Anti Sway/Load Leveling Hitch Question

[pnewman]

Hi all. We are very new to travel trailering. We just ordered a Rockwood Ultra Lite 2304DS and will be towing it with a Suburban 2500. The trailer GV weight is approx. 6500 lbs and the tongue weight is approx. 650 lbs. I need to install a load leveling/anti sway hitch but I am overwhelmed by the choices and types. I get different advice from every dealer. I would like to be able to back up and drive in the city without disconnecting the anti-sway and load leveling functions. Who wouldn't! I have been told that the only hitch that allows for this is the Blue Ox. They are quite expensive...about $900 installed at Camping World. The dealer where I am picking up the trailer only stocks EZ Lift leveling/anti sway hitches. They are less money. One dealer told me that given the relatively light weight of the trailer and the big tow vehicle, I don't need any leveling/anti sway hitch--just go with the ball and tongue. I do have electric brakes. So I am very confused. What should I do? Do I need to even get any anti-sway/load leveling hitch? If it is advisable, I will probably go with the Blue Ox for convenience, but they are expensive. Right now I can pick any brand/type of hitch. Once I spend the money to buy one, I don't want to be dissatisfied. I need some advice from those with far more experience than I have. Please help! Thanks.

[stoppercamper]

we have the same question! We will be towing with a Ford F150, the 2017 23ikss. so thank you for asking as we will be following along with the answers you get. Our camper gets here Dec 5th

[northstar1960]

Originally Posted by pnewman

Hi all. We are very new to travel trailering. We just ordered a Rockwood Ultra Lite 2304DS and will be towing it with a Suburban 2500. The trailer GV weight is approx. 6500 lbs and the tongue weight is approx. 650 lbs. I need to install a load leveling/anti sway hitch but I am overwhelmed by the choices and types. I get different advice from every dealer. I would like to be able to back up and drive in the city without disconnecting the anti-sway and load leveling functions. Who wouldn't! I have been told that the only hitch that allows for this is the Blue Ox. They are quite expensive...about $900 installed at Camping World. The dealer where I am picking up the trailer only stocks EZ Lift leveling/anti sway hitches. They are less money. One dealer told me that given the relatively light weight of the trailer and the big tow vehicle, I don't need any leveling/anti sway hitch--just go with the ball and tongue. I do have electric brakes. So I am very confused. What should I do? Do I need to even get any anti-sway/load leveling hitch? If it is advisable, I will probably go with the Blue Ox for convenience, but they are expensive. Right now I can pick any brand/type of hitch. Once I spend the money to buy one, I don't want to be dissatisfied. I need some advice from those with far more experience than I have. Please help! Thanks.

see what your door sticker says max cargo , then go with the andersen hitch . . sway is cause by badly loaded tt . not enough tongue weight . the andersen will not distribute as much weight to the front axles as some other wdh but will not make problems worse by taking to much weight off the tongue and putting it on the front axle and tt axles . it only way60lbs and much easier to set up then the standard greasy noisy wdh

[bikendan]

BS about the Blue Ox being the only one.

Most WDHs with integrated sway control can be backed up without disconnecting anything.
Many of us love the 4pt Equal-i-zer WDH, which has this ability.

RVW has them for around $450 and free shipping, for the most popular 1000/10000lbs model.
Pretty simple setup with plenty install videos out there. And Equal-i-zer customer support is great.

[Tcdoughboy]

Originally Posted by pnewman

Hi all. We are very new to travel trailering. We just ordered a Rockwood Ultra Lite 2304DS and will be towing it with a Suburban 2500. The trailer GV weight is approx. 6500 lbs and the tongue weight is approx. 650 lbs. I need to install a load leveling/anti sway hitch but I am overwhelmed by the choices and types. I get different advice from every dealer. I would like to be able to back up and drive in the city without disconnecting the anti-sway and load leveling functions. Who wouldn't! I have been told that the only hitch that allows for this is the Blue Ox. They are quite expensive...about $900 installed at Camping World. The dealer where I am picking up the trailer only stocks EZ Lift leveling/anti sway hitches. They are less money. One dealer told me that given the relatively light weight of the trailer and the big tow vehicle, I don't need any leveling/anti sway hitch--just go with the ball and tongue. I do have electric brakes. So I am very confused. What should I do? Do I need to even get any anti-sway/load leveling hitch? If it is advisable, I will probably go with the Blue Ox for convenience, but they are expensive. Right now I can pick any brand/type of hitch. Once I spend the money to buy one, I don't want to be dissatisfied. I need some advice from those with far more experience than I have. Please help! Thanks.

