Blue Ox Sway Pro Spring Bars

[redenbacher]

Without going into a lot of details, I have use a Blue Ox Sway Pro WD hitch with two sets of spring bars. My TV is a GMC Sierra 1500 with Max Trailering Pkg and my TT is a White Hawk 27DSRL. My one set of spring bars is rated for 1500 lb. and the others are rated for 750 lb. I find that 1500 lb. feel better when towing the trailer. My tongue weight is well below the 750 lb. My question to the experts is there a harm in using stiffer spring bars than those that were purchased specifically for the 27DSRL? Will I endure harm to the TV or TT using stiffer spring bars that what was set up by the dealer when I purchased it?

[SouthCo]

Curious to see what the answer is. I have a Blue Ox WDH with sway control too. I'm running the 1000lbs bars and it handles great with my setup.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by redenbacher

snip........My question to the experts is there a harm in using stiffer spring bars than those that were purchased specifically for the 27DSRL? Will I endure harm to the TV or TT using stiffer spring bars that what was set up by the dealer when I purchased it?

Depending on the weight 'delta' between the "actual loaded" tongue weight and the 1,500lb rated bar, one may incur a firmer towing experience..., but what's most important with any WDH (especially in "notably" over-rated WDH conditions) is proper WDH adjustment. The RV dealer adjusted your WDH under "unloaded" conditions, the WDH needs to be re-adjusted under loaded TV/TT conditions (especially important when using over-rated spring bars).

The only way to accurately confirm one's "loaded" tongue weight is to visit a CAT scale under loaded TV/TT conditions. The CAT results will also confirm that the WDH is adjusted properly as well.

The 2015 27DSRL has a published UVW of 5,435lbs, but the ship weight UVW's (yellow sticker) run in the range of 5,800lbs...., add 600lbs for TT cargo (no fluids), add 75lbs for dealer (battery, etc.), and your up to 6,475lbs. Recommended loaded tongue weight for the 27DSRL (31ft long) would be 13% to 15% (of TT loaded weight) = 841lbs to 971lbs.

Worst case scenario, loading the 27DSRL to it's GVWR of 7,500lbs, the recommended loaded tongue weight range would be 975lbs to 1,125lbs.

A 1,200lb rated WDH would have been ideal..., but the Blue Ox product in question only has a 1,000lb and 1,500lb rated spring bars in this weight class.

Originally Posted by redenbacher

snip....... My tongue weight is well below the 750 lb........snip

I assume you are referring to Jayco's published 27DSRL dry hitch weight is 510lbs., one's loaded tongue weight in most cases will increase, the amount of increase depends on our personal TT loading habits.

CAT scale how-to: http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3871

Based on the expected (900lbs plus) loaded tongue weight of the 27DSRL, IMO a 1,500lb rated WDH shouldn't harm the TV or TT when adjusted correctly, but a firmer towing experience may be noticed.

Bob

[David472]

I would add.....check the rating of your hitch receiver on the TV. It will need to be rated for 1500 lbs in WD mode. If less than this, it will be doing the flexing instead of your 1500 lb spring bars.

[redenbacher]

Great information. Thank you. I'll get it to the scales before it goes down for a long winter's nap. The higher rated bars create less bounce and sway IMO.

[gcloss]

In the past I've had a few different WD hitches, one with friction sway bar and a Reese Dual Cam.

Just picked up a new 2015 Eagle 284BHBE today and installed a brand new BlueOx Sway Pro. Dry weight is 7295 and GW is 9250. I went with the 1500# bars. While I've only driven about 35 miles, 28 were on the NYS Thruway, I had a few trucks pass me and my TT held the road very well.

The hitch was very quiet, not like my Dual Cam. The real test will come in the Spring with a 1000 mile trip to Nashville.

[jbnimble]

Originally Posted by redenbacher

Without going into a lot of details, I have use a Blue Ox Sway Pro WD hitch with two sets of spring bars. My TV is a GMC Sierra 1500 with Max Trailering Pkg and my TT is a White Hawk 27DSRL. My one set of spring bars is rated for 1500 lb. and the others are rated for 750 lb. I find that 1500 lb. feel better when towing the trailer. My tongue weight is well below the 750 lb. My question to the experts is there a harm in using stiffer spring bars than those that were purchased specifically for the 27DSRL? Will I endure harm to the TV or TT using stiffer spring bars that what was set up by the dealer when I purchased it?

I just picked up a White Hawk 27DSRL. I am using the Blue Ox Sway Pro w/ #750 spring bars. Just curious if fellow blue ox users went with the standard hitch head or the one designed for under slung couplers, which the WH has. I understand the standard hitch head may cause the spring bars to be close to ground, but the TT coupler height seems high enough (~28.5") when level. I run with approx. 6.5 chain links between spring bar and clamp. TV sags only .5 inch between rear and front wheel well. Any thoughts ?

[gcloss]

My Jayco Eagle has the under slung coupler, so I went with the Blue Ox designed for use with under slung couplers.

[oldmanAZ]

Originally Posted by jbnimble

I just picked up a White Hawk 27DSRL. I am using the Blue Ox Sway Pro w/ #750 spring bars. Just curious if fellow blue ox users went with the standard hitch head or the one designed for under slung couplers, which the WH has. I understand the standard hitch head may cause the spring bars to be close to ground, but the TT coupler height seems high enough (~28.5") when level. I run with approx. 6.5 chain links between spring bar and clamp. TV sags only .5 inch between rear and front wheel well. Any thoughts ?

My thoughts: Congratulations on your White Hawk and welcome to the forum!

There are probably Blue Ox owners in this site... but I am not one of them so really can't help with your question. Sorry.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by jbnimble

I just picked up a White Hawk 27DSRL. I am using the Blue Ox Sway Pro w/ #750 spring bars.....snip

Jbnimble,

Welcome to JOF

Just a heads up on the 27DSRL, you may want to consider at least a 1,000lb rated spring bar based on some JOF members posted comments on their loaded 27DSRL tongue weights.

The 2015 27DSRL has a published UVW of 5,435lbs, for actual shipped UVW add another 400lbs, plus cargo of 600lbs (conservative estimate, no fluids) = 6,435lbs

Note: The yellow sticker on the side of the TT will have the actual shipped UVW.

The 27DSRL is a 31ft long TT, so a 13% to 15% (of gross) loaded tongue weight range would be recommended. Based on the loaded TT weight of 6,435lbs = 836lbs to 965lbs (13% to 15%) would be the recommended loaded tongue weight range.

Just food for thought.

Bob

[jbnimble]

Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle

Jbnimble,

Welcome to JOF

Just a heads up on the 27DSRL, you may want to consider at least a 1,000lb rated spring bar based on some JOF members posted comments on their loaded 27DSRL tongue weights.

The 2015 27DSRL has a published UVW of 5,435lbs, for actual shipped UVW add another 400lbs, plus cargo of 600lbs (conservative estimate, no fluids) = 6,435lbs

Note: The yellow sticker on the side of the TT will have the actual shipped UVW.

The 27DSRL is a 31ft long TT, so a 13% to 15% (of gross) loaded tongue weight range would be recommended. Based on the loaded TT weight of 6,435lbs = 836lbs to 965lbs (13% to 15%) would be the recommended loaded tongue weight range.

Just food for thought.

Bob

I have the BXW4007 which have a tongue weight rating of 750 lbs - 1,000. The #750 is the minimum if exceed TW of 1000 then I need to move to a #1000 spring bar. I am not sure of what effects an under rated bar has. It seems to do the job of leveling the TV. The spring bars have 2~3" of deflection which is not excessive. I was questioning the under slung hitch head, who here may be using that