Wieght hitch bars when backing into sloped driveway

while my parking space isn't sloped much, it is a pretty tight turn in my alley, avoiding the fence, garage, and the garage across the alley is pretty tricky. but i am able to park without removing the WD bars on my E2 hitch. I think I'll try removing them next time and see how different it is getting in there.

daystrom wrote:
I contacted Equal-i-zer about this a year ago. My drive isn't as bad as the OP but it still has a bit of rise from the street.

Their reply was nothing would be hurt keeping the bars attached. If anything, the L brackets that hold the bars to the trailer could start to bend but the actual spring bars, hitch would not be harmed.

Great feedback. Thanks daystrom.

SoundGuy wrote:

although I have no idea what the slope of my driveway is it too is fairly significant, so much so that once the trailer is parked and leveled the bumper is less than a foot off the ground but the tongue is three feet, yet I always back up with my WD system still connected and haven't had any issues doing so.

From your pictures Soundguy, your drive and mine are pretty similar...
I took also borrowed your idea of taking the 2X10 under the front wheels to help level the trailer wheels in the driveway more.
My bumber is also about a foot off the ground and my hitch about 3 feet.

Again, I will have to look next time, but it seriously looked like when jackknifing in last time that my trailer was going to tip over. I just assumed it was the bars doing that. I have a really tough driveway to back into!
Seems like the consensus is that they are fine to leave them on.

I contacted Equal-i-zer about this a year ago. My drive isn't as bad as the OP but it still has a bit of rise from the street.

Their reply was nothing would be hurt keeping the bars attached. If anything, the L brackets that hold the bars to the trailer could start to bend but the actual spring bars, hitch would not be harmed.

ScottG wrote:
Since you have to remove the sway control after parking anyway, just remove it before you back.

The OP isn't asking about separate sway control bars as he doesn't have any. Rather, he's asking about his E2 WD system which features 2-point sway control as a function of it's design and is wondering if backing up his significantly sloped driveway with the E2's spring bars still attached will unduly stress the system. A 20 degree slope is quite a bit and although I have no idea what the slope of my driveway is it too is fairly significant, so much so that once the trailer is parked and leveled the bumper is less than a foot off the ground but the tongue is three feet, yet I always back up with my WD system still connected and haven't had any issues doing so.

Our driveway is really steep and need to remove the WD bars, tongue jack and rear stabilizers to make it in and still barely clear. I also disconnect the brakes to make it a little easier.

I can do it either way but it is easier on the equipment and me if I remove them first. The angles, and less resistance make it easier. The trailer just goes exactly where I want it with no contrary force. IMHO

When I back into a camp site that's level, I don't remove the bars... Only at home.

Mitch

I can and have done mine with and without friction sway and WD bars with my steep-ish driveway and street. I'd say do it with all the stuff off if you have any question at all. The WDH and anti-sway are intended to help when traveling down the highway. There is zero benefit to anti-sway while moving in/out of a driveway. WDH? I supposed if your rear bumper were to sag and bottom out it could help. Unless that's a problem I'd leave it off until you're somewhat level on the street out front.

I remove my WD bars before I park my trailer into it's spot at home. Only because of the steep angle of the driveway and the jackknife maneuver I have to do to park it.

I don't have friction bars, so no idea on those, but I'd remove them too, if I had them.

Mitch