Hello RV owners, we are in the process of purchasing our first travel trailer Grand Design Image 3100RD dry weight 7900 lbs, 35 FT length. . My big concern is towing travel trailers safe, with a sway bar. i heard from friends that travel trailers will tend to sway during heavy winds, being passed by larger trucks and if you have a blow out you can easily lose control. We selected the travel trailer due to the price point and we love the floor plan. I am not new be to towing 30 years experience of towing boats, utility trailers, and even some tractor trailer experience, but never towed 35 ft travel trailer.I would like opinions of those who towed both 5th wheel and travel trailers, which one do you prefer, did you feel safe towing travel trailer?One more questions does anyone own a Grand Design RV? If you do how do you like the RV?Thanks your opinions are greatly appreciated.

I tow about the same size trailer with my F350 and I have no issue with sway,I do feel the push when being passed by large trucks.It is more of a suck then push feel,that is called the bow wave effect,and you will always feel that to some degree.With a proper sized truck and a properly set up w/d hitch you will have no problems.For that size trailer I recommend at least a 250/2500 and up series truck.

Get a used Hensley Arrow or ProPride hitch and you will ELIMINATE ALL sway even the bow wave then a 18 wheeler passes. You should be able to find a used one for less than $1,000 on ebay or Chraiglist. Search for more posting on Hensley or Propride.

You didn't say what you tow with or what hitch you have. I tow a 37ft. travel trailer 10k gvwr with my GMC 2500HD and have an Equal-I-zer brand integrated sway control hitch rated at 14K/1400 tongue wt. and do so just fine with no issues. Your statement about "sway bar" is telling that you may not quite understand hitches yet. The Equal-I-zer is a weight distributing hitch with built in sway control by means of friction on the weight distrubiting bars and 'L' brackets they rest in. The other is a friction antisway device added onto the side of the tongue and connecting to the hitch head. I have used this type on smaller lighter trailers but would not use it on a 35 ft. trailer because it is inadequate for the weight it would need to suppress in a sway situation. Look on youtube for how to handle sway should you experience it.

Not exactly the same but I tow a 32ft enclosed trailer weighing 10,000lbs loaded with a DRW F-350 with the heavy duty tow package and never have a problem. I have never used a WDH with this set up but would recommend it with a travel trailer. You never have to much truck

Keep in mind that cross winds from weather or traffic will not go away just because you have a hitch that might mask the effects. When wind pressures against the side of the TT or FW are great it is time to get off the road. Perhaps it is good to feel the effects rather than continue on till it rolls.

Towing Travel Trailers | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

ferndaleflyer
Explorer III
Jun 14, 2020
Not exactly the same but I tow a 32ft enclosed trailer weighing 10,000lbs loaded with a DRW F-350 with the heavy duty tow package and never have a problem. I have never used a WDH with this set up but would recommend it with a travel trailer. You never have to much truck
ken56
Explorer
Jun 14, 2020
You didn't say what you tow with or what hitch you have. I tow a 37ft. travel trailer 10k gvwr with my GMC 2500HD and have an Equal-I-zer brand integrated sway control hitch rated at 14K/1400 tongue wt. and do so just fine with no issues. Your statement about "sway bar" is telling that you may not quite understand hitches yet. The Equal-I-zer is a weight distributing hitch with built in sway control by means of friction on the weight distrubiting bars and 'L' brackets they rest in. The other is a friction antisway device added onto the side of the tongue and connecting to the hitch head. I have used this type on smaller lighter trailers but would not use it on a 35 ft. trailer because it is inadequate for the weight it would need to suppress in a sway situation. Look on youtube for how to handle sway should you experience it.
TenOC
Nomad
Jun 14, 2020
Get a used Hensley Arrow or ProPride hitch and you will ELIMINATE ALL sway even the bow wave then a 18 wheeler passes. You should be able to find a used one for less than $1,000 on ebay or Chraiglist.

Search for more posting on Hensley or Propride.
hondapro
Explorer
Jun 14, 2020
I tow about the same size trailer with my F350 and I have no issue with sway,I do feel the push when being passed by large trucks.It is more of a suck then push feel,that is called the bow wave effect,and you will always feel that to some degree.
With a proper sized truck and a properly set up w/d hitch you will have no problems.
For that size trailer I recommend at least a 250/2500 and up series truck.

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Towing Travel Trailers

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