Weight Distribution hitch

chuckv0 · 03-19-2018, 11:09 AM

I just upgraded to a 30' travel trailer and looking for a weight distribution hitch and was told that if they have built in sway control you can back it up but if it is external you can not. I was wondering if this is true or not, and if anyone near central Missouri has one for sale I would be interested. Thanks

llr · 03-19-2018, 11:24 AM

with a larger trailer I would strongly suggest to stay with builtin sway control. I have the blue ox sway pro, you can back with it ant it is very quite and easy to setup

retired06 · 03-19-2018, 11:35 AM

I can back up with my equalizer, and there is one for sale in the classifieds here just across the river in st. louis . 10,000/ 1000 equalizer $250

**bikendan** · 03-19-2018, 01:40 PM

My 4pt Equal-i-zer can be backed up without removing anything.
retired06 has his for a great price.

Kaadk · 03-19-2018, 01:48 PM

With the friction bar type sway control (i.e. the not built in, external ones) you technically can back up, but the sway control is going to be fighting you turning if you're trying to back into a spot, and you can't turn as sharply either, so it's usually better to remove it. Just a matter of loosening them and pulling a couple of pins, takes less than a minute to pull both my bars off.

retired06 · 03-19-2018, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikendan

My 4pt Equal-i-zer can be backed up without removing anything.
retired06 has his for a great price.

I don't have them for sale, if you go to the classifieds on this forum, Margarita Chasers has them and you're right. great price.

thebrakeman · 03-23-2018, 11:15 AM

According to instructions, removing an "external" friction sway controller to back up is only recommended, if you are not sure of your turning limits. But it has nothing to do with the forces involved during normal operation. As long as the unit is sliding, the forces are the same, forward or revers.

The problem comes if you jack-knife the rig so far that you bottom out the bar in the main body/clamp. At that point, it's no longer sliding, and acts like a solid bar. Turning any further, and you will bend and/or break something on the hitch, the trailer, or the controller itself.

Solution is to have someone (1 time) watch while you are backing/turning. When the unit bottoms out, have your spotter yell "STOP". Then, you sight down your side-view mirror to a point on the side of the trailer. Now you know your limit. Do not let yourself get that far in the future.

Or, remove the unit when you get to the campground. For 7 seasons using a friction sway controller with our popup, I never needed to remove it until I had the camper positioned where it was going to stay.

Ejs4029 · 03-23-2018, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckv0

I just upgraded to a 30' travel trailer and looking for a weight distribution hitch and was told that if they have built in sway control you can back it up but if it is external you can not. I was wondering if this is true or not, and if anyone near central Missouri has one for sale I would be interested. Thanks

Check Out rvautoparts.com for Husky Centerline TS hitches not sure what your needs are but they have good pricing under $300 shipped which includes shank and hitchball.

Briyoung · 03-23-2018, 08:20 PM

We just brought home a 2018 Rockwood 8327SS, it's just shy of 36ft long and empty weight is 8640lbs and opted for a new hitch due to the larger size and weight than our old trailer, I just didn't trust my Reese hitch that was the chains and sway bar. I got the Equalizer rated for 12,000 I did notice it seemed to tow smoother and backing it into our driveway was a breeze and less monkeying around to hook up and unhook.

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