26BH Weight Distribution Hitch

Partyof5 · 05-26-2011, 09:16 AM

To all who have a 26BH out there,
What do you use on your TT for weight distribution? I was looking at the Equalizer and the Reese Dual cam. I noticed with the Reese, they have a trunnion type and a round bar type? Never bought one before, so I value the veteran's inputs on this.
Oh, My TV is a 2005 Chevy Silverado 1500 2WD 5.3L w/3.73 gears if that matters.
Thanks in advance,
Jay

rolling condo · 05-26-2011, 09:34 AM

I have never used an Equalizer, just the Reese Dual Cam. Some of the comments I have heard is that the Equalizer apparently prevents the sway before it starts and the Reese stops the sway once started. However, given how the Reese is, the bar has to slide up on the cam increasing the tension, so I would say it prevents it too.

Other differences between the Equalizer 4 Point Sway Control and Reese Dual-Cam is the Equalizer is a friction type sway control. A friction sway control stiffens the joint between the car and trailer, restricting movement away from center and movement back to center. This can be a problem if the rear axle of the car loses traction on a slick surface during a turn as the friction can lock the car and trailer into a perpetual turn.

The Reese, by contrast, opposes movement away from a straight line and enhances the return to a straight line, so it can be used in all conditions. When the car and trailer move away from center, the bars ride up on the cams, opposing the movement away from center and pushing the trailer back to the centerline. The Equalizer does not rely on the tension, so that's not a factor.

I use the DC pulling a 29fbs and in my opinion is one of the best/most cost effective ways to to add sway control.

eredinger · 05-26-2011, 10:05 AM

I am using the 10k Equalizer TDH with the sway control on my 26BH. It seems to work quite well. I have had it on the freeway with some good cross wind and it seem to do the job. We will be taking our first real trip this weekend so I'll let you know how it goes.

**Crabman** · 05-26-2011, 10:15 AM

I have the old style Reese Dual Cam, trunnion style. Does a good job. Both get good reviews.

Terry · 05-26-2011, 10:27 AM

I have just got the standard round bar setup and friction sway that was included when I purchased my 26BH. Have thought about upgrading to something better, but it has actually done quite well. I have never had a bit of sway.

OkieCamperFisherman · 05-26-2011, 12:45 PM

I bought the Equalizer WDH. It seems to do a good job. When I brought my new trailer home last week there were some serious winds. Drove 30 miles in a gusty 30mph crosswind and it did just fine. Most of my friends and family that have bumper pulls use it as well also.

nylyon · 05-26-2011, 02:58 PM

On my old TT I had the Dual Cam with the trunion style bars. The Dual Cam is most effective when there is a lot of force exerted by the spring bars. That said, the 26BH has a 595 lb dry tongue weight. I don't know much about the 1500 Silverado but I suspect that it won't need much tension on the spring bars to keep things even. Although I have never had the Equalizer, I would probably opt for that with the lighter tongue weights. Just my opinion worth exactly what was paid.

jpeake · 05-26-2011, 03:27 PM

Both are good. I was about to order the dual cam, but found a 1200# equallizer locally for $300 so I went that way. 50MPH gusts on the way home with our 28BHS last Sunday and it worked like a champ.

3Pillons · 05-26-2011, 04:57 PM

Love my Equalizer. It works like a champ plus you can back up without having to disengage anything. It is a little noisy when turning hard though, the noise reminds me that it's working.

Partyof5 · 05-26-2011, 05:18 PM

Bryan,
What do you have to disconnect to back up? Never heard that. But then again, I haven't heard a lot when it comes to TT's.
Jay

Partyof5 · 05-26-2011, 05:20 PM

Love to here how your first trip goes.
Thanks,
Jay

Terry · 05-26-2011, 06:29 PM

Jay - I think he is taking about the standard friction sway bar, which is what I have.

When you back up (and even if you make very sharp turns), you can actually bend the friction sway bar if you are not careful. I always remove mine when I arrive to check in and put it back on after I get out of my campsite. That is one of the nice things about the better quality hitches - you dont have to mess with that....

