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Old 01-20-2016, 03:44 PM   #1
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Do I need stabilizer and anti-sway hitch?

Hi All,
I'm looking to buy my first travel trailer soon and have been told a few different things about the need for a hitch with built in stabilizer and anti-sway.
I have a 2011 Chevy suburban 1500(1/2ton) with a basic tow/haul mode option built in. I am looking to buy a small-ish trailer maxing out at about 22' in total length, 4500lb gvwr, and 400lb tongue weight.

Based on others experience with this sized trailer, do you all think that I can get away with a standard "weight carrying" hitch, or do think I should be looking at a weight distributing hitch that has the stabilizers? Also, I assume you need a weight distributing hitch to mount anti-sway, but what are your thoughts on the need for that as well?

Thank you,
Don
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Old 01-20-2016, 03:52 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by don m View Post
Hi All,
I'm looking to buy my first travel trailer soon and have been told a few different things about the need for a hitch with built in stabilizer and anti-sway.
I have a 2011 Chevy suburban 1500(1/2ton) with a basic tow/haul mode option built in. I am looking to buy a small-ish trailer maxing out at about 22' in total length, 4500lb gvwr, and 400lb tongue weight.

Based on others experience with this sized trailer, do you all think that I can get away with a standard "weight carrying" hitch, or do think I should be looking at a weight distributing hitch that has the stabilizers? Also, I assume you need a weight distributing hitch to mount anti-sway, but what are your thoughts on the need for that as well?

Thank you,
Don
Hi Don,

I would suggest you look to getting a weight distributing hitch (WHD) with sway control.

There are many options out there, such as Equal-i-zer and Reese Dual Cam, both very good hitches.

Hope this helps.
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Old 01-20-2016, 04:03 PM   #3
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Hi Don,

I would suggest you look to getting a weight distributing hitch (WHD) with sway control.

There are many options out there, such as Equal-i-zer and Reese Dual Cam, both very good hitches.


Hope this helps.
+1. Get a WDH with sway control. No brainer.
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Old 01-20-2016, 04:12 PM   #4
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Thank you for the recommendation.
--Don
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Old 01-20-2016, 05:04 PM   #5
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Thank you for the recommendation.
--Don
Better safe than sorry.

You might like this.

https://youtu.be/INyiMA3hfto
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Old 01-20-2016, 05:51 PM   #6
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WOW! That led me to a few other vids like it. I get it now.

Thanks.
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Old 01-20-2016, 06:33 PM   #7
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Blue Ox makes a nice WDH with sway control.
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Old 01-20-2016, 07:26 PM   #8
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snip..... Also, I assume you need a weight distributing hitch to mount anti-sway, but what are your thoughts on the need for that as well?.......snip
Don,

You don't need a WDH in order to mount a manual friction control sway bar, they make various style mounting plates that are held in place by the hitch ball and standard ball mount. But yes, a sway control device should be utilized even when a WDH isn't required.

IMO even if your OEM receiver is rated such that it will support your "loaded" tongue weight in "weight carrying" mode, a properly sized/adjusted WDH will enhance one's TV handling characteristics, especially in less then ideal towing conditions.

Bob
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Old 01-20-2016, 07:38 PM   #9
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WOW! That led me to a few other vids like it. I get it now.

Thanks.
You may also want to consider a tire pressure monitoring system. A blow out on your trailer or truck can be just as dangerous and lead to similar results.

A TPMS has saved more than one persons bacon on this site.
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Old 01-21-2016, 09:04 AM   #10
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You love your family? Then a WDH/SC makes sense...
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Old 01-21-2016, 09:30 AM   #11
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Like has been said, this is a no brainer. Do it right with a WDH and sway. All the brands pretty much accomplish the same thing especially in a smaller trailer set up. You don't need the biggest or the best, just a good one you can find at a decent price.
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Old 01-21-2016, 06:58 PM   #12
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If you refer to your manual it will tell you the trailer and tongue weights above which you must use a WDH. That being said, the need to sway control depends on the trailer. I have a car hauler which I only use a simple WDH on with no sway control. Never had a problem.

On the otherhand, I have towed cargo trailers around the same weight, but they are taller and act like a sail in the wind. I would never even leave the parking lot without both weight distribution AND sway control for these trailers.

Most travel trailers, fit the latter case, no matter how light they are they present a sway risk. You should definitely get a decent WDH with sway control, I use the Blue Ox one because it is easy to setup and adjust. With that in mind, there is no system which will eliminate sway...do not exceed the speed limit and take into account driving conditions, especially wind. When in doubt, slow down!

Quote:
Originally Posted by don m View Post
Hi All,
I'm looking to buy my first travel trailer soon and have been told a few different things about the need for a hitch with built in stabilizer and anti-sway.
I have a 2011 Chevy suburban 1500(1/2ton) with a basic tow/haul mode option built in. I am looking to buy a small-ish trailer maxing out at about 22' in total length, 4500lb gvwr, and 400lb tongue weight.

