sway control for small trailer

[Cablet]

Hello,
I am about to purchase a Clipper 17BH. The dealer tells me that they will not sell a unit off the lot without sway control for the hitch. It seems to me that such a small unit being pulled by my F250 should not need a $350 sway bar. I've rented a 24' unit in the past that did not have one and I had no issues. Now the 17BH is something like 21'.

Any thoughts on the issue? I tend to think the dealer is just trying to make some extra cash off of me.

If the sway control will truly help then I don't mind at all spending the money. We'll also pull this unit with a new ford explorer with a tow package.

Thanks for any feedback.

[Happy Vibe]

camping world has this Pro Series Friction Sway Control for $40. Pro Series Friction Sway Control - Cequent 83660 - Sway Control - Camping World
Not sure why they want $350.

[OldCoot]

He is blowing smoke, I'd tell him "OK, see ya' around" and leave.

The sway control might be ok on your other TV, but I sure as He-- wouldn't pay that price. Make the jerk throw it in the deal if he wants to sell the unit.

[Kaadk]

Breaking this into two questions:

Do I need sway control? Probably. It's at least recommended for most towing unless you're already experienced with recovering from sway just by the trailer brakes.

Do I need to pay the dealer's $350? Hell no! As stated above a sway bar can be had for $40. Even if he's tacking on installation that shouldn't equate to $350. He's ripping you off.

[lswartz]

I don't need it for my TV & you have a little bit more truck than I do. I would do a test drive with out it 1st. Just be careful. I had an old farm truck (F150) & it needed sway control while my Tundra didn't. Maybe the Tundra was a bit heavier but it didn't make much sense to me. The F150 was a good truck. It was pretty good pulling wagons in the field for my dad too.

I do think that you will need it for the Explorer. I would test drive it as well but would be taking it at slower speeds (45 mph) before getting on an interstate & an18 wheeler blow by at 70 mph.

[Cablet]

Thanks for all of the responses. Some of the terminology is new to me. Here is a picture of what they want to sell me. They also want me to buy what I believe is called an easy lift. This is a light trailer and know I don't need that (if it's the powered lift I'm thinking of).




So it's a bit more than just the sway bar.
Thanks.

[lswartz]

Your picture is a weight distributing hitch. It lifts some of the weight from the hitch & rear wheels shifting more to the front wheels so your TV is balanced.

There are others on this forum who can explain this better than I can. This is just a short answer.

[Kaadk]

Ahh, well, that's different. That looks like a weight distributing hitch with built in sway control. It's primary purpose is to transfer some weight to the front of the vehicle, trying to keep it as level as it would be unloaded. It's secondary purpose is to help prevent sway.

The alternative is a separate WDH and Sway system. Kind of like this one:

Husky Round Bar Weight Distributing Hitch Package - Husky 30849 - Hitches & Hitch Bars - Camping World

Since you want to occasionally pull with an explorer, I recommend you get some kind of WDH. And since you'll be switching vehicles, you'll need to learn how to adjust the set up for both.

[OldCoot]

Yes, a whole different ball game. I would try to get a little discount and use in on the Explorer and maybe even the truck. It will have to be adjusted differently for both vehicles though.

[Cablet]

Ah, ok. They explained it to me as sway control. Thanks for the info. I guess the more I know going into the deal the better off I'll be.

-Cablet

[Emptypockets]

I notice you say your tow vehicle is a F250 if that is so a weight distribution w/sway control is overkill for such a small trailer. So my question is does the dealer know you have a 3/4 ton tow vehicle?

[Kaadk]

Originally Posted by Emptypockets

I notice you say your tow vehicle is a F250 if that is so a weight distribution w/sway control is overkill for such a small trailer. So my question is does the dealer know you have a 3/4 ton tow vehicle?

But he also wants to pull it with an explorer, which would need a WDH.

[ryand]

Just a observation...if they are pushing you to buy the Husky Centerline as indicated in your pictures the price is a steal. With that said, I had the Centerline and was not happy with it for a few reasons. Let me know if you want more info about my thoughts.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Cablet

Ah, ok. They explained it to me as sway control. Thanks for the info. I guess the more I know going into the deal the better off I'll be.

-Cablet

YES, you'll definitely need that WDH with sway control, if you plan on towing it with a unibody Exploder, which only has a towing capacity of 5000lbs. and 500lbs. hitch capacity IF it has the factory tow package.

[clutchd]

Find another dealer. Its like the one I was at that they had to inspect my truck and a pdi was 800. I laughed. You have plenty of truck

[bikendan]

everyone please read the OP"s last line:

"We'll also pull this unit with a new ford explorer with a tow package."

he'll need that WDH and sway control if he plans on using the newer downsized unibody Explorer to tow it.

sure, if he was only using the truck, the most he'd need would be a friction anti-sway bar.

[Happy Vibe]

I think this statement is what is confusing people as he was referring to the truck not the explorer " It seems to me that such a small unit being pulled by my F250 should not need a $350 sway bar" , but I 100% agree that the explorer would need the WDH.

[K4RGD]

Just bought a Clipper 17FQ back in April.

My wife called and negotiated that the hitch, swaybar, and brake control be included and installed on my truck for no additional cost. It can be done, if they want to sell the camper.

I was told that since the camper has a single axle and is "light" compared to others, the sway bar helps tremendously. The hitch makes the truck sit much better and drive much more securely.

I've not hauled mine without them both.


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[updhaul]

This picture appears to be the tell-tale l-brackets of the equalizer or clone type weight distributing antisway hitch. All in one. Not bad price if it's for either but for f-250 it might be more than needed and not easily shared with most explorers that could use it. Sounds good for explorer if it has wd capability.

[Scooter155]

Ok guys and gals....I have a 195BH that I pull with and Explorer XLT with mods to the suv for proper towing. I'm still experiencing some sway on the interstate so I am investing in a WDH and a sway bar system. The guy that normally does all my "hitch work" on all my vehicles has quoted me $400 out the door for WDH sway bar and install of the sway bars. Does this sound about right on price?