Sway control

[Kittyfeet]

Buying an International Serenity 23FB, pulling with 2013 Ford F-150. Want to purchase the Equalizer distribution/sway hitch. There have been two sizes recommended by two different people. Anyone using a like setup and if so, what do you recommend?

[TinkersToy]

I tow an Airstream 22Sport with a Tundra. Started with a Reese Propride sway control and equalization ball hitch that the dealer installed but switched to a Hensley Cub hitch and would not go back to a ball hitch. In my opinion the Hensley eliminated sway and provides an extremely smooth tow compared to a ball hitch.

[Mrjkq]

Strongly recommend the 1000 pound bars, the 800 will also do the job. For a 23 ft Airstream it's a small overkill but you'll have less concern about tongue weight & truck bed loading behind the rear axel. Tha heavier bars will cause a small amount more addition stress on your trailer, that's the trade off. I love that hitch & its ease of operation!

[Bruce B]

Buy the Hensley Cub!

[interstateflyer]

The 1000 pound bars work perfectly on my 2014 23D and 2013 RAM 1500. 6,000 miles and never an issue with handling. The 23FB has less tongue weight than the 23D. 800 pound bars may work fine. I can't imagine any system working better than the Equailzer with a half ton truck and the 23D/FB.

I've just switched to a 2016 RAM 2500 with rear air load leveling. I should have the 500 mile differential break-in done this week. I anticipate using the same 1000 pound bars. The autoload leveling system on a heavier truck is new territory so we'll see.

[dkottum]

I didn't like our Equal-I-Zer because of the lack of flexibility of the bars, too rough for the Airstream. Hitches with tapered bars have more flexibility.

Enough bar size depends on the trailer hitch weight and also if you carry weight in the truck bed behind the truck's rear axle, add both weights. Keep the stinger length short as possible, the ball as near to the truck as possible. Longer length requires more bar tension; it also gives any sway condition more leverage towards the steering axle of the truck.

We got tired of our truck being pushed by semi's passing and heavy gusting sidewinds and bought a Hensley/ProPride style hitch. Wished we had spent our money on it in the first place.

[Rich W]

You can go to the Equalizer site and use their calculation tool to find the size you need.
Hitch Sizes

We bought our AS and the PO gave us the hitch he inherited from his PO. It's the 10K hitch and it's fairly easy to set up, Equalizer provides a lot of detailed information. We tow a 23' with a 2004 4Runner and the trailer is very stable, no worries.

[interstateflyer]

Originally Posted by dkottum

We got tired of our truck being pushed by semi's passing and heavy gusting sidewinds and bought a Hensley/ProPride style hitch. Wished we had spent our money on it in the first place.

Really? I'm surprised. We Spent a month last Fall on four major Western interstates and mountain passes with strong winds and big rigs and the only thing we ever felt was a little "push" by those SOB boxes favored by Euro tourists. The Equalizer is infinitely easier to hook-up and adjust than the Hensley/ProPride.

[aftermath]

Originally Posted by interstateflyer

Really? I'm surprised. We Spent a month last Fall on four major Western interstates and mountain passes with strong winds and big rigs and the only thing we ever felt was a little "push" by those SOB boxes favored by Euro tourists. The Equalizer is infinitely easier to hook-up and adjust than the Hensley/ProPride.

I agree with this post. I have towed my 25FB over 30K miles now with an Equalizer. Pulled it throughout the west, in the mountains, on the plains, in traffic and on lonely 2 lane highways. I have pulled it in torrential rains and very high winds and have never experienced sway or anything even closely related to it.

No doubt, the HA and PP hitches are very good but beware those who quickly trash hitches like the Reese and the Equalizer which have been around a long time and are used by lots of people, all with safety forefront in their minds and many with families. If you have the need to rationalize your expenditure, please continue to do so but leave out the part about how bad other hitches are. If you personally experienced problems with your prior hitch it was likely due to an improper set up. High horses can give you nosebleeds.

[Gsmblue]

Equal-I-zer with 1k bars has worked well for us. It is a good set up and will be great with your 23.

[dkottum]

Hensley/ProPride.

Not only is there no push from heavy gusting sidewinds, semi's, or SOB's but the Hensley/ProPride is extremely easy to hook up and adjust. To hook up (the hitch head remains on the trailer tongue), just back the stinger into the head and latch the over-center latches. To adjust, just turn the screw jacks to get the exact weight distribution for your loads that particular day. And in slippery conditions, there is no friction sway device to counter the trailer's return to center after going around a curve in the road. On good roads but side wind conditions, the trailer always remains in a straight line behind the truck, there is no "tow angle" from the side wind at the hitch connection.

They are very comfortable hitches to use and tow with. Expensive, but less so if bought in the first place.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by Kittyfeet

Buying an International Serenity 23FB, pulling with 2013 Ford F-150. Want to purchase the Equalizer distribution/sway hitch. There have been two sizes recommended by two different people. Anyone using a like setup and if so, what do you recommend?

Hi, my 25' trailer has a 6,300 lb. GVWR; That's about 300 lbs. more than your trailer. I use a 10,000 / 1,000 lb Equal-I-zer hitch with mine. I have had the hitch for 11 years. I used this hitch for 10 years with my 2000 Lincoln Navigator and now for a year with my 2014 F-150. My F-150 towed my trailer across the country, for 3 1/2 months, putting on over 13,000 miles in 2015.

In 11 years, I have not broken, worn out, or replaced any part of my hitch. **
**[new shank for F-150 because I modified the original shank for my Lincoln]

In 11 years, "Only once has my trailer swayed violently out of control; It was parked in my driveway during a 5.0 Earthquake."

[xrvr]

Originally Posted by interstateflyer

The 1000 pound bars work perfectly on my 2014 23D and 2013 RAM 1500. 6,000 miles and never an issue with handling. The 23FB has less tongue weight than the 23D. 800 pound bars may work fine. I can't imagine any system working better than the Equailzer with a half ton truck and the 23D/FB.

I've just switched to a 2016 RAM 2500 with rear air load leveling. I should have the 500 mile differential break-in done this week. I anticipate using the same 1000 pound bars. The autoload leveling system on a heavier truck is new territory so we'll see.

You may want to go with a lighter bar for the bigger truck.

[interstateflyer]

Originally Posted by avionstream

You may want to go with a lighter bar for the bigger truck.

Hadn't considered that. What is the reason?

[xrvr]

Some say it transfers less force to the trailer which gives a smoother ride and less popped rivets.

[AStreamNerds]

We are happy with our E2 - I also agree that there are always better options but our AS feels rock solid using this hitch. The only annoyance we had was with the creaking but there are inserts available from manufacturer that solve that problem too. I have attached two videos below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6VTGb-xl0k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QWoxuE5Ioo

[Kittyfeet]

First post and first time to use this site, still navigating to be sure i do it right, but want to thank everyone for your help. Maybe will cross paths sometime in the Airstream world.