Bought the Reese 350 Lightweight WDH Hitch; Problems!

[edwardr132]

I bought the Reese 350 Lightweight WDH Hitch.  I had the trailer place install it.  Problem is I can't figure out how to use it now that it is installed.  It seems like a chicken and egg thing.   I can put the WDH bars on, but then can't line up to hookup with the hitch;  I hookup with the hitchball, then can't attach the heavy bars.   Also, I can't believe just how straight the TV has to be (perfectly straight with the Popup).  Before without the WDH, I could be crooked as heck and it didn't matter.

Any advice if there is some trick to putting the Reese 350 hitch on now that it is installed when towing?  There has got to be an easier way.  I just don't have the strength many times to get the bars onto the Popup.  

Nobody told me just how difficult they are to use in real practice!

[beacher]

Hitch the vehicle first.  Lock the tongue to the hitch ball.  Lift the trailer with the tongue jack until you can easily slip on the springs.  Then lower the trailer with the tongue jack, stow it, and go on your way!  Reverse the process when you arrive at your destination.

Practice a few times.  Different campgrounds have different slopes and terrain which will make the process slightly different every time!

[AustinBoston]

There are two main methods, both require that the ball be fully connected first.

The "official" method is to crank up the nose using the tongue jack until you can get the bars on.  The most important tip here is to make sure the rear wheels of the TV are higher than the front wheels and the trailer wheels.  Putting the rear vehicle wheels on something like Lynx Levelers or a speed bump is very helpful.

An easier method (requiring some open space) is to turn to approach jacknife, then put the inside bar on; then jacknife on the other side and put the other bar on.  This is easier if the place you do this is flat; road crowns and stuff like that can make it more difficult.  I can almost always do this without jacking or even putting my back into it (and I'm a computer programmer; I don't have a powerful back).  :eyecrazy:

Austin

[edwardr132]

Thanks for the heads up guys.  Unfortunately, I feel there is no way right now to attach the bars once the hitch is on.  In order to put the bars on, I need the fold-away jack to be lower than the hitch.  Once the hitch is attached, It requires "massive strength" once the weight is supported by the TV and not the fold-away jack.  I think I will have much better luck with the attaching from one side first idea;  first one side, then the other with the jack-knife idea.  I will try that the next time.  Any other thoughts and comments would be most helpful.

[6Quigs]

Here are a few photos I took of my Reese mini 350 when I installed it 4 years ago.

http://the6quigleys.tripod.com/camping/id6.html

I read what Austin and Beecher posted, and am not sure you understood them correctly.
First thing to do is hook up the trailer hitch to the ball on the tow vehicle.
Then lock the hitch in place.
Now use the tongue jack to raise the hitch of the trailer with the tow vehicle still attached. The rear of the tow vehicle will start to rise also, and you will be putting a very heavy load on the tongue jack, but don't worry, they are designed for this. As you are jacking up the front of the trailer and the rear of the tow vehicle, you should now be able to install the bars without much effort. Then lower everything with the tongue jack, and fold it away.

Whenever we would arrive at a campground, we would be on the lookout for bumps or dips in the road, and once we were correctly positioned, with the tow vehicle rear wheels higher than the tow vehicle front wheels and trailer wheels, we would jump out and remove the bars. Speed bumps were always perfect for this.

Hope this helps.

[badabing67]

how about using a bottle jack once the coupler is locked on the ball and your tongue jack is folded? you could put it right under the hitch and lift untill your bars are loose. I used to use the tongue jack on my 30 ft tt but I had the old style wdh with chains and clamp brackets. now that we are back in a pup i just drop it on the ball and go. gotta love a full size four door truck!
heading to cape hatteras in the am ya'll have a good weekend