New truck, new trailer, newbie.... Questions :-)

[bedpan]

I bought a 2015 Starcraft 18BH over the winter. Plan was to tow it with my 2011 Kia Sorento. The Sorento came to the end of life last week. Tomorrow I pickup a 2013 F150 Supercrew, 4x4, 3.5L Ecoboost with Maxtow package.

When I bought the trailer it was bought with a WDH/Sway control (Reese I believe the dealer included) as well as a brake controller and installation. I need to contact the dealer to advise that I no longer need the brake controller as the F150 has it integrated.

I am trying to figure out if I should still get the WDH/Sway controller...

Trailer maxed out is 3500lbs with dry hitch weight of 410lbs. From what I can figure the F150 with the options I have is good to 5000/500lbs without a WDH.

Is it overkill to get the WDH/Sway control? The F150 has traction based sway control that I have read mixed messages on. Some say its all you need, others say its only reactive where a hitch style WDH with Sway control is more proactive.

The hitch is already paid for, but I can trade it in for some part and accessories. I am sure I need lots as its our first trailer.

Thoughts on keeping the hitch, or ditch the hitch?

Many thanks!

Mike

[bedpan]

Bringing back the dead (thread)...

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone that expressed there opinion. Got about 600Mi (1000km for us Canucks) on the trailer in the last week. Picked up near Niagara Falls and towed back along busy 400 series highway to Oshawa area. First weekend trip was out to Quinte Isle and back.

Ended up with just a Husky Sway Bar without WDH. The F150 barely knows it is there. Shifts a bit more on hills and drinks some more gas but plenty of stopping power and not sway to speak of.

Cheers all and thanks.

[manualman]

bedpan wrote:
Actually I am Canadian 😉 Don't hold it against me!

I should have suspected. You probably take hikes further than 1.5 miles from the National Park parking lots too, eh? 🙂

[bedpan]

Actually I am Canadian 😉 Don't hold it against me!

We will be ok in the 18'. The climbing over the wife thing we are use to. The 35' trailer we have moved the bed sidways to save room in the bedroom. We already do this every weekend all summer long. Typically she is up first and several times a night. I rarely get up through the night so its really a non-issue.

manualman wrote:
Not everybody feels that bigger is better. Maybe he's that rare American who actually prefers simplicity over excess? Seems to me like a light, single axle trailer will require less than half the annual maintenance costs in tires (no scrubbing), bearings and brakes.

I mean, really? It's worth adding a whole axle, several hundred pounds and who knows how much money to turn the bed sideways and avoid the need to "crawl over" a spouse? Personally, I still enjoy that! 😉

[manualman]

Not everybody feels that bigger is better. Maybe he's that rare American who actually prefers simplicity over excess? Seems to me like a light, single axle trailer will require less than half the annual maintenance costs in tires (no scrubbing), bearings and brakes.

I mean, really? It's worth adding a whole axle, several hundred pounds and who knows how much money to turn the bed sideways and avoid the need to "crawl over" a spouse? Personally, I still enjoy that! 😉

[bedpan]

Thanks for tall the responses folks. tragusa3 I appreciate your feedback. Nice to have someone with firsthand info on how the setup will work.

It seems everyone works for my sales guy and wants me to spend more money on a bigger trailer 😉 I did poke around our dealer inventory and nothing comes back that fits the bill. We are sticking with the 18BH. There are some limitations but I am confident we will be ok. Long term plan this trailer will only be ours for 2 years then we sell it.

Side note on all of this. I also have a 35' prowler trailer that is permanent on a site. We understand trailer life to some extent, its the travelling part that's new. We also have done some boat trips in my 18' bowrider. Try sleeping out of a boat for a week with 2 kids, 2 adults and a large dog travelling the trent severn lift locks. We know how to live cramped 🙂

Many thanks folks,

Mike

tragusa3 wrote:
I towed 4.5k pounds f(15BH) for 6k miles last summer with the same truck. It was completely effortless, even climbing around in the Rockies. The power was there to jump out in the passing lanes if I had chosen (I didn't). The truck led to us upgrading trailers over this winter. I'm now towing 5.5k dry, 7.5k loaded. The truck does downshift once in awhile now, but still feels very strong and well within comfort.

I did not use WDH with the old trailer. There was never a moment of sway. I do use it with the new trailer.

[Scooter86]

I would keep the hitch and use it. I also would at least check into your options for going to a larger camper. There is something to be said for traveling smaller and lighter, but most of us go bigger over time, and you may be able to put that off for a bit. Either way you are on the cusp of some great advebtures, enjoy.

[tragusa3]

I towed 4.5k pounds f(15BH) for 6k miles last summer with the same truck. It was completely effortless, even climbing around in the Rockies. The power was there to jump out in the passing lanes if I had chosen (I didn't). The truck led to us upgrading trailers over this winter. I'm now towing 5.5k dry, 7.5k loaded. The truck does downshift once in awhile now, but still feels very strong and well within comfort.

I did not use WDH with the old trailer. There was never a moment of sway. I do use it with the new trailer.

[SilverEscape]

SoundGuy wrote:
The Andersen No Sway Hitch would be another option but AFAIK it's not distributed here in Canada so you might have to source one from a US dealer.

We bought our Andersen hitch last summer in Alberta and there were several places that carried it. Andersen was very helpful giving me a list of places to call.

