New Member - Shamrock 23SS - needs advice

[wentout]

Finally moving up from FR 825D to Shamrock 23SS. Really will be nice to have more room and have it a whole lot easier to pack up for travel, and use for boondocking if necessary! Picking up and doing walk through tomorrow. Need 1 final bit of advice. TV is 2011-1500 Silverado. Have towed steel 2 horse Moritz stock trailer many, many miles (1600 to pick up mustang from prison adoption, plus lots of horse camping trips). Never used any WDH/sway. Have towed for many years (going back to when cars could tow horse trailers). I know towing the HTT will be different (length/load). Dealer told us no WDH/sway needed. Finally when I questioned them further, told us that Progress/Fastway E2 (2 pt sway) 1000/10000 would be “plenty”. From what I’m reading on forums and other internet info, “original” Progress Equalizer (4 pt sway) 1000/10000 for the 23SS is the “more popular” “recommended” way to go, and that E2 is just an “introductory hitch offering some sway control and economically priced”. Any and all input/suggestions/info welcome. Would really like to spend the extra $$ now rather than later. Didn’t know if this should be posted in this area or if I should have posted it in Shamrock/Roo area.

[MtnGuy]

With a listed tongue weight of 458 lbs., by the time you add propane tanks, and a battery to the tongue, plus gear in the camper, your tongue weight will probably be in the 600 lb. area. An Equalizer brand (manufactured by Progress) with 4 pt sway control would be a good fit, probably wtih 800 lb. spring bars. Spend extra $100 or so and get your setup good from the start.

I just don't know how all of these dealers tend to know so much about selling their trailers, but little about towing them......I sometimes wonder if they have actually towed a trailer before.

[Triguy]

I also wonder about the dealers who insist that no WDH is needed

Furthmore, most vehicle manufacturer's require that a WDH is needed for any trailer weighing more than 5,000lbs. Toyota does and I bet that Chevy does, too.

I think you'll be 5,000 plus on that trailer with a tongue of around 650-700 at least.

(My trailer and yours have nearly the same listed dry weight and mine came out of the factory weighing 330lbs more than the "dry" weight because of my options. When I load it, its weighs in the range of 5300-5400lbs with full propane, two batteries, some water, and our gear and supplies.)

You were right to question them further. Here's the skinny. I will admit that I am not very partial as I have had two Equal-i-zer 4-point on two trailers and I recommend that you stick with that one.

Your understanding of the E2 is dead-on. Economical but can also be good for those set-ups where a less robust system is all you need. Regardless, its not for you. 4-point sway control is worth it.

Besides, the $170 price difference isn't that great. The Equal-i-zer 4-point can be bought delivered from RVW for $439 and the E2 is $269.

The Equal-i-zer comes in 400, 600, 1,000, and 1,200lb bars and the 1,000 lb bars are what you want. I'm not sure why they skip 800 but they insist that their bars are flexible enough so they recommend up-sizing on the bars.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by Triguy

The Equal-i-zer comes in 400, 600, 1,000, and 1,200lb bars and the 1,000 lb bars are what you want. I'm not sure why they skip 800 but they insist that their bars are flexible enough so they recommend up-sizing on the bars.

Oops, I did not realize that Equalizer did not make 800 lb. spring bars.....my bad.

The 600 lb. bars would probably be too lite, so the 1000 lb. bars should be spot on.

[bikendan]

nearly all 23SS owners that i know of, use a WDH with sway control. i have the 4-point Equalizer with my 23SS and love it. i know a lot of other 23SS owners that have it, too.

yes, the tongue weight will be easily be around 600-700lbs. i have the 1,000/10,000 model.
i personally believe the 4-point is worth the extra money. not sure what price you are seeing, but RVW has it for around $440 with free shipping.

[wentout]

Thanks to all for your responses. I got the 1000/10000 equal-i-zer 4 pt. Took it out for a ride on the turnpike and it towed great! I look forward to reading info on these forums - having only owned pop ups in the past, I have lots to learn about the full sized HTT.

[Triguy]

Good for you!

Feel free to adjust it as necessary, too. I have found that the setup typically needs to be adjusted once you have the trailer and your TV fully loaded.