Larryzv7
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Joined 19 years ago
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Re: Your Opinion On Air Bags
I had a shop a couple of years ago tell me that I could benefit from getting air bags, then recently I had some work done at Camping World and a person in the Service Department highly recommended air bags for towing, he was the one that told me they would improve gas mileage. Camping World does not install air bags so they recommended a couple of shops to me. The shops I called also told me air bags would improve handling and gas mileage when towing. I did not ask how they improve gas mileage. But all of the shops I called wanted between $1,500 and $2,100, depending on whether I wanted an onboard compressor or not. I imagine they are a lot cheaper if you buy and install them yourself. That is why I thought I’d ask for some input here on this forum. I did some research online and there are lots of websites that say air bags do help with fuel economy. Here are a couple of those websites: StrutMasters ATS2.3KViews0likes0CommentsYour Opinion On Air Bags
Do air bag suspension on the rear of trucks help with towing? I was told that they not only help with towing but can also help to save gas when towing? They are expensive so I am trying to find out the pros and cons before purchasing air bags for my truck. I now have a 2018 F-150 with Ecoboost and a full tow package, and a 2018 conventional trailer (Heartland Mallard). I also have a weight distribution hitch and two sway bars, but my truck is still sagging a little in the rear when connected to my trailer, and the trailer fish tails a little depending on how fast I drive. I am thinking maybe air bags can remedy this?8KViews0likes29CommentsGood Sam Service Plan Duration
When I purchased my RV from Camping World I was offered and accepted a 5-year (60-Month) Extended Service Plan,now that my service plan is about to expire I noticed online at Good Sam that there are only one year service plans being offered. Are service plans offered for more than 1-year or does that occur only when you buy a new RV? A multiple year service plan does not require renewing every year and the price is fixed for those multiple years, especially if you pay in advance as I did when I purchased my RV.874Views0likes1CommentRe: Friction Sway Bar
Old Guy, I did some online browsing and the equalizer 4 point sway hitch looks great. I like that it wraps around the A-frame and you do not have to drill any holes, etc. Amazon seems to have them for about $500 and from watching YouTube they seem easy enough to install. Guess I'll be selling my current weight distribution hitch and sway bar to offset buying an equalizer 4 point sway hitch. From one old guy to another, thanks for the advice.336Views0likes0CommentsFriction Sway Bar
What is your opinion on having two friction sway bars, one on each side of your weight distribution hitch? I talked to a Camping World repair person who had never heard of two friction sway bars on a trailer while towing. But when I chat with someone from etrailer they advised that any trailer over 25 ft. might need two sway bars. I already use a weight distribution hitch and one friction sway bar but I still have a little bit of sway when towing my 2018 32-ft. Heartland. I traded in my fifth wheel, which was very easy on towing and did not need a sway bar or a weight distribution hitch. But I’m thinking I want to put a second sway bar on my travel trailer. I understand that a number of factors can create sway, how your trailer is loaded, whether the distribution hitch is functioning properly, etc. I guess what I am asking is do any of you use two friction sway bars, and if so, does it work better than just having one? An additional question is how much do you tighten your friction sway bar? Camping World told me to tighten it as tight as possible while online instructions say leave some play in the friction plate. I know I have to disconnect the sway bar when backing up but I’m not sure how tight I should make it. Thanks in advance for your assistance.6.9KViews0likes23CommentsRe: Towing Speeds
Great discussion and thank you all for the various points of view. More than anything else what I am concerned about is road rage and impaired drivers; a study by the National Highway Safety Commission showed that States which have legalized marijuana are having more vehicle accidents than those that have not. The entire west coast of the U.S., California, Oregon, and Washington State, have all legalized marijuana for recreational use and I am concerned about what this may do to driving conditions which are already crazy on the interstate. Nevada just opened up a drive thru for purchasing marijuana; you drive up, stay in your vehicle and buy your product at the window, and then drive away. I am not really talking about marijuana; rather I am talking about more people on the road impaired when we already had a bunch of people getting a DUI for alcohol. All of us need to be extra careful out there regardless of the posted speed. Although I do not tow at 55-mph in California because I think, as others have stated, that slower speeds can cause accidents just as much as higher speeds. 60 to 65-mph seems safe to me on the interstate. But I am glad to read about the different opinions on trailer tires and speeds which many of you have posted here. Again, thanks for the discussion.:)593Views0likes0CommentsRe: Weight Distribution vs Sway Bars
I previously thought that maybe the fish-tailing was due to speed, as my trailer, which only has a ball and no WD hitch or Sway bar, only fish-tails when I drive over 50-mph, otherwise it is straight and does not fish-tail. I never considered the tongue weight, etc. In California the maximum speed when towing is 55-mph regardless if there is a higher speed posted for vehicles that are not towing. So I am thinking if I go into Nevada or some other State where people tow at 65-mph or higher speeds, I will need a weight distribution hitch, sway bar, or both. But I agree that I need to weigh my trailer and also determine the tongue weight. I am a full-time RV'er so this is important to me because my RV is my home and I camp 24/7/365. Thank you all for your advice; I will look for a weight distribution hitch that has sway control.2.6KViews0likes0CommentsWeight Distribution vs Sway Bars
I am told that some people have both a weight distribution hitch and a sway bar for their travel trailer; while others have told me that you only need one or the other. I just purchased a new trailer; GVWR 9k and it fish tails when I tow on the highway. What is your opinion on weight distribution hitches verses sway bars? I sold my 5th wheel and downsized to a 30 ft. travel trailer. With a 5th wheel trailer you do not need sway bars or weight distribution hitches, so this is all new to me. Thanks in advance for your input.:)13KViews0likes31Comments
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