Denise · 05-26-2011, 06:49 PM

The one plus with the Equalizer, you can back with the bars in place. Rarely, but sometimes with a "pit stop" or gas stop while traveling longer distances, we may find ourselves having to back up for whatever reason. It's nice not to have to remember to disengage the bars

yddad45 · 05-26-2011, 09:05 PM

You know I am still shocked that no one seems to have any sway problems. You do not want a friction sway control .I towed a 29 ft TT for the last four years and it ate me up everytime I towed. I towed with a 1/2 ton 5.4L Ford F150 and a friction bar sway control but I never could get the sway out of my trailer. I finally last year upgraded to the husky center line 4 point sway control and a 3/4 ton F250 PS and the last time I towed my old TT the complete change did noticeablly stop most of the sway. But one issue might have been that it was a Keystone product and not a Jayco. I also have a long trip planned next week and I must admit with the new camper and proper tow vehicle I am actually looking forward to the drive. The main advice I would give to someone new to Towing a Camper DO NOT SKIMP ON THE HITCH. You can do without some options on a camper but buy a good Quality hitch.

usmc616 · 05-26-2011, 09:25 PM

I used to tow my 27BH with a friction type sway control. I towed it for 2 years , the first year my TV was a 1500 Suburban and the second year I towed it with my Excursion. Sway was a concern so when we upgraded the TT I did my research and got the Reese dual cam. Once it is set up properly and dialed in it makes for a great tow. We did a trip from NY to Disney last summer and being the only driver I did not arrive at the CG all beat up from the drive.

rolling condo · 05-26-2011, 09:40 PM

There is no problem backing up with a Dual-Cam sway control system. They work very differently than the old friction bars and will not bind like the friction bars.

yddad45 I have been towing a 29FBS with a F150 5.4L for the last 5 years and have no sway problems with the Dual Cams. Once in a while I feel the aerodynamics of speeding semis passing me. Again I prefer the Dual Cam system basically works to return everything "to center".

yddad45 · 05-26-2011, 10:02 PM

That's why I went with the husky center line, it also has the active sway control. I understand the Dual Cam has a good active sway control. I know it's tempting to try to save money on purchasing a less expensive hitch, don't.

ACA6151 · 05-27-2011, 04:23 AM

I just brought home my 26BH last Saturday and am heading out today for the first long weekend. I never used sway control before, and a friend GAVE me the friction style sway control bars. The dealer did install them, and I had no issues driving the 60 miles home. That being said, the staff member at the dealer told me that they are not his personal preference, and between him and I, he would not even bother with them, if I had no issues than so be it, but he felt I would need to upgrade to the (and I dont remember the name here)style that have "hydraulic pistons" on them....

Seann45 · 05-27-2011, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yddad45

You know I am still shocked that no one seems to have any sway problems. You do not want a friction sway control .I towed a 29 ft TT for the last four years and it ate me up everytime I towed. I towed with a 1/2 ton 5.4L Ford F150 and a friction bar sway control but I never could get the sway out of my trailer. I finally last year upgraded to the husky center line 4 point sway control and a 3/4 ton F250 PS and the last time I towed my old TT the complete change did noticeablly stop most of the sway. But one issue might have been that it was a Keystone product and not a Jayco. I also have a long trip planned next week and I must admit with the new camper and proper tow vehicle I am actually looking forward to the drive. The main advice I would give to someone new to Towing a Camper DO NOT SKIMP ON THE HITCH. You can do without some options on a camper but buy a good Quality hitch.

More tongue weight.. a lot of sway is caused by too much tail weight or not enough tongue weight. I always thought that my last TT was well behaved behind my tow vehicle.. then I got a HENSLEY ARROW almost given to me and what a difference..

Denise · 05-27-2011, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yddad45

You know I am still shocked that no one seems to have any sway problems. You do not want a friction sway control .I towed a 29 ft TT for the last four years and it ate me up everytime I towed. I towed with a 1/2 ton 5.4L Ford F150 and a friction bar sway control but I never could get the sway out of my trailer. .

We've never towed the 26bhs so can't comment on that. But like with your 29', we did have major sway problems with our new tt when dealer installed Huskey with one sway bar (learned from Huskey our length/weight tt should have had two bars). Dealer removed the Huskey and replaced it with the Equalizer 4 point sway system. What a difference.

The other thing we have been careful of from day one is how much tongue weight we had/have. It goes up when you start stuffing stuff into the cubbies/cabinets at the front of the tt.

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