photos of my installation on my web page.
 

[Preacher]

 Preacher
Thanks for all of your help.  I think that I will have a WDH put on.  I want to look at the Reese mini 400 with the single bar hitch.  My big concern was the sway bar.  Since the Jimmy is such a short wheel base vehicle, I have learned that I need to use one.  (I had to learn it through experience.)  We are careful how we load the trailer so the tounge weight is right, axle weight is right, etc, but when an 18 wheeler blows by me, I need some sway help.  However, I might not need it like I think after I put the WDH on since there will be more traction on my front wheels.
 
 I didn t think thta $40 was too much, and at least I will know that it was installed correctly.