Having been a dealer for many years, I have found most people don't understand the need for a weight distribution hitch. For safety and control concerns, just about anybody above 4000 lbs should have one, unless your safety isn't that important. My favorite brand above all else is Equalizer brand. See this link to determine what size you'll need http://www.equalizerhitch.com/About%20Equal-i-zer/hitchsizes.php[/URL]

[Brewhedd]

Sway can be caused by low tongue weight. It is also the result of towing a heavy billboard down the road. I have a Rockwood 2702 SS (5600 lbs dry) that I tow with a 1500 Silverado. Without any sway control it is totally unmanageable. I have the Equalizer brand sway control/ weight distribution hitch that has eliminated most of the sway. You will more than likely always feel some sway as it is impossible to eliminate tire movement.

Equal-i-zer® Hitch - The “American Original� with 4-Point Sway Control™ and Weight Distribution

[northstar1960]

Originally Posted by Brewhedd

Sway can be caused by low tongue weight. It is also the result of towing a heavy billboard down the road. I have a Rockwood 2702 SS (5600 lbs dry) that I tow with a 1500 Silverado. Without any sway control it is totally unmanageable. I have the Equalizer brand sway control/ weight distribution hitch that has eliminated most of the sway. You will more than likely always feel some sway as it is impossible to eliminate tire movement.

Equal-i-zer® Hitch - The “American Original� with 4-Point Sway Control™ and Weight Distribution

Sway problems are 99% tongue weight issues . , getting pushed by the wind billboard is not sway , and can be helped with a wdh . but a wdh moving to much weight off the tongue , sway control or not will induce sway . tire movement is not sway and i don't see how anyone can confuse tire movement or the wind pushing you around as sway . some sway is to much tt for the tv and most try to compensate with a wdh and sometime , many times makes matters worse . a properly loaded tt with correct tongue weight will not sway

[lbrjet]

Your tongue weight will be around 750 lbs. I bought my Equalizer 4 point back in 2010 and have 26,500 miles on it. I like and trust my Equalizer, but the newer designed Blue Ox doesn't require as much maintenance as my hitch. Before each pull I check my link plates because they can loosen over time. I torque my L bracket nuts every 500 miles or so. Every 200-300 miles I loosen my socket bolts, clean off the old grease, apply new grease and torque to 55 ft lbs. It is still in great shape after a couple of hundred tows because I take good care of it. Have never worried about backing up with it and have been at some pretty severe angles. It was not that easy to install either since my ball required 450 ft lbs of torque and the hitch bolts required 320 ft lbs. A thin walled socket is also needed for the ball nut and you need to buy the Equalizer brand ball.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[pvillebly]

Love my Equalizer hitch!

[TravelinFam]

I've been meaning to do a write up for this as I currently have a 2012 F-150 Crew cab with E2 weight distribution hitch that pulls my 26' 4500 lb Jayco, and a 2014 F-150 Crew cab with Husky Centerline weight distribution hitch that's pulls my 35' 7500 lb Rockwood. I prefer the E2 for the following reasons:
Easier to attach bars, Easier to get bars off, quieter, black vs. gray, less pins. My wife has one truck at the moment, but maybe I can get a video of the first one started. Both good hitches though.

