A little blue ox sway pro help..

[kmeleon]

Hi everyone, I really just want to check my math and get opinions on my setup for my car trailer. I've had it for about 2 years now and have towed it to local race tracks mostly (Pocono and NJMP), two 200 mile one way trips as well (Watkins Glen). On the last 200 mile trip we had some 15-20mph gusts and it wasn't the most pleasant experience so I decided to start reading and reading and......which led me to some of the older threads in this forum. I did notice that my bars were not flexing the 2-3" like others have had success with, mine were just barely bowing and the truck always felt bouncy in the rear. I also was told by the dealer to use 8 links when the trailer was empty, 9 links if the car is loaded.

Today I took the time to go over the way the dealer setup the hitch. It was wrong, imagine that. I started by leveling the trailer and measured the coupler height. I then measured my ball height and it was 3/4" lower than the coupler. I went up one hole on the Blue ox 7 hole hitch and then I was 3/4" higher than the coupler (close enough I figure). I then took some measurements on the wheel wells to the ground. Here's what they were in various states:

No trailer: Front: 36" Rear: 37-5/8"

Trailer (no WDH): Front: 36-3/4" Rear: 35-3/8"

Trailer (9 links): Front: 36-3/16" Rear: 36"

Trailer (10 links): Front: 36" Rear: 36-3/16"

Trailer (11 links): Front: 35-5/8" Rear: 36-5/16"

I then adjusted the rotating chain latches because the chains were not straight up and down like the manual says they should be. That's now fixed.

Next up I went to the CAT scale at the local truck stop, I used 10 links for the ride. I felt the bars could've had more flex but I wanted to see what that felt like. It was fairly windy today but the truck and trailer felt more like one unit now, working together a bit more. I did feel a little sway from 60-70mph but nothing terrible.

Put the truck on the scale in various states:

Truck only: Front:3260/Rear:2520/Trailer:0 = Gross:5780

Truck & trailer (no WDH) Front:2880/Rear:3860/Trailer:8000 =Gross 14740

Truck & trailer (9 links) Front:3160/Rear:3440/Trailer:8120

Truck & trailer (10 links) Front:3260/Rear:3320/Trailer:8160

Truck & trailer (11 links) Front:3320/Rear:3240/Trailer:8180

I then proceeded to take a drive on the interstate for a few miles. Left the truck on 11 links and it felt pretty good. Truck behaved nicely passing/being passed. Ran up to about 70mph and it felt better than it has previously. Again, the truck and trailer seem "together"....not harsh on the rear suspension like before over bumps. Only a trip to the track can really tell but I think I'm really close.

A little about the truck and trailer:

2021 GMC Sierra 1500 Elevation w/5.3L V8 & 10spd Auto
Towing ratings: Max tow capacity:9200 lbs, tongue weight max 930lbs
GVWR:7100, GCWR:15000, RGAWR 3800, Max payload:1763, truck is still on original P tires, going to LT's before next season.

2022 Carmate 8'x24' CarMate enclosed trailer. Trailer was loaded with my 2018 Camaro full tank and extra fuel jugs. It was loaded exactly how I would drive it to the track. I've upgraded the trailer to Hankook trailer tires and that's helped a bunch with ride quality.

Blue Ox Sway Pro WDH w/1500lb bars

My question is, looking at the #'s above would you run 10 or 11 links? 10 gets the front back to the exact measurement but the bars still don't have quite the flex in them that they should. 11 puts a bit more on the front but gets the bars flexing like I've seen other trucks on here have.

Other than that, any other comments? My tongue weight seems really close (just over 10%). Obviously I'm very close to max towing on this combo. The 10spd trans is awesome though and I never see any higher than 180F even on crazy hills, etc. The ridiculous 24gal fuel tank is the only thing that really bothers me. It's been a great truck for me so far. In a couple years I'll be trading the 21 in and then I will consider a 2500 if I'm still racing at that time.

Thanks for the help! Great info on this site!

Mark

[Wardo]

I'd run 10 links. 11 links is over adjusted. Go off the measurements and not what other people's hitches look like.

[kmeleon]

Thanks for the advice, I will continue testing 10 links.

[Bob K4TAX]

Originally Posted by kmeleon

Hi everyone, I really just want to check my math and get opinions on my setup for my car trailer. I've had it for about 2 years now and have towed it to local race tracks mostly (Pocono and NJMP), two 200 mile one way trips as well (Watkins Glen). On the last 200 mile trip we had some 15-20mph gusts and it wasn't the most pleasant experience so I decided to start reading and reading and......which led me to some of the older threads in this forum. I did notice that my bars were not flexing the 2-3" like others have had success with, mine were just barely bowing and the truck always felt bouncy in the rear. I also was told by the dealer to use 8 links when the trailer was empty, 9 links if the car is loaded.

