Reduce Sway

Maury82 wrote:

busterbrown73 wrote:
I owned a 1/2 ton TV prior to my currrent 3/4 ton RAM. Pulled my 35 foot travel trailer the first season with white knuckles on the windy days. The 1/2 ton was mated to a $500 Blue Ox Sway Pro WDH. After a hair raising experience in 30 MPH crosswinds on a trip back home, it was either a new truck or new hitch. I choose the latter and invested in a Hensley Arrow. The hitch completely eliminated all sway in all conditions. It was a revolution for me.

Unfortunately, the achilles heel of any 1/2 ton vehicle is payload, and I ran out of it quickly. Since I was maxed out on payload with the added weight of the Hensley hitch, I decided to upgrade TVs to my current 3/4 ton RAM. The ride is stiffer but I reclaimed about 1400 more lbs of payload. I can now bring all the children toys. So it was another appropriate investment.

I did use the Blue Ox with the HD Ram to tow my same 35 foot trailer on a couple of trips. Believe it or not but the sway was back as I drove on the interstate. Not as bad as with the 1/2 ton truck but I had similar inputs into the steering wheel while traveling at highway speeds. My knuckles were hurting again. And yes, the trailer was loaded ideally with 15% TW.

I truly believe that Hensley and Propride are the only two hitches on the market that will eliminate all trailer sway with longer pull behind trailers. There is no guess work or requirements of loading the trailer perfectly. If the weights are appropriate, a Hensley will allow you to travel with a full fresh water tank or bicyles coupled to the trailer's rear receiver hitch without changing the dynamics of the ride. Traditional mid-grade WDH's with sway control are great with smaller and medium sized trailers. But as length approaches 32 feet or more, the mechanical design of friction won't stop the sail from sailing.

In summary, if you have the payload available for a premium Hensley or Propride, it's worth the investment over a TV trade up or all the other TV bandaid remedies.

Very good information in your post. I have the 1500 Blue Ox and I will give it a honest try when my 1/2 ton truck arrive, but if I'm not comfortable with sway, I will have no reservations in getting the HA to resolve the issue.

I'm considering selling the BO and getting a HA next year anyways, unless the BO tows exceptionally well.

I'm anticipating ~2,500lbs of payload with the HDPP XLT 4x4, EB, S.Crew with the 6.5ft bed, there aren't any wife and kids, and I can't imagine adding very much clothes and stuff for a two weeks trip with a girlfriend, or tailgating at homecoming, so there should be more than enough payload to spare for a more robust hitch.