[uhduh camping]

Originally Posted by lbrjet

Your tongue weight will be around 750 lbs. I bought my Equalizer 4 point back in 2010 and have 26,500 miles on it. I like and trust my Equalizer, but the newer designed Blue Ox doesn't require as much maintenance as my hitch. Before each pull I check my link plates because they can loosen over time. I torque my L bracket nuts every 500 miles or so. Every 200-300 miles I loosen my socket bolts, clean off the old grease, apply new grease and torque to 55 ft lbs. It is still in great shape after a couple of hundred tows because I take good care of it. Have never worried about backing up with it and have been at some pretty severe angles. It was not that easy to install either since my ball required 450 ft lbs of torque and the hitch bolts required 320 ft lbs. A thin walled socket is also needed for the ball nut and you need to buy the Equalizer brand ball.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

Blue Ox also requires the ball to be torqued to 450 lbs. Don't let that stop you. Take it to a truck/heavy equipment repair shop. They can tighten it up for you.

I would order WDH thru local hitch dealer or online and install myself. Many people leave dealer unhappy about their setup and left to fix it themselves. If you don't have the tools you need, go get them. You should have them anyway to be sure everything is tight. Things sometimes loosen up and need to be checked. I would get everything you need tool wise except tools for hitch ball. They will be expensive, it would be cheaper to pay someone to tighten the ball.

The Blue Ox is fairly simple to install. Installing it yourself gives you a better understanding of how it works and what should be checked often.

Not endorsing Blue Ox. I understand Equalizer is very good maybe better. I just have a working knowledge of Blue Ox.

[Brewhedd]

Originally Posted by northstar1960

Sway problems are 99% tongue weight issues . , getting pushed by the wind billboard is not sway , and can be helped with a wdh . but a wdh moving to much weight off the tongue , sway control or not will induce sway . tire movement is not sway and i don't see how anyone can confuse tire movement or the wind pushing you around as sway . some sway is to much tt for the tv and most try to compensate with a wdh and sometime , many times makes matters worse . a properly loaded tt with correct tongue weight will not sway

Any side to side movement is sway. My Equalizer, which has to be set up properly (not a big deal), has made a huge difference. It controls side to side movement from wind also. Have to disagree with the 99% statement, although low tongue weight is a big problem. You can have plenty of tongue weight and still have a lot of sway. Towing a heavy trailer with solid high sides and the axles close together sets up a situation that almost guarantees sway. To the OP- check out Equalizer, it is both a weight distribution hitch and sway control. When set up properly it controls sway and allows you to tow your trailer level while doing so.

[Nurek]

According to Etrailer....

When Is Weight Distribution Needed? You would likely benefit from a weight distribution system if:

• Your trailer weight (GTW) is more than 50 percent of your vehicle's weight (GVWR)
• The rear of your tow vehicle sags when the trailer is hooked up
• You experience trailer sway
• Your tow vehicle's headlights point upward
• You find it difficult to steer or stop your rig
• You want to tow to the highest capacity allowed by your vehicle's trailer hitch

Note: To use a weight-distributing system, your trailer hitch must be rated for use with weight distribution. Check the weight rating label on your hitch to make sure that a weight-distributing capacity is listed. If no rating is listed, a weight distribution system cannot be used.


https://www.etrailer.com/faq-weightdistribution.aspx

[CaptnJohn]

4pt Equal-i-zer WDH, no un hooking anything backing. Very little maintenance required. No chains or junk hanging. Easy to hook up.

I no longer have a TT but keep a 4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 2 sets of bars in case a friend needs help ~~~ again.

[BGinVA]

Your situation (TT and TV) is similar to what I had a few years ago. I would definitely suggest a WDH with sway control and not go ball and tongue only. That's not a smart/safe choice in my opinion. I have successfully towed for over 10 years with a Reese Strait-Line Weight Distribution System w/Sway Control - Trunnion Bar (10,000 lbs GTW, 800 lbs TW). These are available from eTrailer for about $540. There are many other adequate WDH choices as well, but would suggest using one.

[Henboy]

X2 on the Andersen recommendation!

