Newbie TT Towing Sway Question

[MikeVB]

I have a 2017 GMC Sierra Denali 1500 Crew Cab with the Tow Package. It has the 6.2L V8 and the 5'8" box. The GVW is 7200lbs with a 9100lbs max trailering weight.

I am looking at getting the Jayco Jay Feather 26RL. It is 32 feet long. The trailer GVW is 7500lbs. The dry hitch weight is 690lbs.

Based on my research, the truck should have no problem hauling the rig. But, I don't know if I need to get a weight distributing / sway control hitch. And if I do, what I should get.

I have had a 36' motorhome, but this will be my first TT. Any advice would be welcome.

[tuffr2]

Typically 'yes' you should get a WD hitch. A WD hitch will by it's natural help some with sway. But more important put more weight back onto the front axle of your truck.

I had two trucks towing the same travel trailer. The truck with the shorter wheelbase (Honda Ridgeline) with a Drawtite WD hitch had terrible sway. I traded for a F-150 with a longer wheelbase and the same set-up I had zero sway.

I am only familiar with the Drawtite WD Hitch.

[RoadrunnerII]

We had a jayflight 22FB and then a 26rls
Used an equilizer brand with both trailers. Had to go up a size for the 26rls
Virtually no sway pulling with 2013 F150 Lariat 5.5 box super crew and 3.5l ecoboost

Just loaded trailer for camping Did the hitch setup on level ground
It road level and towed excellent.

We had a power tongue jack on both trailers
80*F day once with manual tongue jack was all the convincing I needed to buy electric tongue jack


RoadrunnerII

[bross]

What's your available payload from the door sticker? You will run out of payload before you ever get to the "rated" trailer weight. Typically you will use 12% of the GVWR of the trailer so a tongue weight of 900lbs. The "dry" hitch weight means nothing as it probably didn't include propane tanks or battery etc., nor any of "your" stuff. Once you weigh the trailer you can figure out your actual tongue weight.

Take your payload, subtract the above tongue weight, plus everything else that goes in the truck, people, gear, wood, etc. and see where you are at.

[mistercee]

Agree that a good quality WDH (Equal-i-Zer, Blue Ox) is necessary. You are towing (IMO) definitely as long a TT as you would ever want to be pulling with a 1/2 ton truck. The trailer weight is do-able, provided you have enough payload capacity in the truck.

As for the WDH, your stated 'hitch weight' is 690 lbs. You will need to buy a hitch with spring arms suitable to carry this hitch weight. However, that 690 lbs is measured with a totally empty trailer - not even batteries or propane. Your trailer's tongue weight will not be 690 lbs when loaded up. Figure more along the lines of 900-950 lbs (13% of trailer GVWR) for hitch weight and purchase a properly sized WDH based on that weight....one with 1000 lb bars would be my recommendation.

This for example: https://www.amazon.com/Equal-i-zer-P.../dp/B004TR8F5C

[reubenray]

I am just starting to research a travel travel after having a 41' DP. What determines if a sway bar is needed or not? Also these things look like a hand or finger pincher and hard to install.

[bross]

Originally Posted by reubenray

I am just starting to research a travel travel after having a 41' DP. What determines if a sway bar is needed or not? Also these things look like a hand or finger pincher and hard to install.

The size of TT's you guys are looking at would make a sway bar necessary. They are all pretty simple to operate and have never heard of anyone pinching a finger. I have a cheaper tension bar system with chains, once you determine the proper link to use, you simply place that link on the bracket hook and use the supplied snipe or cheater bar to close the bracket, many times I can just use my hand to close the bracket if the trailer jack is still supporting the trailer.

Those equalizer ones you just lift up on the bar and place it on the bracket, then you insert the "pin" to keep the bar from sliding off. Lots of youtube vids for whichever system you plan to get.

[Dave Pelletier]

Yes you need a wd hitch, but I'd suggest you do some more checking on capabilities. Weigh your truck and check the payload. Use 12-15% gvwr for the tongue weight; dry weights are useless. ...even if those numbers are still in the black, there are issues with length, windage and frontal area. I wouldn't be happy with that combo.

[Dave Pelletier]

Originally Posted by bross

What's your available payload from the door sticker? You will run out of payload before you ever get to the "rated" trailer weight. Typically you will use 12% of the GVWR of the trailer so a tongue weight of 900lbs. The "dry" hitch weight means nothing as it probably didn't include propane tanks or battery etc., nor any of "your" stuff. Once you weigh the trailer you can figure out your actual tongue weight.

Take your payload, subtract the above tongue weight, plus everything else that goes in the truck, people, gear, wood, etc. and see where you are at.

Yep; my advertised dry tongue weight is 720lbs, actual loaded weight is 1,180.

[NevadaNick]

You dont need sway control if loaded properly, you will need a weight distributing hitch and many have sway control in the design of them which is a bonus.

[MikeVB]

The max payload for the truck is 1700lbs. The TT GVW is 7500 and using 12% to get the tongue weight of 900lbs, I think I should be okay.

I had read that short tow vehicle wheelbases were also a concern. The Sierra WB is 143.5 inches. I sure hope I haven't bought too much trailer for this truck.

[tuffr2]

Here is a guide - my only relationship to this guide is I had a 122" wheelbase and had sway. I moved to bigger truck with 155" wheelbase and had zero sway. I saw this guide a few years later and thought that makes sense.

[reubenray]

Do these stay on the trailer once it is put on?

[reubenray]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

Here is a guide - my only relationship to this guide is I had a 122" wheelbase and had sway. I moved to bigger truck with 155" wheelbase and had zero sway. I saw this guide a few years later and thought that makes sense.

Attachment 384112

Was this with or without a sway bar?