My son is buying a Forest River Surveyor 201RBLE and we need advice on a hitch with sway control, and I assume weight distribution. I tow a tiny trailer with no sway or weight distribution so this is foreign to me and I'm no help.Do people new to camper ownership and towing purchase their hitch prior to purchasing the camper, or does the dealership help choose and set this up for buyers? He wouldn't know how to set it up on his own and would need someone with knowledge to help him. He is thinking of purchasing this EAZ Lift 48058. I have read enough to know that people are either in the "Anderson" camp or "Equal-i-zer" camp, or whatever their fav is so I suspect people will have hard opinions about brands.Where does he start? He's working out of state and I'm trying to hep gather this because he has a deadline. Thanks for your opinions!

After owning 3 TT's I would skip the EAZ lift and get one with built in sway control. Like an Equalizer type or what I'm using now, a Blue Ox Sway Pro.The 'All in one's' are easier to use as you aren't dealing with two separate systems. No unhooking to backup like the EAZ lift package in your link.Most all dealers will set you up initially. I bought my own hitch off Amazon and took it in when I picked up the TT.

goducks10 wrote:After owning 3 TT's I would skip the EAZ lift and get one with built in sway control. Like an Equalizer type or what I'm using now, a Blue Ox Sway Pro.The 'All in one's' are easier to use as you aren't dealing with two separate systems. No unhooking to backup like the EAZ lift package in your link.Most all dealers will set you up initially. I bought my own hitch off Amazon and took it in when I picked up the TT.Goducks,Thanks so much. Could I bother you some more and ask for a link to one that would be suitable?

Blue Ox sway pro is a popular newer hitch with built in sway. It would be a good choice. The dealer will try to sell you what they carry which may not be the best choice.Whatever you get you should learn how to set it up yourself. There are plenty of YouTube videos on how to do it. It’s really not that hard. The dealer will usually install it for you, or have it included in the deal. Either way, the dealer won’t usually take the time to adjust it properly and it will be set for an empty trailer. You will need to adjust it once loaded up.

Select the trailer and then the hitch. Then you will know what size bars to buy. I am very happy with a Husky brand spring bar hitch, only a little over $200 for a 6,000 pound trailer. It has separate sway control.

camp-n-family wrote:Blue Ox sway pro is a popular newer hitch with built in sway. It would be a good choice. The dealer will try to sell you what they carry which may not be the best choice.Whatever you get you should learn how to set it up yourself. There are plenty of YouTube videos on how to do it. It’s really not that hard. The dealer will usually install it for you, or have it included in the deal. Either way, the dealer won’t usually take the time to adjust it properly and it will be set for an empty trailer. You will need to adjust it once loaded up.Yes, I believe after initial setup he can make adjustments. I just want someone to set it up and show him. He may be able to have them adjust it after it's loaded instead of prior. Others in my camping group are telling me dealers will usually set it up first. That's not your experience? He should ask that before purchasing.

Which comes first, the trailer or the hitch system?

bakerkids
Explorer
Jul 17, 2019
Grit dog wrote:
Missing the other half of the equation....what's he towing it with.
That's a little trailer for a full size rig, hook it up and drag it home, may/likely not need anything at all.
If towing with a mid size truck/SUV then yeah, need a wdh fo sho.

He has a RAM but it's a V6 so is also truck shopping for a Hemi. Initially was going with a lighter camper with the present truck. Now he's going to test drive a Laramie with a tow capacity of 9,050 this weekend. He has two others on the list but all have sufficient axle ratio and engine, tow package, etc. I would rather him at least have 7k capacity, and at the lowest 6k. He will be going cross country and staying in it for up to 13 weeks. Not weekend camping or a vacation. He will be the only passenger.
twodownzero
Explorer
Jul 17, 2019
Tvov wrote:
According to the specs, that is a 24.5 foot trailer - I am assuming not including hitch length? I would get a weight distributing with sway control hitch.

As already asked, what is he towing with?

For that size trailer, being not that big, a simple WD hitch with friction bar sway control would work fine if he is towing with a capable truck. Smaller tow vehicle, go with a fancier hitch. Or if you want just buy the nicer one right away - you won't go wrong with it.

