Anti sway, wt distribution

Dan Vitale wrote:
Hi folks,
We are new to camping. We have a 26' Jayco Eagle 5200#. My tow vehicle is a 2012 GMC 1500 pickup with tow package. My question is; do we really need wt distributing and/or anti-sway mechanisms? After studying these things, they don't look like they really do anything. I have towed this trailer several times already with no problems. I see dealers pulling rigs all the time with no wt dist bars.

So, are you asking to be talked into a WDH or are you trying to justify your decision not to use WDH?

Mine gets hooked up *every* single time I tow my camper.

I wouldn't leave Home without one. ;)

No one ever needs anti-sway, until the day the trailer starts oscillating wildly. Same with insurance. That said, as long as hitch weight is sufficient, sway is not likely.

And the weight is not actually on your rear axle but about 4' behind your rear axle. That's a pretty long lever and multiplies the amount of load actually on the rear axle raising the front end even more than a 750LB load in the truck bed would.

If 5200 lbs is your unloaded weight, you are probably pushing 6000 lbs loaded.

Average tongue weight being about 12.5 percent of loaded trailer weight, would be about 750 lbs.

When you hang that 700 plus pound on your rear axle, it takes a significant amount of weight off your front axle. That reduces your steering control. If you had to make an evasive movement, that loss of steering could be enough to cause an accident. The primary function of a weight distributing hitch, is to restore that lost weight to your front axle.

I don't know what you've "studied", but they do ALOT. I have a similar setup as yours. 2011 GMC 1500 with a TT that is 5450lbs dry (Im assuming your 5200lb is dry). Tow package with my truck too.

Without the WD hitch the back end of truck sits a good ways down as does the tongue of the trailer. A "v" at the hitch. With WD it is perfectly level, and tows great. Anti Sway is a must too. First time you get passed by a semi on the freeway or a large gust of wind, you'll be wishing you had it for sure. Trust me, and probably everyone who posts in reply, it is a very necessary piece of equipment. Don't skimp.

Mike

I have anti sway on my F150 but I still use a WDH along with sway bars. I don't want to be the one responsible for someone else getting hurt or worse. As far as dealers towing TT all the time w/o WDH and anti sway, they are only towing for short distances and not 100s of miles. I would rather be cautious than to learn the hard way.

1st advice would be to check the tow rating of your truck and hitch. There should be a regular rating and then one for weight distributing. My hitch requires a weight distributing hitch for anything over 5000lbs. Your trailer on my F350 Dually requires weight distributing.