Moving from a F150 - F350

[Battery]

I have a 2011 Jayco 29BHS. I used a Weight Distribution hitch of course. Will I still need it when my F350 diesel gets here?

Thanks

[Majja13]

Try both ways. IF you WDH is also sway control just set it up with no WD factors, just sway.

[oughtsix]

My trailer came with a weight distribution hitch when I bought it used. I use the WDH on long hauls when I am going somewhere. I usually don't hassle with the WDH for around town when I am just dumping the tanks or something. Even though my numbers say a WDH is not needed I figure it doesn't hurt and it does flatten out the truck a bit.

If I were you I would keep the WDH and use it.

[RoyJ]

Tlauden wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
Why is it that typically only TTs have sway bar attachments?
I don't see them on big deckover and cargo trailers. Never have used a wdh or sway bars in 25 years of pulling many different bigger trailers with a pickup but never have pulled a TT.
Never have had sway issues even when overloaded if the weight was distributed properly on the trailer.
Is it due to TTs being designed with improper weight distribution on the trailer chassis?

I've wondered the same thing, bigger heavier trailers pulling big equipment and all they use is the ball... The only difference I could see is on a flatbed trailer you can balance the load so your tounge weight is wishing the vehicles specs. It's probably possible to balance a TT but would take a lot more planning.

A major cause of sway is aerodynamic forces from a passing large vehicle. TTs are the worst due to their tall side profile, and relative low weight for their given profile. A tall toyhauler is probably the worst.

An equipment flatdeck hauling say, a 9000 lbs bobcat is the opposite. Very small side profile to induce the sway, and heavy concentrated point mass to resist sway.

[Winnebago_Bob]

I'd still use the WDH with sway control.

A few bucks for peace of mind.

[ACZL]

Wasn't sure how I'd reply to this post, but some other replies summed it up pretty good.

With my old '03 F250 SD, CC,4x4, SB 6.uh-oh, she towed the 5er in sig w/o so much as a hiccup. Same truck towing a 4 place V-nose enclosed snowmobile trailer (steel frame) and 4' shorter overall combo length, the trailer let the truck know it was behind it. No sway bars or WD hitch, just a 2-5/16" ball.

Now that I have a '15 F350 in sig, I haven't towed the 5er yet, however towing a 4 place V-nose alum frame snowmobile trailer w/5 sleds in it(old one's frame went south due to salt) and new trailer is 2 feet longer, not a problem at all and it utilizes a 2" ball and no sway bars or WD hitches.

Is it due to stiffer susp in the 350 VS the older 250? Dunno. But personally, I'd use some kind of sway bars or WD hitches on a TT. Why take the chance? Not to be a smarty here, but when you see RV's involved in wrecks, which type are they the most? TT's. Many factors may come into play as to why, but if you have 30-50 grand wrapped up in a truck, what's another few hundred bucks for piece of mind? More folks for many reason if able to do so opt for a 5er just for ease of towing and security it offer when towing.

[Tlauden]

Grit dog wrote:
Why is it that typically only TTs have sway bar attachments?
I don't see them on big deckover and cargo trailers. Never have used a wdh or sway bars in 25 years of pulling many different bigger trailers with a pickup but never have pulled a TT.
Never have had sway issues even when overloaded if the weight was distributed properly on the trailer.
Is it due to TTs being designed with improper weight distribution on the trailer chassis?

I've wondered the same thing, bigger heavier trailers pulling big equipment and all they use is the ball... The only difference I could see is on a flatbed trailer you can balance the load so your tounge weight is wishing the vehicles specs. It's probably possible to balance a TT but would take a lot more planning.

[Battery]

Thanks everyone

[brooks379]

I bought a new 30 foot TT last year and have a 2014 F350 6.7 thought I would pull the TT home and then take a little trip with it to see if I needed a WD hitch. After putting on about 5,000 miles and weighing everything out I see I don't need one with my set up. Truck steers great, you can cruise one handed all day long , semi's pass ....not a problem and in Kansas the wind blows as hard as anywhere at times. The 2002 F350 I once owned would be all over the highway when pulling a TT but this 2014 F350 is smooth as glass pulling a TT. If I thought I needed one I would buy one but I don't know what it would be doing......

[Grit_dog]

Why is it that typically only TTs have sway bar attachments?
I don't see them on big deckover and cargo trailers. Never have used a wdh or sway bars in 25 years of pulling many different bigger trailers with a pickup but never have pulled a TT.
Never have had sway issues even when overloaded if the weight was distributed properly on the trailer.
Is it due to TTs being designed with improper weight distribution on the trailer chassis?

[Tystevens]

If the numbers match up, you may not need it. But I know my 3/4 ton diesel towed a bit smoother w/ the WD attached (Equalizer 4-way). A little less bouncing and stuff like that.

[skyhammer]

stevewise wrote:
With the F350 you should not need a WDH or sway bars the F350 towing package uses the trailer brakes for sway control. I have towed a 10,000lb TT and a 5er with mine with no problems.

According to the Ford manual and my experience, the tow package does not use the trailers brakes to reduce sway, it uses the trucks brakes and or reduces engine power.
Your vehicle may be equipped with trailer sway control. When properly
equipped, trailer sway control will use the vehicle’s AdvanceTrac with
RSC system to detect and help reduce trailer sway by applying brake
force at individual wheels and, if necessary, by reducing engine power.
WARNING: Trailer sway control does not prevent a trailer from
swaying, it mitigates the sway from increasing once it has
occurred. If you are experiencing trailer sway it is likely that the trailer
is improperly loaded for the correct tongue weight or the speed of the
vehicle and trailer is too high. Pull the vehicle-trailer over to a safe
location to check the trailer weight distribution and tongue load and
reduce speed to a safe level while towing. If trailer sway is
experienced, SLOW DOWN.
During trailer sway control events the stability control light in the
instrument cluster will flash momentarily. The message center will also
display TRAILER SWAY REDUCE SPEED. In some cases when trailer
sway is detected, the vehicle speed is too high and may be above a
speed at which trailer sway will not grow continuously. This may cause
the system to activate multiple times, causing a gradual reduction in
speed.

[stevewise]

With the F350 you should not need a WDH or sway bars the F350 towing package uses the trailer brakes for sway control. I have towed a 10,000lb TT and a 5er with mine with no problems.

[DakotaDad]

How about for anti-sway, something many WDHs provide?

We're now towing the TT in my sig. Fully lloaded, we're using a little less than half the available 3166lb payload of our Ram 2500. I probably don't need WD, but I've been using my Equalizer anyway for the anti-sway function, as a precaution. It's 32'9", which is a big sail in a crosswind. Sound idea, or wasting my back?

[fitznj]

Probably not; I went from a Chevy 1500 to a 3500 and no longer use the WDH.
The 3500 has stiffer/stronger springs to cope with the extra expected payload
which means that the hitch can take a higher tongue weight without the back
sagging.
G