new with TT

[R/T pickup]

Just purchase a new Star Stream TT and my dealer told me that to back up I first have to disconect my torsion bars and sway bar, is that true or do you think is pulling my leg, before I had a small motorhome and a 5ver but never a TT. By asking dume questions I will learn.
Thanks for your help
Gilles

[R/T pickup]

Just purchase a new Star Stream TT and my dealer told me that to back up I first have to disconect my torsion bars and sway bar, is that true or do you think is pulling my leg, before I had a small motorhome and a 5ver but never a TT. By asking dume questions I will learn.
Thanks for your help
Gilles

[DavidMc]

I tow a travel-trailer with weight-distribution bars (but no sway control - getting the front axle weight right seems to eliminate the sway induced by passing trucks and side-winds).

I generally finish parking the trailer, including any backing-up, before disconnecting anything.

In certain circumstances where an irregular surface or mud, leaves, wet grass, etc on the surface may reduce traction -- then I will disconnect the torsion bars to put more weight back onto the drivers (rear axle of the pickup truck).

[Lee C]

R/T

I towed travel trailers for a long time. Like David said, I only disconnected the torsion bars a couple of times when I need more weight on the truck for traction.

I never used the friction sway bar but it is my understanding that they can be bent if you get into a really tight turn situation such as backing up. Maybe that is what the dealer was talking about.

I'm sure you'll get more opinions on this.

Happy camping!!

Lee

[george henry]

Listen to what your dealer said

[Rick A]

When I towed a travel trailer I had the Reese Dual Cam set up. I never disconnected the the bars when backing and parking the trailer. I was told by the dealer that you did not have to. If you have a friction sway control the yes you should disconnect that, but I see no reason to disconnect the torsion bars.

[Paul Heuvelhorst]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by R/T pickup:
...my dealer told me that to back up I first have to disconect my torsion bars and sway bar, is that true or do you think is pulling my leg... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Gilles,
I don't understand why the dealer would tell you that. I have over 10 years experience towing a TT with weight distribution hitches and a single sway bar (as compared to dual sway bars). I never disconnect either the sway bar or the torsion bars until I have the trailer backed into the space I want it, and leveled side-to-side (w/the help of DW). Only after I've done this do I disconnect to level the trailer front-to-back. If we are just stopping for the night (1-night stop) I level the trailer without disconnecting... the back of the truck may sit a little high, but the torsion bars and sway bar stay connected.

I have no difficulty backing the trailer exactly where I want it to go with everything connected. In one instance, I was pulling into an area with tall, rain-slicked grass (in Oregon, where else?) to back the trailer into a tight space. I couldn't get traction, so I reached down that turned on the electronic-activated 4-whl drive. That solved the traction problem.

Unless your dealer can explain to your satisfaction the reason he gave you that advice, I'd say ignore it and do what 98% of us do!

[450Donn]

Listen to what you are told here. Only thing I ever loosened was the friction sway control. Before backing I would stop and release the friction pad. This would prevent binding when backing.

[dixoncider]

The dealer told me almost the same thing disconnect the friction sway control before backing, well I forgot this week and it still ok, not bent or anything. I was told to disconnect the torsion bars if back over any big bumps or real uneven terrain.

[Randy the sly old fox]

I have never used sway control but as far as torsion bars are concerned, I usually do not un-hook them unless I am backing into a tight space. I feel that the TT responds faster without them. Everyone I know with friction type sway controls usually un hooks them when backing.

[WA4SLC]

I usualy do not disconect my Reese dual cam either. I did however have a u-bolt on one of the cams break while I was backing into our space at the iRV2 rally in Nashville TN in 2003. The spaces were very small and I had to do a lot of jockying around to place my TT on our spacs so that my slides did not encroach too much on the next space.

Bill

[RayK]

Always take off your anti-sway bar. It will break the ball. It only takes one time backing up. As far as the weight distribution bars, I leave mine on.

[Miles]

I guess you have enough response on this but will add when we had a TT we where told by the dealer to disconnect the friction anti sway bar before backing up.