Sway Bars

Most likely your new camper is NOT designed for a weight-distributing hitch, and will say so right on the tongue frame work.

One sway bar is likely all you will need for belt-and-suspenders protection. Having a truck that outweighs the trailer and can easily handle the weight goes a long way toward preventing sway. I've also noticed that these lightweight single-axle trailers tend to have the axle closer to the rear, which also helps. Loading all the heavy stuff ahead of the axle is the final step you can take.

Well, thank you for that! That's why I wanted the sales guy to send me information on his recommendation (a request he ignored, BTW). I'll just have to wait until I can get him within grabbing distance to find out what he's proposing. Thanks again for the help.

fwed wrote:
Okay, I'm back. Sorry for the lapse. It's been a horrid week.

I've got a Nissan Titan rated to tow 9500 pounds and the new camper is only about 3000 pounds. I'm thinking sway bars. I just don't want some 18-wheeler or Greyhound bus blowing this little guy sideways while I'm trying to pull it in a straight line. The salemen make their living by convincing me I need something I don't know alot about. I trust you guys more than them. Maybe a discussion of the difference between sway bars and weight distribution systems.

Thanks. I appreciate the help.

Unfortunately, it seems most of the members here are either not much more knowledgeable than the salesman and/or have been brainwashed into thinking that travel trailer = wdh/sway required.
However your trailer is SO small compared to your TV that you may actually get others to tell you you don’t need it…..if they can stay on topic.
(Like the post above mine explaining hitch types….lol)

Oh and maybe just be a “rebel” and go see how it goes without all that c rap….It’s not magic or scary no matter how many make it out to be.

Here is what a friction sway control looks like. It is used in conjunction with the Weight Distribution (WD) spring bars.
If you have one of these on your trailer tongue then you most likely have an older style WD hitch that uses chains to put pressure on the spring bars. Those spring bars do nothing to control sway other than adding some weight to the front axle of your truck. When the trailer swings they swing right along with it.
Note: Some of the later hitches do use the spring bars to control sway as used in the Equil-i-zer brand hitch. There are others also. Those do not use the sway control pictured above.

Barney
Friction sway control


Equal-i-zer Hitch

Okay, I'm back. Sorry for the lapse. It's been a horrid week.

I've got a Nissan Titan rated to tow 9500 pounds and the new camper is only about 3000 pounds. I'm thinking sway bars. I just don't want some 18-wheeler or Greyhound bus blowing this little guy sideways while I'm trying to pull it in a straight line. The salemen make their living by convincing me I need something I don't know alot about. I trust you guys more than them. Maybe a discussion of the difference between sway bars and weight distribution systems.

Thanks. I appreciate the help.

I’m gonna say no, but fwed seems to have left the discussion without actually saying whether he’s pulling the new camper with a Kia or a dually, or something in between….
So I’ll go with D. Not enough info to answer. Lol

wing_zealot wrote:
First of all, you said "sway" bar. Are you really talking about a "weight distribution hitch (WDH)" or a "sway" bar - lots of people regularily say "sway" bar but mean WDH. Totally different tools for totally different functions.

Indeed. The bars associated with a weight distributing Hitch are actually called spring bars. Older design WDHs often used add on anti sway bars that used a friction adjustment to control sway.

First of all, you said "sway" bar. Are you really talking about a "weight distribution hitch (WDH)" or a "sway" bar - lots of people regularily say "sway" bar but mean WDH. Totally different tools for totally different functions.

Depends on your tow vehicle. You need to look at the tow capacity and requirements to get the capacity. Also, look at the sticker on the receiver, it will also state whether or not an equalizing hitch is required for the receiver.
Unless you are running a 3/4 ton or bigger, usually you will need the equalizer