EB towing 28BHSWE and needing WDH recommendations

[dlmckinney33]

I have a 2012 f150 ecoboost FX4 crew cab with max tow. It meets all payload and weight guidelines. I don't put anything in my bed and no family, so not going to turn this into a "you need a bigger pickup forum" I sold my old camper that was 29' total length and 5800 dry and 650 lbs of TW. I used an equal i zer hitch set up. I had to use almost all the washers to get the hitch to do a decent job leveling out without squatting and the bars still looked like they were bending a fair amount. I am buying a new camper that is 6630lbs dry and 720 lbs of TW. Its a 2014 hideout 28BHSWE it will be about 32.5' long total. And it has a Total weight capacity of 10,000. I am looking to buy a new equal i zer hitch set up for it and im not sure if the last one was under sized for the weight or if going with the larger bars would make a difference. I cant remember what they were rated for, i sold it with the camper. But anyways just looking for input on what is the best route. I like the chain style because its super easy to hook up and un hook, but I would like sway control. But liked how the equa l izer towed. I am thinking about going with the equal i zer again and getting either the 12,000 with 1,200 TW model or the 14,000 with 1,400 TW model. Any thoughts? Thanks!

[2112]

A pair of Timbren's on the rear will help with the squat more than any WDH.

[DinTulsa]

I just picked up the Blue OX sway pro for my 11K TT. I did swap out the 2" receiver shank for the 2.5" and I chose the 1500\15000 system. Good luck with whatever you choose, I'm happy I went with Blue OX. Your posted TW seems awfully low for a trailer that size.

[MitchF150]

I should expect no more then 1,500lbs of tongue weight, so I should get the system that handles 10,000lbs and 1,500lbs TW. Correct?

Your factory hitch on the F150 is only rated for #1150 TW with a WD hitch, so not sure how you figure you can go to #1500??

Unless you upgraded your factory F150 hitch?

Good luck!

Mitch

[carringb]

Also I picked up a mini grease gun for the hitch head, and keep in one of the trailer's compartments. There's two grease zerks. Without grease, they will get real noisy after about 1,000 towing miles.

[carringb]

Sounds about right. My trailer has 12,500 GVWR and I went with 1500 bars. I'm pretty much made out on them. I probably could have gone with the 2,000# bars but it's good enough as long as keep towing with my dually.

The only hiccup I had was the shank didn't have enough radius on the corners to fit my receiver! I had to borrow the dealer's grinder to knock them down to fit. Luckily the remaining powder coat hasn't chipped off. If it ever does I'll just get it re-coated. That was summer 2014 so maybe they've fixed that problem. I also have a very heavy duty class 5 receiver (20k) so the inside radii of the main tube may be larger than on lower class hitch receivers.

[dlmckinney33]

So sounds like the ox is the latest technology and one of the better designs. With a max weight of being just shy of 10,000 lbs on the camper I should expect no more then 1,500lbs of tongue weight, so I should get the system that handles 10,000lbs and 1,500lbs TW. Correct? Exact numbers are 6630 dry with 2880 cargo weight available so 9510lbs max weight and 720lbs TW dry.

[BenK]

My next WD Hitch system will be a Blue Ox Sway Pro

Have had several others and am always reading up on the latest and
greatest to educate myself.

Go a farther into how they work than most will do. Just the way I am and love
forensics of any kind...at that is how I learn to the depth I want/need to
Also known as reverse engineering

SwayPro is the only OEM who talks about the natural anti-sway WD Hitches that
use spring bars. Even then, they only gloss over it

Lost on the other OEM hitch chain system that allows the bar end to swing side
to side freely

SwayPro captures or limits side to side movement of the chains in a
unique way to increase that natural anti-sway effectiveness. This also
increases the bar tension on one side...while on the other side...it
pulls...opposite to the direction of the sway...AKA anti-sway

Since their head tilt is cast in...there is already a dialed in max spring bar
travel during the chain tensioning...that the other OEM designs need to have
serrated washers, number of washers, bolt holes, etc. That then places the adjustment
only on the rating of the bar and the amount of chain tension

Also, their chain attachment is really nifty. Both in how they mount to the
trailer tongue and how the rotating cam tensioner works...along with a good
tool to rotate that cam

I'm impressed with the quality of just about everything. From the casting
design/detail, to how they have sealed off the grease reservoir for the head
sockets for the bars. The bars do NOT see any grease, nor do they need to

See that they have changed the bar end slot/hole for the holding bolt/nail at
the hitch head. Their previous had a tendency to pop out on just a few that
I've read about. This new design looks better, but only time will tell


Bottom line is that nothing, but nothing beats staying within the
'real' or 'true' ratings of all and setting up the trailer/TV correctly

Trailer level at its highest pointing...and I prefer slightly down

Tongue weight (actual) in the 12% to 15% range (this is where the
lower class TV's get into trouble...along with their RGAWR)

Proper WD Hitch setup and dialed in to 'your' TV/Trailer's actual weights

[camperforlife]

I just bought a new trailer and the Blue Ox SwayPro. I've only made a 2 hour pull with the new set up but it was in heavy winds and felt much better than my old Draw-Tite. I can say my contacts with Blue Ox customer support has been nothing less that outstanding.

[downtheroad]

I'm going with a Blue Ox Sway Pro on our new trailer. It has a GVWR of 10,000 lbs. I called Blue Ox and they said to go with the 1500 lb. bars.

[carringb]

I'm happy with my Blue Ox hitch. Rides nice, easy to hook up, and the rotating chain latches with built-in safety latches seem more secure to me than the flip up style chain latches on other hitches. I really like my Reese Dual cam too, but this doesn't require any special setup, and no more problems with the bars popping out on real sharp turns.