[jughrad]

This demonstrates the need for wight distribution. However, be sure not to exceed tongue weight of hitch and vehicle rear axle. It can often be a delicate balance. Sometimes you have to tolerate a little sway to avoid exceeding hitch weight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jk9H5AB4lM

[Tom48]

Originally Posted by pnewman

Hi all. We are very new to travel trailering. We just ordered a Rockwood Ultra Lite 2304DS and will be towing it with a Suburban 2500. The trailer GV weight is approx. 6500 lbs and the tongue weight is approx. 650 lbs. I need to install a load leveling/anti sway hitch but I am overwhelmed by the choices and types. I get different advice from every dealer. I would like to be able to back up and drive in the city without disconnecting the anti-sway and load leveling functions. Who wouldn't! I have been told that the only hitch that allows for this is the Blue Ox. They are quite expensive...about $900 installed at Camping World. The dealer where I am picking up the trailer only stocks EZ Lift leveling/anti sway hitches. They are less money. One dealer told me that given the relatively light weight of the trailer and the big tow vehicle, I don't need any leveling/anti sway hitch--just go with the ball and tongue. I do have electric brakes. So I am very confused. What should I do? Do I need to even get any anti-sway/load leveling hitch? If it is advisable, I will probably go with the Blue Ox for convenience, but they are expensive. Right now I can pick any brand/type of hitch. Once I spend the money to buy one, I don't want to be dissatisfied. I need some advice from those with far more experience than I have. Please help! Thanks.

Go to Etrailer.com. they carry a wide selection of weight distributing hitches. They also have detailed installation instructions and installation videos for most of the hitches on their website.

I like the good old tried-and-true easy lift Elite round bar hitch. That must be the oldest because there are a million copies of it out there and they are all almost identical

It is also generally the least expensive. Be sure when you order a hitch that you have included the price of the ball and shipping. I think the EZ lift packages and the knock-offs from etrailer come with free shipping and the ones I looked at had everything included in the Box. Now you have to remove the sway bar to back up any more than just a few feet straight and that can be a bit of a pain but we have towed from 6000 pounds to 10000 pounds without work and are very satisfied with it.

It comes down to personal preference, but I think hitches like the Blue Ox are overhyped and over expensive for anything but monstrous size Towing. I think the people who have the Blue Ox have to love what they have because they paid twice as much for it as other adequate hitches would have cost.

I agree with the other post that you have to look at the load capacity or cargo capacity of your tow vehicle. Just because they slap a big hitch on the back doesn't mean that the combined weight of tongue Parcels equipment and family can be adequately handled. I think Suburban stop selling a 2500, most probably because they had nowhere near the load capacity of a 2500 pickup and people were easily deceived. As my friend once told me, heck, I can carry anything around town locally with my little pickup truck but I wouldn't go out on the road with it because it's too small and too light for the job.

Choose wisely and enjoy. Happy camping.

[Less is More]

I'm a new owner, so let me tell you my experience. I purchased a mini lite 1905 in Indiana and towed it to Glenwood Springs, CO using a standard tow bar. I could tell when a tracker trailer was passing because I got a lot of sway. I also noticed that the front felt light by the way it steered. Researching combo WD/sway control hitches I chose the a Fastway model that does 400 to 800lbs tongue weight and bought it from etrailer. It got great reviews.

I have not taken it on a long trip so I can't comment on what happens when a truck passes, but it definitely shifted the weight forward leveling my e150 van.

I am a professional economist but figured that installing the hitch myself wouldn't be too difficult As it turns out, the ball needs 450 ftlb of torque and the shank bolts need 250. Both are on the draw bar and the instructions say a Fastway dealer will do them for a nominal charge. I got mine fairly tight but to get to those numbers you need a $950 torque wrench, not a $25 dollar Harbor Freight torque wrench. The trailer components were easy to install with my HF tools and a great learning experience.

[FrankG]

Well, I have a Blue Ox WDH with sway control and it preforms flawlessly. I am not ashamed that I paid a little more for what may be the better hitch on the market. Years past I had those rough cast hitches and bars that squeaked with every turn and literally ground themselves to failure. Not going there again. Not saying there are not good hitches out there, just amazed at those that put down a product they have never used or owned.