WD hitch question

Your camper will have electric brakes, you'll need the controller.

When you fill your propane tanks on the tongue of your camper, plus the weight of the battery, your tongue will be much heavier than the weigh the manufacturer gives with nothing on the tongue. Their weight is a dry, empty weight. So expect something more like that 800 pound figure.

Your 1500 will squat in the back if you do not have some kind of Weight Distribution. The Reese version will work. It will distribute the weight of the tongue to all 4 tires of the tow vehicle. Is it the "best"... well ... that's really a matter of opinion. I had a standard chain style Reese for years and years, never had any problems at all, and I towed a 31 foot TT.

Then one day realized the hitch head was bent, and ended up getting the Equal-i-zer 4 point. As far as performance between trailer and truck.... I didn't see any at all. BUT the ease of hitching is much easier.

So, I don't know if the old Reese hitch head was just getting old, or if it was just bearing too much weight with the Outback? I'll never know. I do know the Equal-i-zer 4 point, has the built in sway, no need for the extra sway bar with my Reese.

And talking about sway ... finding out you need sway (later) is NOT the time to make a decision to get sway control! If you find out you need sway control, chances are, it will be too late to get it, it won't be of any benefit, because your camper will probably be laying on it side in the ditch on the side of road and you'll be scratching your head wondering what just happened. THE TIME TO GET THE SWAY FEATURE (WHATEVER KIND OF WD YOU GET) IS THE EVERY TIME YOU HITCH UP! EVERY! That means the very first time you tow it! You cannot afford to "test it out" first. By then, it will be too late.

Of the 2, Reese and Equal-i-zer, I like the Equal-i-zer much more!

The common misunderstanding about sway is, that it is something that happens when a truck passes or a wind gust exiting a tunnel, etc. Actual sway, the sway we're all concerned with while towing, is something you will have little time to do anything about unless you're on top of your game and use the trailer brakes. Left unchecked, actual sway can have you upside down in the median. So, IMHO, you really don't want to wait for that even to decide. Safe is better than sorry. I would use an effective sway deterant device. Every time. That's just me.

DutchmenSport wrote:
Your camper will have electric brakes, you'll need the controller.

When you fill your propane tanks on the tongue of your camper, plus the weight of the battery, your tongue will be much heavier than the weigh the manufacturer gives with nothing on the tongue. Their weight is a dry, empty weight. So expect something more like that 800 pound figure.

Your 1500 will squat in the back if you do not have some kind of Weight Distribution. The Reese version will work. It will distribute the weight of the tongue to all 4 tires of the tow vehicle. Is it the "best"... well ... that's really a matter of opinion. I had a standard chain style Reese for years and years, never had any problems at all, and I towed a 31 foot TT.

Then one day realized the hitch head was bent, and ended up getting the Equal-i-zer 4 point. As far as performance between trailer and truck.... I didn't see any at all. BUT the ease of hitching is much easier.

So, I don't know if the old Reese hitch head was just getting old, or if it was just bearing too much weight with the Outback? I'll never know. I do know the Equal-i-zer 4 point, has the built in sway, no need for the extra sway bar with my Reese.

And talking about sway ... finding out you need sway (later) is NOT the time to make a decision to get sway control! If you find out you need sway control, chances are, it will be too late to get it, it won't be of any benefit, because your camper will probably be laying on it side in the ditch on the side of road and you'll be scratching your head wondering what just happened. THE TIME TO GET THE SWAY FEATURE (WHATEVER KIND OF WD YOU GET) IS THE EVERY TIME YOU HITCH UP! EVERY! That means the very first time you tow it! You cannot afford to "test it out" first. By then, it will be too late.

Of the 2, Reese and Equal-i-zer, I like the Equal-i-zer much more!

DITTO on the Equalizer hitch! Love mine!

Another vote for the Equalizer. I don't have experience with any other system but I can say that I have had no issues pulling my rig with it. My truck sits level and handles well. That's with probably just about 1K miles so far. Highways, mountains, a few country roads...

I agree with mosseater, be safe rather than sorry. get the sway control

I have the Equalizer 4 point. Works great for me towing my 34 ft TT

Riley, don't get a hitch without built in sway control. If the dealer is willing to "throw in" such a hitch you might be able to negotiate a lower price on a better hitch.

I too have an Equalizer and really like it. I have towed under all kinds of conditions and have never had an issue with sway. I think getting a good hitch is rather important. I would also suggest a Prodigy brake controller.

Best wishes. You have lots of fun ahead. Congratulations on the trailer.

I have an equalizer as well. Great hitch for our 27ft tt. I just upgraded from a Chevy 1500 to a Ram 3500, it was the first thing I adapted to the rig.

I did a lot of research before I bought it and it is worth every penny. No one wants a stressful drive home after a great trip!

I like my Blue Ox Sway Pro. Clean, quiet, simple, and effective.

Two summers ago my BIL rented a TT for a trip. Dealer said he "didn't need" a WDH/anti-sway. My BIL questioned why I used one with a similar trailer?

I kept and eye on my mirrors, knowing that he was not familiar with towing. He was definately fighting more than I was.

Half way thru our trip, even his novice eye could see how stable I remained, while he bounced (porpoised) and swayed when we encountered rough roads. He said he was watching my trailer to see what he could expect...noticed real quick that I stayed more stable than he was.

Get the anti-sway.

Only adds a couple seconds to hooking/unhooking....saves hours of aggravation.

EDIT: BTW, I tow with a 2013 Ram 1500 (reg cab, 8' bed, HEMI). Smaller trailer, only 19', 3500# GVWR.

I currently have 300# of sand bags in the bed, I don't know it is there. But I won't tow that TT without WDH/Anti-sway. It is not about the weight, it is about the porpoising and sway that can happen at that hitch point (because of that weight/length--pivot point).