Installing a hitch may seem intimidating, but if you are handy with tools it is not that hard. In the world of RV's, "dealer installed" is not something to brag about, and you will find from these forums something to avoid.

My hitch was installed by the dealer... it was years later when I realized with some simple adjustments I could have a much better towing feel, and I should have installed the hitch myself at the beginning.

Live and learn!

This was my thought as well; if you need a fancy hitch to pull 7,000 pounds, you probably don't have enough tow vehicle to begin with. I have pulled more than that on a weight carrying hitch, although I prefer WD for anything over 5k pounds.
Hondavalk
Explorer II
Jul 17, 2019
https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Weight_Distribution.aspx

They have a wide range of choices and good videos. Everybody has a favorite hitch, mine is the Reese DC
Ivylog
Explorer III
Jul 17, 2019
Neither...the truck should come first. A complicated hitch is a bandaid for not enough tow vehicle. I pull heavy loads with nothing but a good ball/hitch and enough tongue weight.
Tvov
Explorer II
Jul 17, 2019
According to the specs, that is a 24.5 foot trailer - I am assuming not including hitch length? I would get a weight distributing with sway control hitch.

As already asked, what is he towing with?

For that size trailer, being not that big, a simple WD hitch with friction bar sway control would work fine if he is towing with a capable truck. Smaller tow vehicle, go with a fancier hitch. Or if you want just buy the nicer one right away - you won't go wrong with it.

Installing a hitch may seem intimidating, but if you are handy with tools it is not that hard. In the world of RV's, "dealer installed" is not something to brag about, and you will find from these forums something to avoid.

My hitch was installed by the dealer... it was years later when I realized with some simple adjustments I could have a much better towing feel, and I should have installed the hitch myself at the beginning.

Live and learn!
wowens79
Explorer III
Jul 17, 2019
I've got the Blue Ox Sway Pro, and I'm happy with it. The dealer wanted twice what I could order it from Amazon for.

Also I would read the install instructions, and watch the manufacturers install video. I would not trust the guy at the dealer, you read many stories on here of dealer guys not knowing what they are doing.

I installed myself and it took less than 30 minutes.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Jul 17, 2019
Missing the other half of the equation....what's he towing it with.
That's a little trailer for a full size rig, hook it up and drag it home, may/likely not need anything at all.
If towing with a mid size truck/SUV then yeah, need a wdh fo sho.
aftermath
Explorer III
Jul 17, 2019
This is a hot topic. There are many different brands out there and understandably, many different opinions too.

My only real suggestion is to avoid any system that requires an add on friction sway control device. Yes, these work but I choose not to get involved with an added complication when it comes to hooking up. Get an all in one, and there are many to choose from.

I am an Equalizer fan but there are others out there that will do the job as well as mine. Way back when I first got involved, I did not like the idea of snapping chains to engage the hitch. Things are better now so I am not sure that is still an issue. I like the easy of hooking and unhooking my Equalizer. I have over 60k miles on two different trailers and have never had a problem hooking or unhooking either one. I have mine tuned in nicely, have greased the hitch points and have little to no noise. And, more importantly, have never had a sway issue in all the miles and conditions I have towed.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jul 17, 2019
If your son is buying this TT, hooking his TV to this max7500 pound RV, and loading his family into it, why isn’t he asking all these appropriate questions?
bakerkids
Explorer
Jul 17, 2019
camp-n-family wrote:
Blue Ox sway pro is a popular newer hitch with built in sway. It would be a good choice. The dealer will try to sell you what they carry which may not be the best choice.

Whatever you get you should learn how to set it up yourself. There are plenty of YouTube videos on how to do it. It’s really not that hard. The dealer will usually install it for you, or have it included in the deal. Either way, the dealer won’t usually take the time to adjust it properly and it will be set for an empty trailer. You will need to adjust it once loaded up.

Yes, I believe after initial setup he can make adjustments. I just want someone to set it up and show him. He may be able to have them adjust it after it's loaded instead of prior. Others in my camping group are telling me dealers will usually set it up first. That's not your experience? He should ask that before purchasing.