ksd
Medina, MN
Senior Member
Joined: 10/22/2003
View Profile
|
See my sig. I tow a 2008 Salem LA 312QBBS (36 feet from hitch to bumper; 8,000 pounds dry) with a 2006 Suburban 2500. My hitch is a ProPride 3P (pivot point projection), which is essentially an improved Hensley. It is rock solid.
2008 Salem LA 312QBBS
2006 Suburban 2500 LT 8.1/4.10
Gear Vendors Under/Overdrive
BrakeSmart Controller
ProPride 3P hitch
|
troll3193
SouthWest, MI USA
Senior Member
Joined: 07/07/2004
View Profile
 Offline
|
jlktbk wrote:Great responses everyone, what kind of truck and trailer do you have?
I have a 3500 series mega cab and a dutchmen 31bhs which weighs about 9500 lbs... I think tongue weight has a lot to do with stability. I have been having issues this year with my friction sway popping off the ball mount... Think I need a new bar maybe... What is interesting, is that I do not notice it, till I see it...
Meaning I don't get much of any sway... I think a well balanced load (aka plenty of tongue weight) is key...
My $.02 worth,
Bryan
2006 RAM 3500 MegaCab w/Cummins Turbo Diesel
Mopar Exhaust Brake
2004 Dutchemen 31BK
|
crappie_fisherman
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Senior Member
Joined: 08/09/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Now there you go Karl calling the ProPride an improvement over the Hensley! do you realize what this will now turn into!!!  (jk btw)
To the OP,
I agree with terryallan...something is not right with your setup. Please follow the link that steve (swebber) linked to...this sticky will help you walk thru the PROPER setup procedure for your WD hitch. Sounds like you have a balance issue or WD not set up properly. When all is said and done...you should be shooting for 10-15% of the LOADED trailer weight to appear as tongue weight and once you have the TT balanced that way you can then get the WD set up properly to ensure that you are transfering sufficient weight BACK to the FRONT axle. Also you must insure that your TT is LEVEL when hitched or if that can't be accomplished...slight nose DOWN is next best.
And from a sway control standpoint...if you have flat WD bars...or 'crooked' WD bars...you could add a Dual Cam (DC) sway control setup for under $200 and have far superior sway control over that friction bar...but the FIRST thing to do is get the TT towing straight withOUT any sway control devices...
Good luck,
joe.
DH, DW, 2 DD's
2005 Excursion V10 w/4.30's
- Hensley Arrow
- Prodigy
- Hellwig rear sway bar
- RoadMaster Suspension
- Front 2" hitch
- Bilsteins
2007 JayFlight 31BHDS (3 women & 2 slides...it helps!  )
Mini & the BEAST
.jpg)
|
jlktbk
Athens
New Member
Joined: 09/16/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
crappie_fisherman wrote:Now there you go Karl calling the ProPride an improvement over the Hensley! do you realize what this will now turn into!!! (jk btw)
To the OP,
I agree with terryallan...something is not right with your setup. Please follow the link that steve (swebber) linked to...this sticky will help you walk thru the PROPER setup procedure for your WD hitch. Sounds like you have a balance issue or WD not set up properly. When all is said and done...you should be shooting for 10-15% of the LOADED trailer weight to appear as tongue weight and once you have the TT balanced that way you can then get the WD set up properly to ensure that you are transfering sufficient weight BACK to the FRONT axle. Also you must insure that your TT is LEVEL when hitched or if that can't be accomplished...slight nose DOWN is next best.
And from a sway control standpoint...if you have flat WD bars...or 'crooked' WD bars...you could add a Dual Cam (DC) sway control setup for under $200 and have far superior sway control over that friction bar...but the FIRST thing to do is get the TT towing straight withOUT any sway control devices...
Good luck,
joe. Ok here is what I have a 08 Nissan Titan CC with 140 inch wheel base my trailer is 08 Rockwood signature ultra lite with GVWR of 7882 dry weight is 6250 and tongue weight is either 740 or 820! Truck is rated at 9400lbs!
|
crappie_fisherman
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Senior Member
Joined: 08/09/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
How did you get the tongue weight number...from a weighing exercise or literature?
