Community Forums

Roader · 02-13-2021, 10:45 AM

Any input on weight distribution /anti sway hitche preferences and why would be appreciated.
Looking to buy a travel trailer with a dry weight of 5400 lbs and hitch weight of 504 lbs.
Will pull this trailer with a 2017 GMC 1500 w/o the advanced tow package.

Thanks

move on · 02-13-2021, 11:28 AM

Take a look at your owners' manual and the weight rating plates on your drivers door and hitch receiver. You may be able to get away with not needing a WD/sway control hitch.

scrapperjohn · 02-13-2021, 12:05 PM

We use the Andersen WD hitch. Works well for us.
F-150, 6,000 lb GVWR trailer.
Yes you need a WD hitch .

CharlesinGA · 02-13-2021, 04:08 PM

Dry weight and dry hitch weight mean NOTHING......... I repeat..... NOTHING. Ignore those numbers. Look at the GVWR of the trailer, in your case, probably 7000 to 7500 lbs, and then calculate 10%, 13% and 15% of that to arrive at probable tongue weights. Expect about 13% or 900 to 1000 lbs. Don't forget the hitch itself weighs a hundred pounds, give or take, depending on brand, and this will take away from the cargo capacity of the truck or SUV.

My current preference is a Blue Ox Sway Pro. Many will say Equalizer, but I don't like it, heavier, clunkier, a lot more work to set up, and more small pieces and work to use. A lot more noise also.

It may not seem like it, but you will be nearing the limits of the truck. It will work, just not as good as you might expect.

Charles

Unplanned Tourist · 02-13-2021, 04:26 PM

Yes, get a WD hitch. We have a freind that had his trailer and truck totaled because he didn't have one.

Here's a little reading for you.......

https://www.unbeatenrolling.com/best...0by%20Andersen.

steve52 · 02-15-2021, 09:41 AM

If you were towing that trailer with a one ton dually, you wouldn't need a WD hitch. But since you're using a half ton, you definitely need a WD hitch.

tuffr2 · 02-15-2021, 10:28 AM

I had good luck towing a loaded 5,500lb travel trailer with a F-150 and a Draw Tite WD Hitch. No sway and it greatly reduced bounciness. I pulled this trailer in the low 70 mph range. Around 72mph.

Sv Todd · 02-15-2021, 11:10 AM

Propride 3P if you want to completely eliminate all possibility of sway and cost isn't an issue.

However, that trailer is small enough that a standard WDH and friction sway system will likely be fine.

I towed a similar size trailer behind my 2015 1500 with a basic curt WDH with the add on friction sway bar, with no issues.

allenb12 · 02-15-2021, 04:18 PM

I have been very pleased with the Blue OX Sway Pro.

seaeagle2 · 02-15-2021, 06:56 PM

All I'm gonna say is, pretty much every hitch manufacturer compares themselves to equalizer.......

TXiceman · 02-15-2021, 07:14 PM

Forget dry weight. Use the trailers GVWR and 12% of that for the tongue weight.

Ken

Ray,IN · 02-15-2021, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuffr2

I had good luck towing a loaded 5,500lb travel trailer with a F-150 and a Draw Tite WD Hitch. No sway and it greatly reduced bounciness. I pulled this trailer in the low 70 mph range. Around 72mph.

On ST trailer tires designed for a top sustained speed of 65 MPH.

vroom_vroom · 02-15-2021, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

On ST trailer tires designed for a top sustained speed of 65 MPH.

Decent ones go well beyond, let alone lt tires. No one brought tires into this..........

Fwiw I had a husky ts and the trunnions ate up the hitch head making it worse than nothing. It wanted to freeze up and pull it to the side. Bought and equalizer after than and have had zero issues even in some big winds. (Not stupid but gusts in the 30s are doable)

Danattherock · 02-15-2021, 08:51 PM

I towed our 4500 lb 24' no boundaries TT for about five months without a WDH, was on the fence about getting one. Behind our tundra TRD pro, was a really easy towing package. A few mountain trips to the Smokies, few trips to Georgia, but mostly flat ground weekend trips to state parks here in NC and SC. But we had a lot of mountain driving planned, so I knew a good WDH would be worth looking into.

One day before a 22 day 5708 mile trip from NC to South Dakota and Colorado I installed ours, which I had bought previously. A Recurve R3 for about $300 on Amazon. Kept hearing good reviews from others, so eventually bought one. Initially didn't want it because camping world sells them. I had initially wanted an equalizer, but the pushy salesman at camping world told me all they sell are Recurve R3s, so I left.

But I was wrong, that was the best $300 I ever spent. It's quiet, works very well, and is easy to hook up, take off bars, etc. The ride quality was day and night, my previous comfortable speed was 64-65 mph, with WDH added can drive 72-75 and feel very good. Ideal flat highway driving, not in traffic, just trying to give you some ideas of the difference in how the TT feels behind the truck with vs without. Still drive 65 to be honest, but coming across Kansas on 70 we did cruise about 75. The traffic here in NC, and stopping requirements, keep me around 65.

We researched this subject for a long time, heard how loud certain models were, equalizer, etc. Heard about how some were aggravating backing up, bars had to be unhooked, etc. Seems there was a drawback with most the popular options. However reluctantly I bought the Recurve R3, it ended up being a great purchase. I also love the clearance of the bars being opposite orientation of many WDH bars.

Dan
NC