JBarca wrote:
jlktbk wrote:Hey all, Was wondering what type of hitch and sway control everyone uses. I have a Reese with friction bar sway control and it can get kind of nerve racking on the interstate. Any Suggestions?
Hi Jlktbk
To your first question, I am currently using a 1,700# Reese HP WD hitch with the HP dual cam as the hitch. My TV has 156" WB, LT tires, 1 ton suspension. The TT is 32 feet long; TT weighs 9,175# with a 1,400# tongue fully loaded with water. TW is 15.2% of loaded TT GVW. The WD hitch has been optimized on setup and I'm real picky on tire pressure and inflate the TT to max cold side wall pressure, and have proper high inflation tire pressure while towing on the TV. This combination tows very well, is very stable with the way I tow.
This same style hitch, but 1,200# rated WD bars I have had on this same TT before it was fully loaded on a K2500 130" WB Suburban. As well as a 27, foot TT. The hitch is a good part of a stable towing rig but it in itself does not fix all towing problems.
To help you along, I'll type some that might help if you want to get rid of some of your problems.
Any of the hitches mentioned will not solve all towing problems. Even the high end Hensley and Pro Pride. And this is not a bashing on any hitch as the hitch is only a part of a towing solution. A number of things have to line up. Some folks are more fortunate and hit the ideal setup quick, others have to work at it. All can be optimized to the best the rig can be. And sometimes something has to be changed to get you what you feel comfortable with in the end.
I did look up your TT. If I have the model numbers right is this it?
2008 Rockwood 8296SS
It lists different weights then you have. You may have a special one or the on line literature is out of date. What I was looking for was the design weight of the TT when it left the factory. There is one good thing that factual dry weights do give you. It is how the TT is balanced from the get go before anything is ever added to it. Armed with that knowledge, the floor plan, where water tanks are located, some guides lines can be given on what to watch out for when loading the TT so you end up with a good tongue weight balance to Loaded TT GVW. Since the on line data is different then you posted, I can't draw any conclusions from this. Scaled weights are now needed.
There are many factors that affect a stable towing rig. And when using any brand friction type sway control, Yes the DC and Equal-I-zer are friction also just better ones, all other towing parameters must be optimized to give you the best your rig can be. The hitch will not fix all problems. The higher end hitches like the Hensley or Pro Pride can overcome a lot of TV and TT problems, but pending the TV may not solve every towing problem. Point, don't run out and buy any new hitch until you know what the problem is.
So this now comes to, well what is the problem?? We do not know, and you too may not know, enough about your towing setup to root cause a towing problem from what has been given so far.
A description of what nerve racking will help us. So what is it doing that does not seem right? Please describe.
If you want to drill down into helping optimize your setup it will take a little work but pay off for it in the end. If you do please help answer these extra questions so we can tell more what you have.
Tell us how you determined the WD was set correctly on the TV? You may not know or you may,. If you do please describe.
If the dealer set the hitch when you picked up the TT has any settings been done since then after loading the TT and TV ready to go camping?
Tell us what brand, load range tires and air pressure you run on the truck?
Tell us how the TT stance is when towing and WD is engaged with TV and TT fully loaded ready to camp. Is it nose high, low or level and by how much from level if it is up or down?
What air pressure do you run in the TT tires verses cold side wall pressure?
Axle’s weights have been mentioned, both on TT and TV and the loaded tongue weight of the TT. If you really want to figure this out, spending around $8.00 at a truck scale will give you real data to figure out what is going on. And from this we can help do a final hone in on towing setup. Trust me it is always an eye opening experience weighing camping “stuff”. It can trick you quick. Been there, weighed that and oh my gosh…
Basically you need to do a total towing health check to figure out what is OK and what needs to be optimized and maybe changed. Some get lucky, make 1 adjustment and are good. And like I said others have to drill down into all the details. What worked for them may not work for you unless everything is exactly the same in the TV and TT. What are the odds of that happening.
I will say this from the little we know, a 31 foot TT, on the suspension of the truck you have with a std friction sway bar means everything has to be perfect in setup and it may not cure all the normal towing evils that come at you. The friction sway bar has its place, however in my opinion a 31 feet TT is not the best use of it.
The Towing setup sticky on top of this forum is a great place to start and solves many folk’s setups. Try it.
Good luck and hope this helps.
John
John, I just came in from work,thanks for the info I will get some #s in the morning and maybe I can figure this out
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