Airbags or WD hitch? opinions advice...

camp-n-family wrote:

Question, would a well balanced rv/truck with airbags and upgraded shocks cure the bounce and sway or would I have to get a wd hitch.

No. Airbags and hitches serve different purposes. A WD hitch is to distribute tongue weight which in turn will give better control, less sag and usually less bounce. Bags will just level the rear and may reduce a bit of bounce but do nothing else. Only the hitch will reduce or control sway. Having "a little sway" is like being "a little pregnant". Neither is good unless you wanted it, and sway, you don't.

You should start with a proper hitch with built in sway for that length and tongue weight. A properly loaded tt with a correctly adjusted hitch should eliminate your problems. Make sure your tires are aired up and your shocks are not worn out as well.

Just to add to this.

When you hang all that tongue weight on the back of the tow vehicle, besides adding a bunch of weight to the tow vehicle's rear axle, it also takes a bunch of weight off the front axle. Air bags will help level the vehicle's body, but, they won't restore any of the front axle's lost weight. Restoring that lost weight is a primary function of the WD hitch. Towing with bags only, could increase the possibility of swaying.

If you're towing with insufficient weight on the front axle of the tow vehicle, it is less stable and more susceptible to bouncing and swaying. Even the slightest movement (could be simple as subconscious hand movement caused by breathing, could be bad roads, could be wind) can cause the steering wheel and axle to move back and forth, causing the trailer to sway.

The truck's owners manual should show the manufacturers recommended "front axle weight restoration percentage", or, it may say something to the effect of restoring fender height measurements.