Robert, I'm concerned that all my questions are driving you and many on this forum nuts. I feel like I'm a guy that walked into your forum with sh*t on his shoe and there is no ventilation. You all have been very clear on your advice on not using a WDH on the Ascent so please be patient with this newest query.
I called up Can-Am RV Center today and asked them for advice on towing my Airflyte with the Ascent and the man that I talked to, Marshall, unequivocally said that I need a WDH. I explained that the Ascent's owner's manual warned against their use and it was most likely because of the unibody construction and how it can't trasfer the stresses imposed by the WDH through the Ascent. He disagreed explaining that unibody construction is far superior to body-on-frame and it can handle the stresses of a WDH. He said that if there is any stress point on the TV it's most likely the factory installed hitch itself and it would simply need to be strengthened. He said that they do these modifications all of the time. He was also familiar with the Shasta Airflyte and had no doubt that it should be towed with a WDH.
Trust me. This advice is not what I wanted to hear. I wanted to have them confirm your advice and go figure out how to properly balance my trailer to shave off the excess hitch weight.
So I guess my question to you all is how reputable is Can-Am? According to their website, they've been matching tow vehicles and RVs for 45 years and from what I can see online they are highly respected. They also seem agnostic about brand names so they aren't pushing one type of TV or trailer.
Here's their website:
Here's a video of them running a Mercedes towing a trailer through their test course. (Take a look at 2 minutes and 39 seconds in.)
https://www.youtube.chttps://www.canamrv.ca/om/watch?v=Q4b28Fkiubg&feature=emb_logo
They really seem to know what they are doing. I can't believe they run a towed trailer through those kind of maneuvers and I have to admit, I'm impressed.
You guys have been very generous with your time and my intention isn't to annoy all of you with this. I'm just trying to find some kind of consensus. Maybe it simply doesn't exist which seems crazy to me considering what's at stake.
Tim
I called up Can-Am RV Center today and asked them for advice on towing my Airflyte with the Ascent and the man that I talked to, Marshall, unequivocally said that I need a WDH. I explained that the Ascent's owner's manual warned against their use and it was most likely because of the unibody construction and how it can't trasfer the stresses imposed by the WDH through the Ascent. He disagreed explaining that unibody construction is far superior to body-on-frame and it can handle the stresses of a WDH. He said that if there is any stress point on the TV it's most likely the factory installed hitch itself and it would simply need to be strengthened. He said that they do these modifications all of the time. He was also familiar with the Shasta Airflyte and had no doubt that it should be towed with a WDH.
Trust me. This advice is not what I wanted to hear. I wanted to have them confirm your advice and go figure out how to properly balance my trailer to shave off the excess hitch weight.
So I guess my question to you all is how reputable is Can-Am? According to their website, they've been matching tow vehicles and RVs for 45 years and from what I can see online they are highly respected. They also seem agnostic about brand names so they aren't pushing one type of TV or trailer.
Here's their website:
Airstreams | Campers London | Travel Trailers for sale
Can-Am RV Centre - Your full-service RV dealer: #1 in Customer Satisfaction Worldwide.
www.canamrv.ca
Here's a video of them running a Mercedes towing a trailer through their test course. (Take a look at 2 minutes and 39 seconds in.)
https://www.youtube.chttps://www.canamrv.ca/om/watch?v=Q4b28Fkiubg&feature=emb_logo
They really seem to know what they are doing. I can't believe they run a towed trailer through those kind of maneuvers and I have to admit, I'm impressed.
You guys have been very generous with your time and my intention isn't to annoy all of you with this. I'm just trying to find some kind of consensus. Maybe it simply doesn't exist which seems crazy to me considering what's at stake.
Tim