Weight Distribution hitch with anti-sway bars

[Wheldar24]

Hello all, new to the RV Forum. We have recently upgraded from a large pop-up to our first travel trailer. We bought a StarCraft 24RLS, 29', tandem wheels and all the amenities...well, at least for us.

Since we were pulling a 3200lb pop-up, and now move to a 6000lb TT, we are looking at adding a weight distribution hitch with anti-sway bars. Any suggestions?

Tongue weight of the TT is 560-600lbs, TT weighs approximately 6000lbs gross combo weight. Looking at a WD hitch with a tongue capacity of 1000lbs and 12,000lbs GCVW. Does this sound right?

Thanks for any help. Looking forward to the answers.

[SlowBro]

The Harbor Freight WDH gets a lot of positive reviews, and the only negative reviews I've seen are from people who clearly don't understand how to use it. Not bad, for $200.
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28167006.cfm

See also this important note here:
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28167006/gotomsg/28174686.cfm#28174686

[Alaskan_Fly_Guy]

Just picked up a 23' Keystone BobCat with hitch and sway bars. It's zero degrees here in Alaska and will be 4 months before I can get out with it. What would be the average tongue weight I should be figuring on? The TV is a V-10 F-250 if that make a difference. How do you figure which link on the chain from the bar onto the trailer to use? I'll have a bunch of questions for you guys!
Thanks in advance.

Ron

[owenssailor]

samsontdog wrote:

xaugievike wrote:
Equal-I-zer gets my vote.

Mine also

My vote as well.

[bikendan]

you can get an Equal-i-zer with free shipping for about $450, from RVW.

[gcloss]

pitch wrote:
Granted I have never used a high dollar hitch like a Hensly or blue Ox. I haul about 6000# and all I have ever used is a generic round bar 10,000# hitch with a single friction bar. I think it works just fine have never had a scary moment.
Maybe the high dollar hitches are worth it,but at 5 or 6000 miles per season,I would be hard pressed to see the advantage.

Blue Ox hitches are not a high dollar hitch. They can be had for less than $600 on the Internet. For me $600 was not a lot of money for my Jayco Eagle that cost me north of $30k.

[fla-gypsy]

I am a user and fan of the Reese Dual Cam system. I think they call it the Straight Line now. It works very well in my TT application.

[Jayco23FB]

2007 2500HD 6.0L
2010 Jayco 23FB about 6000 lbs
I used a standard WD hitch for a few years (no sway protection). I switched last year to the Resse Dual Cam 12000# unit. It was a huge difference towing on highway and freeway speeds. All of the sway from passing trucks dissapeared. As far as noise, we hear noise only on backing with extreme angles. I use vasoline as cam lube as recommended.

[lanerd]

Tongue weight of the TT is 560-600lbs, TT weighs approximately 6000lbs gross combo weight. Looking at a WD hitch with a tongue capacity of 1000lbs and 12,000lbs GCVW. Does this sound right?

Guessing weights won't hack it. As mentioned you'll need to weigh the trailer (when it is loaded) and get the correct tongue weight. If this is not possible, then the normal procedure is to take 12% of the trailer's GVWR (6000 lbs??) for the tongue weight. 6000 x .12= 720 lbs. So, your comment above does sound right. If the trailer's GVWR is actually higher than the 6000 lb you provided...apply the 12% to whatever the actual GVWR really is.

Keep in mind of the 12% figure above. 550 - 600 lb tongue weight for a 6000 lb trailer is way too light and more than likely, you will probably encounter sway conditions regardless of the WD/sway control device you choose (except for the Hensley and Pro Pride, of course).

You also mentioned "gross combo weight". Not really sure what you mean by that and you didn't give a weight for it. Gross Combined Vehicle Weight GCVW is the total weight of the truck and trailer combined.

Good luck

Ron

[Wheldar24]

Wow, thank all of you for the replies about weight distribution hitches and recommendations. This will be helpful in choosing the correct type and style to meet our needs. So glad I joined this forum.

[samsontdog]

xaugievike wrote:
Equal-I-zer gets my vote.

Mine also

[Lynnmor]

Wheldar24 wrote:



Tongue weight of the TT is 560-600lbs, TT weighs approximately 6000lbs gross combo weight. Looking at a WD hitch with a tongue capacity of 1000lbs and 12,000lbs GCVW. Does this sound right?

You weigh the tongue, ready to travel, to find out the true weight. Buy the bars that are correct for that weight. More is not always better.

[xaugievike]

Equal-I-zer gets my vote.

[coolbreeze01]

I've used the Blue Ox for 7 years now. Very good hitch.

[pitch]

Granted I have never used a high dollar hitch like a Hensly or blue Ox. I haul about 6000# and all I have ever used is a generic round bar 10,000# hitch with a single friction bar. I think it works just fine have never had a scary moment.
Maybe the high dollar hitches are worth it,but at 5 or 6000 miles per season,I would be hard pressed to see the advantage.