Your TV should have ample wheelbase which further confuses me that you are having an issue...which really points to an imbalance in the TT or some other physical issue with the trailer (like misaligned axles)...
Actual scale data is important...is that what you have?
|
|
|
jlktbk
Athens
New Member
Joined: 09/16/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
crappie_fisherman wrote:How did you get the tongue weight number...from a weighing exercise or literature?
Your TV should have ample wheelbase which further confuses me that you are having an issue...which really points to an imbalance in the TT or some other physical issue with the trailer (like misaligned axles)...
Actual scale data is important...is that what you have? I took all of those #s from the Trailer and am no where near the Gvwr of 7882 I would say probably around 7000 loaded we have only had it 2 months and have made 2 trips so we don't have that much stuff in the camper it is just myself my wife and 2 dogs that's it one other point it is a front kitchen!!
|
crappie_fisherman
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Senior Member
Joined: 08/09/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Not for nothing...but my TT says I have a tongue weight of 785 on a DRY weight of 7395. After I loaded up my TT and went to the scales...I scaled the TT at 8900#'s with a tongue of over 1400#'s! 
So my point is brochures mean NOTHING...scales tell the real story.
Also do you haul with fresh tank full?...if so...where is it located?
My buddy has a Jayco Eagle 322FKS (front kitchen)...his fresh tank is CLEAR IN THE BACK. when he hauls fresh full...his handling is HORRIBLE!!! (that is somewhat expected)
So the point is...know your ACTUAL weights is the best advice. Once you know what you are really working with...you can dial in your setup better.
Joe.
|
jlktbk
Athens
New Member
Joined: 09/16/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
crappie_fisherman wrote:Not for nothing...but my TT says I have a tongue weight of 785 on a DRY weight of 7395. After I loaded up my TT and went to the scales...I scaled the TT at 8900#'s with a tongue of over 1400#'s!
So my point is brochures mean NOTHING...scales tell the real story.
Also do you haul with fresh tank full?...if so...where is it located?
My buddy has a Jayco Eagle 322FKS (front kitchen)...his fresh tank is CLEAR IN THE BACK. when he hauls fresh full...his handling is HORRIBLE!!! (that is somewhat expected)
So the point is...know your ACTUAL weights is the best advice. Once you know what you are really working with...you can dial in your setup better.
Joe. Ok I did not get these #s from a brochure They came from the camper with the options added the trailer scales out loaded at 7137 lbs with no fresh water, the camper is a rockwood signature ultralite 8296ss it 31' from bumper to tongue!
|
saltbayou
hammond,la.
Full Member
Joined: 05/30/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
Had friction control and changed to dual cam. Handles better now,friction controls sway after it starts DC handles it before it starts.
2007 Tundra DC 5.7L
Reese Dual Cam,Prodigy Brake Control 2008 Northshore 295 BS-DSL
|
LIKE2BUILD
Mt. Zion, IL
Senior Member
Joined: 09/30/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
jlktbk wrote:Hey all, Was wondering what type of hitch and sway control everyone uses.
I pull my 34' TT with an Eaz-Lift round bar 1K/10K hitch with Reese Dual Cam (original style). I don't get any sway but I do get the usual 18-wheeler push. Aside from that, everything works as advertised. Last fall I had to make a panic stop on wet pavement....and my TT brakes failed at the same time . The whole rig stayed in a straight line with a hint of getting crooked. I'd say the Dual Cam works very well for me. 
KJ
2002 Jayco Qwest 324G
2004 Chevy 2500HD CrewCab |6.0L|2X4|4.10:1
Curt MagnumV receiver
Eaz-Lift Hitch with Reese Dual Cam
1981 Seastar 18' Runabout
1996 Polaris SLT780 Waverunner
3 Wonderful Sons (9, 3, & 1 year)
1 forgiving wife!!!
|
|
|
