Weight distribution hitch for lifted truck

[Newbieatcamping]

I have a lifted 2003 Ford F-250-lifted 4inches on 35 inch tires.

Camer dry is roughly 7,500# went to the camp ground no issues. Without any sway control or weight hitch.

The issue isn’t with sagging out the truck. It barely squats with the weight but coming home it was windy and I didn’t even make it one exit before I decided to get off due to the camper sway.

Do I necessarily need a weight distribution hitch or would I be OK with just a sway control set up.

I may be trading this camper in for a 5th wheel within the next year or so.

So I’d hate to go all out if I can just get away with a sway control set up.

Thanks

[Newbieatcamping]

Hannibal wrote:
If it only gave you some sway with the strong winds, but towed fine otherwise, it's likely tongue weight and alignment are ok. The 35" tires with I assume aggressive tread probably contribute to the unstable condition in the wind. A 2003 F250 I think has a 500 lb dead weight, 1,000 lb WD rated receiver. A 7k lb trailer is going to likely have over 900 lbs of tongue weight. I would recommend a WDH to satisfy the weight rating of the receiver and sway control for the wind. My choice is the Equalizer 4-point. But they are noisy. I keep mine quiet with grease on the ball, at the sockets and a dab on the L brackets. With only a 4" lift and 35's, the standard shank "should" have enough drop. Just my humble experience.

Yes. I had no problems towing it otherwise. Like I said towing there with no winds it was fine. 68mph the whole way.

On the way home with winds I wasn’t comfortable on the highway.

My parents have a Ford Expedition with all the proper hitch equipment and once my father got home he called and told me he was surprised how windy it actually was and he noticed it towing his camper.

Do you have a link to that hitch? I want to get it set up properly wether we trade it in or not. Safety is #1.

The tires are cooper At3s not super aggressive but not a highway tire per say

[Hannibal]

If it only gave you some sway with the strong winds, but towed fine otherwise, it's likely tongue weight and alignment are ok. The 35" tires with I assume aggressive tread probably contribute to the unstable condition in the wind. A 2003 F250 I think has a 500 lb dead weight, 1,000 lb WD rated receiver. A 7k lb trailer is going to likely have over 900 lbs of tongue weight. I would recommend a WDH to satisfy the weight rating of the receiver and sway control for the wind. My choice is the Equalizer 4-point. But they are noisy. I keep mine quiet with grease on the ball, at the sockets and a dab on the L brackets. With only a 4" lift and 35's, the standard shank "should" have enough drop. Just my humble experience.

[kellem]

I have a Dodge Ram 2500 with 4" lift and 35's pulling 7500# trailer with 900 lbs of tounge weight, it does squat some.

Wondering if you have enough tounge weight to mitigate sway.

[Newbieatcamping]

Thanks for the reply’s so far. Didn’t think I’d get all this info.

Axles on the trailer are perfect.

It’s a suspension lift, no blocks, no hack stuff. It’s all done right.

With the camper hooked up to my truck the camper sits perfectly level. I don’t have a side pic showing the camper.

So a 7,500# camper shouldn’t experience any sway?

My steering box was getting a little worn out. There was excessive play left to right in the steering wheel but I’ve since replaced the box and it’s nice and tight now

[wanderingaimles]

IF,because you are carrying the trailer very nose high because of the lift on the truck, you have manufactured the problem yourself.
Tryto lower your hitch height to get the trailer level, with near equal weights on each axle.

[BenK]

First, check out your lift design/materials/construction/etc

Body lift or suspension lift ?

You might have too much play in the lift mechanical's, which allows for loosey-goosey steering control

And/or is the trailer level or nose high ?

Best controlling attribute in regards to trailer leveling is slightly nose down

Have you figured out if the 5th wheel will have enough clearance with a 4" lift ?

WD hitch system never hurts, IMHO

[blt2ski]

I would make sure your current setup the trailer is level to slightly nose down.
Do you have enough hitch wt, ie >10%, closer to 13-15% is better.
Also, if you can verify the side to side wt on the tires, that can also make sway an issue too, if one side is heavier than the other. Local state law is no more than 500 lbs difference side to side.
Also verify that the axels are not "V"d any any way.
If all the above are good, then a sway control is needed. Reality, one of these items is probably out of whack, hence the swaying in side winds. IMHO, If you need sway control, then you have a bad designed trailer.

Marty