Sway bar options - totally befuddled

[garyg]

We've sold our Class C Jayco and are making the jump to a travel trailer. Have a 3/4 ton Suburban to pull a 32-ft bunkhouse trailer.

I've never had to mess with a sway bar before. I get their importance, but I'm confused over options. The Equ-i-lizer seems to be a very popular option, and it's sold locally for $600 - $700. The people who are selling us the trailer have offered to sell us their sway bar set up - a Curt Trunnion Weight Distribution Trailer Hitch 17302 - for $300 (about the cost of a new one).

The price differential is huge, and both of them receive positive comments from respective users. So what's the difference? Obviously, my inclination is to go with the cheaper option, unless there's something vital that the Equ-i-lizer offers that the Curt doesn't.

Any ideas? Is one far superior to the other to warrant this big of a price difference?

[krobbe]

For my 3/4 ton Burb and 33ft TT, I use and like the 1,200/12,000lb. Equal-i-zer Sway Control Hitch. Using my power tongue jack, I've never had to use the pry bar to hitch up. I just lower the tongue to the ball and latch it, raise up with the power jack to take all the tension off, move the bars into place and pin, lower completely. Done. Easy peasy.

[stripit]

For the cost involved i would go with the system the owner of the trailer has been using. I'm sure he would take the time to show you how he has been operating and using this hitch. You always can switch it out for something better should the need arise.

[anaro]

I found these articles from e trailer.com very helpful when I was trying to understand wdh and sway control. while friction sway bars work very well with smaller trailers with a burb and a 32 ft tt i highly recommend you step up to a hutch with integrated sway control. The reese dual cam and the equal-i-zer are both considered very good hitches and yes they do come with a price but IMHO my family's safety was totally worth it. I have the Reese dual cam. It is a good hitch and functios well but is a royal PITA to get setup correctly to begin with.

Reese strait line is available here for a pretty competitive price.

[handye9]

LarryJM wrote:

handye9 wrote:
Besides the extra step of putting on the friction bar, you also need to take it off to back up.

Built in sway control is much less work, and, one less step to remembber.

INCORRECT INFORMATION on the need to remove when backing up.

Larry

I don't know that I would call it incorrect information when, many sway bar manufacturers recommend removal for backing up. Some, just say to loosen it, and, some don't say either way.

I had one (made by drawtite) that did not have the recommendation, it said "remove it". I forgot to remove (one time) and it ripped the ball mount out of the trailer tongue.

Here is another thread on the subject.

Do a google search, you'll find a lot more.

[LarryJM]

handye9 wrote:
Besides the extra step of putting on the friction bar, you also need to take it off to back up.

Built in sway control is much less work, and, one less step to remembber.

INCORRECT INFORMATION on the need to remove when backing up.

Larry

[handye9]

Besides the extra step of putting on the friction bar, you also need to take it off to back up.

Built in sway control is much less work, and, one less step to remembber.

[carmelo]

Gary,
The EQUAL I ZER hitch is far better than the common wt distribution hitch.
The former has built in SWAY CONTROL with NOTHING else to hookup and unhook EVERYTIME you use it.
A wt distribution hitch is just that and nothing more then you must ADD pieces of equipment to get sway control.

Just my experience and not conjecture.

Check them out for yourself.
CCC

[thetechie01]

I have thee Reese Dual Cam and love it. One step hookup, and dont have to adjust anything. Very effective of controlling the sway on my 31' (35' over all) 10,000lb trailer. I ordered it on Amazon for about $450, well worth the extra over what they are trying to sell that Curt to you for. I went with the 14k lb with 1400lb bars, nice and stiff and works awesome. My father in law is alway jealous at how quick I get hitched and go, not needing to worry about sway control. And I dont have to undo the sway bars before i back up or get in a tight turning situation.

[hddecker]

Had a dual cam, would never have another one.

Look at some of the newer technology that has been developed it sway control, like the Anderson and the Blue Ox.

If I didn't have a Hennsley, which is ridiculously expensive but very effective in controlling sway, I would seriously consider the Anderson.

Once you have your weight distribution figured out in the TT, you just hook the Anderson up and go.
No busting a gut lifting spring bars, if you do need to fine tune the Anderson it is done with a ratchet.

Another thing I like about the Anderson is no grinding and groaning from spring bars, it disturbes my sleep when I'm driving.;)

[LarryJM]

Stpierre142 wrote:
I have an equil-I-zer with my 28' TT and lke it very much...

X2 with our 32' TT.

Larry

[Stpierre142]

I have an equil-I-zer with my 28' TT and lke it very much...

[cmack]

I use the Equal-I-zer hitch. I felt it was easier to hook and unhook form the trailer. At the time I bought it RVW had the best pricing. Also, if you don't already have a power tongue jack installed get one. It's much easier and faster then hand cranking, not to mention your back and arm will be much happier 🙂

[gmw_photos]

Gary,
I see you are local to where I live also. I too chose the BlueOx swaypro, although mine is the older design. It works well for me. Among the things I like about it is they offer the weight bars in different weight ratings, so you can tailor it to your specific trailer. If you buy a lighter or heavier trailer another time, all you have to swap are the bars. Other manufacturers may have a similar feature, I don't know for sure.
I got my hitch (ordered thru) a RV repair shop over in Tonganoxie.

PM me if you have any questions. Have fun with the new camper.

george

[REDF350]

We use the basic weight distribution hitch with the friction type sway control and it works fine. Some folks prefer the other type. I think they both work ok.