Best equalizer anti sway hitch

You won't like to hear it, but it's your truck that is swaying, not the trailer. If you correct the rear suspension the sway will be eliminated. I found this out when I moved from a 2013 Ram 2500 diesel with leaf spring to a 2014 Ram 2500 with coil springs. The 2014 has a rear pan-hard bar with a sway bar. The 2014 pulls much, much better. I would look for a pan-hard bar or a watts link for your truck. I don’t think that you will find one because of the major frame modifications necessary.
MM49

garyrita wrote:
My wife and I currently own a Ford Lariat F150 Ecoboost 3:31 gears, 4X4. My travel trailer is a 2014 Coachmen Catalina 303RLS dry weight approx. 6500lbs. I inherited a Reese Pro Series hitch with anti sway bar from a previous trailer we owned. Unfortunately I pulled the trailer back from Memphis,TN.with 30-40mph wind gusts. It was a battle all the way back to Mid Missouri.

Thanks so much, Gary

That's a lot of wind, with a very big sail. There's probably more issues than what a new hich can control. Issues like soft suspension, sidewall flex (this can help cause sway) in the truck tires, 8000 lb trailer pushing around a 6000 lb truck. That kind of wind would be unpleasant, even with a bigger truck.

Some hitches provide better sway control than others, but, they can't control the weather, overloading, or make up for your tires and suspension.

Some hitches provide better weight transfer than others. If your WD hitch is not restoring enough weight to the front axle, you could be to lite on your steering axle. Subconcious movement of the steering wheel can cause sway.

If trailer is to lite on the tongue, that can cause sway.

If truck and trailer are not level (trailer sits nose up), that can cause sway.

Improper tire inflation can cause sway.

Passenger (P) rated tires are designed for passenger comfort. They have more side wall flex, than light truck (LT) tires. Most 1/2 ton truck, come from the factory with (P) rated tires.

Wind will magnify any of the above issues.

Some days, it is just to windy to be on the road with such a big sail.

You should find out what your actual numbers are. IE:

Payload varies from one truck to another, depending on installed options and accessories. What is your payload? (not an advertised number)

GVWR minus actual weight = payload available for passengers, cargo, weight distribution hitch (about 100 lbs), and tongue weight.

Advertised dry weight is an unrealistic number. Weight will go up before the trailer leaves the dealer lot. What is your actual weight?

What is your actual tongue weight and do you have the payload available to handle it?

Loading sticker should be on your driver side door post. It will show your GVWR and a cargo carrying (payload) capacity (as it was from the factory). Anything added to the truck, by dealer or consumers, deducts from that CCC number, pound for pound. IE: a 200 lb bed cap, reduces cargo capacity by 200 lbs, 15 lb floor mats, reduce cargo capacity by 15 lbs.

You could spend some big bucks on a Hensley, Propride, or whatever, and find you still have the same issues.

The precious cargo I always have on-board is worth every single penny for the ProPride 3P hitch. Had the Equal-i-zer brand and experienced a few white knuckle experiences (and yes, it was set up correctly) then researched and decided either the Hensley or ProPride and I went with the ProPride which is the next generation Hensley. As said already, friction type hitches somewhat control sway and the Hensley or ProPride eliminate it!

Do you want to ELIMINATE sway or just minimize it. Our Equal-i-zer minimizes it but it's still there when a big truck whizzes by. If the former the Hensley is the answer.

If you want the best, I'd recommend the Pro Pride or Hensley. Either one completely eliminated sway. Expensive but absolutely worth it.

Since you already own a Reese hitch you may be able to add the Dual Cam for a reasonable amount of money. It is a great integrated system. If you want to spend a bunch get a Hensley

I don't know which equalizer anti sway hitch is the best. I have an Equal-i-ser name brand hitch and love it. I would not consider any other brand.

You mentioned towing in wind gusts of 30-40 MPH. With wind gusts that strong, I believe you will feel them no matter what brand TT hitch you use accept maybe a Hensley or like hitch. I have driven in those windy conditions using my Equal-i-ser hitch, sure I felt the gusts buffeting the trailer but it didn't cause any undue sway. I did adjust my speed according to conditions. (Cut my travel speed down)

they'll tell you this and that but if you want control get a bigger truck. All things said and done big load little truck, oh yeah it can pull it but then so can a smart car.

garyrita wrote:
My problem is SWAY, what hitch would you long time campers recommend. I know you all won't agree on one type only, but if we can narrow it down to two or three it would be appreciated. I have read about the Andersen no-sway hitch, and the Equal-i-zer anti-sway hitch. Both are more in my price range, the Hensley hitch sounds great but is too expensive for my blood

Thanks so much, Gary

I went from a husky WD with one friction anti-sway bar to two anti-sway bars to a Reese Dual Cam and finally a Hensley. If I had gone with the Hensley first, it would have saved me the $$ i spent on the Husky, anti-sway bars, DC unit and replacement parts for the DC unit and would have paid for almost the full price of my Hensley.

I found a used Hensley on eBay for about half the cost of a new one and used it for seven years before selling my TT. The difference in performance is night and day and made our trips so much more pleasant. Not only did the Hensley totally eliminate all sway problems, it is also very quiet and once you get use to it, much more easy to hook up and remove.

Being friction devices, Dual Cam, Equal-izer only help to control sway, the Hensley eliminates it. You just spent thousands on your new Catalina, I can't believe that you would quibble over another couple thousand that would not only give you the absolute best system available but also increase your traveling safety.

Think about it. Just how much is your families safety worth to you?

Good luck in whatever you decide.

Ron

Take a look at Blue Ox Sway Pro

30 - 40 MPH wind gusts, not a pleasant tow, no matter what hitch.