Based on others experience with this sized trailer, do you all think that I can get away with a standard "weight carrying" hitch, or do think I should be looking at a weight distributing hitch that has the stabilizers? Also, I assume you need a weight distributing hitch to mount anti-sway, but what are your thoughts on the need for that as well?

Thank you,
Don
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Old 01-21-2016, 07:11 PM   #13
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As Bassdogs says by all means get a WDH with a sway control. Doesn't have to be fancy or expensive. I use a simple Huskey hitch with sway control. Works just fine and I am #6800 loaded with close to #1000 on the tongue.
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Old 01-21-2016, 08:40 PM   #14
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We have a Honda Ridgeline 4500 lbs. Bought a new 195 RB Expect to be carrying 3200 lbs in the trailer. Dry weight on the hitch 260 lbs.

Got the sway controller command ( prep and unit). Do we need a WDH? The dealer said no.

Our TT is a single axle unit.
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Old 01-21-2016, 09:27 PM   #15
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We have a Honda Ridgeline 4500 lbs. Bought a new 195 RB Expect to be carrying 3200 lbs in the trailer. Dry weight on the hitch 260 lbs.

Got the sway controller command ( prep and unit). Do we need a WDH? The dealer said no.

Our TT is a single axle unit.

You may be ok, you may not be ok. You'd need to check the wheel clearances before and after you hitch up. Measure how much space there is between the top of the wheel to the inside of the fender. If the clearance on the front wheels increases, it can lead to lack of steering control and braking, since weight is being taken off the front wheels.
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Old 01-21-2016, 09:50 PM   #16
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Maybe I worry to much but other than maybe a small pop up I would not pull any TT with out some kind of sway control.
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Old 01-22-2016, 06:50 AM   #17
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Do we need a WDH? The dealer said no.

Our TT is a single axle unit.
We used to pull a R-pod (similar in size to your 195RB) with an Xterra (similar to you Ridgeline) using an Equal-i-zer WDH and it made ALL the difference in the world. Not only did it provide for safer towing, but it made towing less stressful and a more relaxing driving experience. Get a WHD!
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Old 01-22-2016, 08:33 AM   #18
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I am looking to buy a small-ish trailer maxing out at about 22' in total length, 4500lb gvwr, and 400lb tongue weight.
Note that it's recommended that you have a min 10% and a max of 15% of the trailer weight on the tongue.

You don't mention the dry weight of the trailer, but lets say your loaded weight is 4000#. Your tongue weight should be 400# to 600#.

According to the manual:
https://www.chevrolet.com/content/da...2k11tahsub.pdf

A 1500 can handle a 600# tongue wt w/o a WDH (known as weight carrying) but you're better served and safer with a WDH which allows for a 1,100# tongue wt.

Also note that depending on the options, your 1500 could have a maximum towing of 5,100# to 9,600#. At GVWR, your trailer will be close if your truck is on the low end.

More importantly, you need to look at the cargo capacity and resulting Gross Combined Weight (GCWR) 11,000# - 16,000#.

Unless you're going to be by yourself, you're likely to be over on cargo capacity or GCWR before you hit the max towing. In fact, if your truck is on the low end, the 4,900# GVWR trailer may be too much.

Be sure to read the sticky posts in this forum to understand what your trucks limits really are.

Also see this:
http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f3...eet-17389.html
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Old 01-22-2016, 09:00 AM   #19
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Originally Posted by Kim Gass View Post
We have a Honda Ridgeline 4500 lbs. Bought a new 195 RB Expect to be carrying 3200 lbs in the trailer. Dry weight on the hitch 260 lbs.

Got the sway controller command ( prep and unit). Do we need a WDH? The dealer said no.

Our TT is a single axle unit.
I just looked at the Ridgeline manual. It specifically says to NOT use a WDH because "an improperly setup hitch can lead to loss of steering and braking control".

The manual also has a maximum tongue capacity chart. Unless you really load up the bed of the vehicle, you should be fine.
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Old 01-22-2016, 09:12 AM   #20
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I just looked at the Ridgeline manual. It specifically says to NOT use a WDH because "an improperly setup hitch can lead to loss of steering and braking control".

The manual also has a maximum tongue capacity chart. Unless you really load up the bed of the vehicle, you should be fine.
That's interesting to find in a manual. A properly setup hitch will lead to enhanced steering and braking control. It's almost like Honda is saying "Don't do it, because if it's done wrong, it could be bad". Isn't that true for just about anything?

Some vehicles may have engineering considerations that would disallow use of WDH (like a uni-body for example), but to recommend not using a safety feature because it "could be setup improperly" is beyond bizarre to me.
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