Sway Bars

[Joeboom120]

Hello
I am a new owner of a 2007 Forest River Flagstaff 28’ Trailer. I’ll be pulling the trailer with my 1/2 ton Chevrolet pickup. Will I need sway bars? Where’s the best place to buy them?
Thanks for your advice!!
Joe

[Mandolin]

Absolutely. Try U-Haul or Camping World

[jimmarako]

With a 27' trailer absolutely. Big boxy trailers are tough to tow. You'll also need a Weight distributing hitch.

There are the bar based WDH;s that perform both. This is a link to eTrailer. Start looking here. Ask more question. Maybe a youtube video or two on WDH.

https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Wei...y_Control.aspx

Jim M.

[Joeboom120]

Thank you!

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Joeboom120

Hello

I am a new owner of a 2007 Forest River Flagstaff 28’ Trailer. I’ll be pulling the trailer with my 1/2 ton Chevrolet pickup. Will I need sway bars? Where’s the best place to buy them?

Thanks for your advice!!

Joe

You need more than just anti-sway bars. You'll need a WDH with either integrated sway control or friction anti-sway bars.

Sent from my SM-G781U using Forest River Forums mobile app

[Ken-m]

Just another overweight on the road .

[Aussieguy]

depending on what trailer and tow package on truck ... you may be within towing capacity of the truck

found some Flagstaff M-827FLS 27 foot that would be around 6000lb LOADED

dry weight of 4677
2015 Chevy Payload 1,700 -2,000 Towing cap 5,500 9,400

if only 2 people with minimal stuff loaded into the truck and trailer .... it is doable. (driver is calculated into the capacity)


tongue weight 600-900
passenger 200
cargo 100
gas 150
WD hitch 100
= 1,150 - 1,450

keep the speed down. a good WD hitch and sway control


Would look at upgrading springs and shocks on truck

I changed out my front disk brakes for Drilled & Slotted rotors
also all the ball joints and other suspension stuff were inspected and replaced where necessary




PS you need to have your setup checked and weighed to ensure it is within specification

[Joeboom120]

Thank you!

[NavyLCDR]

Originally Posted by Aussieguy

(driver is calculated into the capacity)

How could the manufacturer of the truck possibly know how much the driver is going to weigh?

[itat]

Originally Posted by Joeboom120

Hello
I am a new owner of a 2007 Forest River Flagstaff 28’ Trailer. I’ll be pulling the trailer with my 1/2 ton Chevrolet pickup. Will I need sway bars? Where’s the best place to buy them?
Thanks for your advice!!
Joe

First, welcome to the forum from just east of Toronto, Canada. And congrats on your new Flagstaff.

Can you let us know what the Flagstaff model number is so we get a sense of what its weight and length are? Also, your Chevy will have a “Tire and Loading” sticker inside the drivers door. That’ll say what your payload capacity is. When towing an RV, the payload (the amount of weight your truck can CARRY as opposed to the amount it can PULL) is usually the first spec to be exceeded.

Assuming it’s a travel trailer with a conventional hitch, you will need a weight distribution hitch (WDH) with sway control. Do not “cheap out” on this equipment. The WDH and trailer tires are critical safety items when towing a travel trailer. The WDH will transfer some weight off the rear axle and move it both forward to the front axle and rearward to the trailer’s axles.

I have a fifth wheel now but our previous camper was a 32’ long travel trailer. I used an Equal-i-zer brand 4 pt sway control weight distribution hitch. I found the best deal online at RV Wholesalers in Ohio and had it shipped up here. They are highly recommended. Note that the Equal-i-zer 4 pt. hitch will add 75-100 pounds of weight to the back of your pickup. Equal-i-zer also offers various sizes of shank - the part that goes into your receiver - so that you can better achieve a level trailer when towing. With a well-adjusted Equal-i-zer hitch you will feel much more comfortable with your towing experience. It took me 3 adjustments to dial it in just right.

Good luck!

[Joeboom120]

Great info. Thank you!
Flagstaff 827FLS

[Aussieguy]

Originally Posted by NavyLCDR

How could the manufacturer of the truck possibly know how much the driver is going to weigh?

hmmm
just did another read of the stuff I have...
You are correct... Driver is NOT included



You have to add some more weight into my previous calcs

[itat]

Originally Posted by Joeboom120

Great info. Thank you!
Flagstaff 827FLS

For the sake of discussion:
Length 28’ 10”
GVWR 7606#

[SailorSam20500]

Here is a recent U-tube of a guy who tested 6 different hitches on his truck/trailer combination. Same truck/trailer each time, so an apples to apples evaluation of the hitches.

Everyone's "best" hitch is different, it depends on YOUR perception of what features make something the best.
I've also noted that many people consider whatever they are using as the best possible hitch. If you search this and other RV related sites, you will find days of reading on "the best hitch".

YMMV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8eY-qbtuJU

[njfishing]

As mentioned above a good weight distribution hitch with sway control is practically a must towing anything over 5000 pounds with a 1/2 to truck, in fact most truck manufacturers require it so be sure to read your manual

I'm running this Weight Distribution Hitch towing my 8500 pound loaded trailer with a 2018 f150 Max tow and it does well.. I'm right at the edge of my payload and it did take some time to get it dialed in. https://www.amazon.com/CURT-17500-Tr...a-493598251858

A few things I like about this hitch are you don't have to disassemble the hitch head to add or remove washers to adjust the ball angle. If you go with a bar style hitch you'll find that the ball angle adjustments are very important since they dictate the amount of downward pressure on the bars which adjusts the amount of weight distribution as well as sway control. It also has cams in the hitch head with ball bearings that attempt to keep your trailer straight and reduce sway.

I've also had the Equalizer hitch on a different trailer and it worked well too. It does have washers which are a bit of a pain until you get the ball angle adjusted correctly and then you don't have to mess with them.

You'll want to make sure whatever you get to follow the instructions carefully to set it up correctly. I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS. If not adjusted correctly your trailer will likely wag all over the place making it unsafe to drive.

I've also found it helps the truck handle better if you air your truck tires up to the max cold pressure listed on the sidewall of your tire.

Good luck!

and air up your tow vehicle tires to their max cold air pressure which helps

[Grandude]

I am currently towing a 35" Rockwood Ultra Lite with a Camco Eaz Lift 1000 and a Shocker XR air hitch. I have travled to New Mexico. Michigan, Florida, and New York from Louisiana with this set up and never had problems. My tow vehicle is a 2005 GMC 2500.

[Ken-m]

Originally Posted by Grandude

I am currently towing a 35" Rockwood Ultra Lite with a Camco Eaz Lift 1000 and a Shocker XR air hitch. I have travled to New Mexico. Michigan, Florida, and New York from Louisiana with this set up and never had problems. My tow vehicle is a 2005 GMC 2500.

Will you also tell us when your trailer is upside down ?

[Grandude]

I sure will