Today I took the time to go over the way the dealer setup the hitch. It was wrong, imagine that. I started by leveling the trailer and measured the coupler height. I then measured my ball height and it was 3/4" lower than the coupler. I went up one hole on the Blue ox 7 hole hitch and then I was 3/4" higher than the coupler (close enough I figure). I then took some measurements on the wheel wells to the ground. Here's what they were in various states:

No trailer: Front: 36" Rear: 37-5/8"

Trailer (no WDH): Front: 36-3/4" Rear: 35-3/8"

Trailer (9 links): Front: 36-3/16" Rear: 36"

Trailer (10 links): Front: 36" Rear: 36-3/16"

Trailer (11 links): Front: 35-5/8" Rear: 36-5/16"

I then adjusted the rotating chain latches because the chains were not straight up and down like the manual says they should be. That's now fixed.

Next up I went to the CAT scale at the local truck stop, I used 10 links for the ride. I felt the bars could've had more flex but I wanted to see what that felt like. It was fairly windy today but the truck and trailer felt more like one unit now, working together a bit more. I did feel a little sway from 60-70mph but nothing terrible.

Put the truck on the scale in various states:

Truck only: Front:3260/Rear:2520/Trailer:0 = Gross:5780

Truck & trailer (no WDH) Front:2880/Rear:3860/Trailer:8000 =Gross 14740

Truck & trailer (9 links) Front:3160/Rear:3440/Trailer:8120

Truck & trailer (10 links) Front:3260/Rear:3320/Trailer:8160

Truck & trailer (11 links) Front:3320/Rear:3240/Trailer:8180

I then proceeded to take a drive on the interstate for a few miles. Left the truck on 11 links and it felt pretty good. Truck behaved nicely passing/being passed. Ran up to about 70mph and it felt better than it has previously. Again, the truck and trailer seem "together"....not harsh on the rear suspension like before over bumps. Only a trip to the track can really tell but I think I'm really close.

A little about the truck and trailer:

2021 GMC Sierra 1500 Elevation w/5.3L V8 & 10spd Auto
Towing ratings: Max tow capacity:9200 lbs, tongue weight max 930lbs
GVWR:7100, GCWR:15000, RGAWR 3800, Max payload:1763, truck is still on original P tires, going to LT's before next season.

2022 Carmate 8'x24' CarMate enclosed trailer. Trailer was loaded with my 2018 Camaro full tank and extra fuel jugs. It was loaded exactly how I would drive it to the track. I've upgraded the trailer to Hankook trailer tires and that's helped a bunch with ride quality.

Blue Ox Sway Pro WDH w/1500lb bars

My question is, looking at the #'s above would you run 10 or 11 links? 10 gets the front back to the exact measurement but the bars still don't have quite the flex in them that they should. 11 puts a bit more on the front but gets the bars flexing like I've seen other trucks on here have.

Other than that, any other comments? My tongue weight seems really close (just over 10%). Obviously I'm very close to max towing on this combo. The 10spd trans is awesome though and I never see any higher than 180F even on crazy hills, etc. The ridiculous 24gal fuel tank is the only thing that really bothers me. It's been a great truck for me so far. In a couple years I'll be trading the 21 in and then I will consider a 2500 if I'm still racing at that time.

Thanks for the help! Great info on this site!

Mark

This is what I use. You have the numbers, just plug them in.

Actual Weights - Travel Trailer/Bumper Pull Weights from CAT Scales - TowingPlanner

Bob

[camper_Lucy]

currently running the same hitch and here is what I have found.

from a weight distribution point 10 links gets me to a similar spot as you, level and enough load on the front wheels and it rides well. However on windy days or on highways with heavy truck traffic I have found that 11 links helps limit sway better. It seems to stiffen up the entire setup.

FYI, I decided to try the Blue OX 1500, since my Equal-i-zer was a 10K setup, but I do have to say the equal- i- zer was a much better anti-sway system.

[kmeleon]

Originally Posted by camper_Lucy

currently running the same hitch and here is what I have found.

from a weight distribution point 10 links gets me to a similar spot as you, level and enough load on the front wheels and it rides well. However on windy days or on highways with heavy truck traffic I have found that 11 links helps limit sway better. It seems to stiffen up the entire setup.

FYI, I decided to try the Blue OX 1500, since my Equal-i-zer was a 10K setup, but I do have to say the equal- i- zer was a much better anti-sway system.

Good info, thanks. I'm not against getting an Equal-i-zer if need be.