[bedpan]

Mobile right now so will look a bit closer when I get back. Dealer has me signed up for a Reese system, not sure on model. Is it worth the extra $400ish to get a equilizer? Eq seems a little quicker /easier to hookup. From what I can tell you have to disconnect Reese for backing up?

Thoughts? Will troll the forums when I can get a computer in front of me.

Thanks

Mike

[SoundGuy]

bedpan wrote:
As mentioned I don't think we even have an option to switch at this point. I will be calling the dealer this week to discuss.

That's unfortunate. As one who has done a lot of long distance travel camping and one who has always preferred shorter, lighter, and simpler over longer, heavier, and more complicated I fully understand your reasons for favouring a smaller trailer that's easy to tow and easy to park on pretty well any campsite. I'd also understand why for example you might want to stay away from slides for the potential issues they may introduce when you're 1000 miles from home but that said, considering your new TV, I'd recommend you step back and take another look at this if you can. As an example, you'd be doing yourselves a huge favour by at least considering a model with a queen walk around bed so you're not climbing over each other just to get out of bed. That will also in almost all cases net you a large passthrough storage compartment below the bed ... believe it, on any long distance trip you're going to need as much storage as you can get, both inside and outside the trailer. Since you apparently need bunk beds that in most cases is going to step you into a trailer well over 25' so if you're really stuck on staying as absolutely short as you can in a bunk bed model then another alternative is the rear glide variation, one example being the Jayco Jay Feather X213 which offers not only two generously sized bunk beds but also a rear "king" bed which allows you to sleep feet in and therefore not have to climb over your partner to get out of bed.

As far as weight distribution is concerned I've already offered my opinion that with pretty well any full height trailer there's every reason in the world to take advantage of the benefits and very little reason not to. However, from your earlier description it sounds to me like the dealer has stuck you with a basic round bar "hockey stick" chain style of Reese WD which should arguably be augmented with a separate friction sway bar. Frankly, if we've managed to convince you it's worth reassessing the size / type of trailer you're buying I'd like to also convince you it's worth stepping up to a better weight distribution system that includes sway control as a function of it's design and does not require the use of a separate friction sway bar. Examples would be the Equal-i-zer or Blue Ox Sway Pro, both of which are widely distributed here in Canada and available through most dealers. The Andersen No Sway Hitch would be another option but AFAIK it's not distributed here in Canada so you might have to source one from a US dealer.

These are all just suggestions and obviously you have to do what you have to do but considering you're about to make a sizable investment in this sport and considering the capabilities of your new TV I'd be seriously reassessing the situation. Good luck with it! :B

[bedpan]

As mentioned I don't think we even have an option to switch at this point. I will be calling the dealer this week to discuss. The 19BH would be nice but they show no stock right now.

The 18BH we are getting is single propane, single battery. We will be close to the rated 500lbs tongue weight once fully loaded..

Sounds like enough people advocate to get the WDH/sway that I will grab it. It was never a matter of trying to be cheap, it was bought originally because I knew we had to have it. Just did not want to waste the cash if it was not needed.

Thanks guys..

Mike

[Need-A-Vacation]

Depending on price difference, the 19BH is 1' wider, with 300lbs more payload. The 18BH with 835lbs of payload will go very quickly. Though you will have the truck bed for camp chairs, cooler(s), grill, etc....

Is there 1 or 2 propane tanks? The dry hitch weight is without a battery or propane, so that will push the tw (tongue weight) close to 500lbs even before you load anything else in the trailer. Due to this I would keep the wd hitch, even if you scale at 480lbs tw (a rough example) it will help maintain steering control as mentioned compared to no wd hitch.

Congrats on the new truck & trailer!!!

[SoundGuy]

bedpan wrote:
I knew we were pushing the Sorento close to limits.

"Close" to the limits? With a family of four in the vehicle that would be an understatement. And you expected to go out west with this combination, towing across the windy plains and fighting major upgrades in the Rockies?! :@

I have spoken to a few who have towed with it and they felt it did ok.

Of course, you see all sorts of these "it did OK" folks here in our Ontario provincial parks every summer ... doesn't change the fact that your Sorento isn't / wasn't suitable for the task you have in mind. However, this is all moot now that you've upgraded to an F150 Eco.

Our itinerary was for driving 4 - 6 hours a day for our big trip with many pitstops.

With kids I can believe "many pitstops" as I've been there ... I'm just wondering how the heck you plan to go all the way out to the west coast AND back again to The Big Smoke in just a month when you intend to drive just 4 - 6 hrs a day. :@ Heck, Thunder Bay is 1400 km, nearly 900 miles from here if you take the Cdn route, which I wouldn't recommend anyway since that same distance through the US would get you 2/3 rds of the way to the Front Range in Colorado with a LOT more interesting things to see a long the way ... done that too, many times.

Truth be told it may be the case with the WDH hitch. It has already been paid for. My hope if I don't need it was to exchange it for hoses, cables etc.

Well others can disagree as much as they want but no matter the size of this trailer I wouldn't be towing it without the benefits of a weight distribution system.

Good luck with it ... and enjoy your trip, as rushed as I'm sure it's going to be. 😉

[Terryallan]

The deciding factor will be the tongue weight. for a WDH to be effective, there had to be weight to distribute, no weight no need. So if your TT tongue weight is enough to UNLOAD the front axle of the TV. You need a WDH to return weight, and so steering control to the steering axle, and the driver.

However. IF the tongue weight is NOT enough to unload the Front / steering axle. You will not need a WDH.