Equalizer Hitches & Sway Control for a 28' AS

redeagle313 · 02-13-2005, 09:39 AM

We are considering the purchase of a 28' International CCD. We will probably tow it with an '05 GMC 2500HD Crewcab Duramax/Allison 4x4.

Anyone with a 28' Airstream that can share what towing equipment they use?
Hitch? with equalizers? Sway control needed with an AS? Brake controller?

Soarhead · 02-13-2005, 10:07 AM

I tow a 28' SO Safari (probably heavier than your Int.) with a '04 6l Diesel 4x4 Excursion. Between those two vehicles lies an E-qual-izer hitch setup.

The 28' tows better with the E hitch than the 21' Sovereign did with a Reese and friction sway control.

The controller is a Prodigy. I'm very pleased with it's performance.

Car, trailer, and hitch; I'd go the same way again if need be.

Naturally YMMV.

Hope this helps.

redeagle313 · 02-13-2005, 12:24 PM

are you using the OEM hitch receiver from Ford?

Soarhead · 02-13-2005, 12:36 PM

Yes, I am.

cosmotini · 02-13-2005, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redeagle313

We are considering the purchase of a 28' International CCD. We will probably tow it with an '05 GMC 2500HD Crewcab Duramax/Allison 4x4.

Anyone with a 28' Airstream that can share what towing equipment they use?
Hitch? with equalizers? Sway control needed with an AS? Brake controller?

We have the Equal-I-Zer hitch and I just upgraded the controller to the Jordan Ultima 2020 from a Tekonsha Sentinal. Haven't used it yet.

Dennis

till · 02-13-2005, 02:32 PM

Reese Dual cam has worked great for me. But, I am much lighter than your set up.

Sway control is a must and a good break controller is a must. I use a older Tekonsha mark 5. So far no problems.

Silvertwinkie · 02-13-2005, 02:56 PM

FWIW, I spoke to three different hitch places before I got our 19' Bambi. Each one said the same thing. The Bambi was fine with friction due to size and hitch weight. They said that really anything 25' or more should have more than friction. Now I know folks that use friction on 34 footers and that there are some out there who will say you don't need weight bars at all with that truck. Bottom line is that the truck will hold the hitch weight just fine on it's own, but where my disagreement with some folks is, that the extra gear, only seem as if it is extra. It really adds a fair amount of rigidity to the mix and some extra stability. Add to the fact that if you do sway that is incorporated into the weight bars, you have little choice.

One of the single biggest reasons I was able to tow our 25' Safari and not wind up in a ditch in high winds was the Reese Dual Cam HP. Are there others that do the same or better, sure, but I'm speaking from first hand exp with Reese friction and Dual Cam. I'd suggest, no matter what brand you buy, that you should have weight and sway bars. Read up on overhitching so that you don't get too stiff weight bars so that if you go with a dual cam type system, the bars bend a bit which won't happen if you have 1000lb bars with a 3/4 ton truck. Found right out of the gate as I tried hooking my 1200lb bars that I used on the sedan to the truck. One the sedan, the 1200s bent and had stresses on them, but on the Suburban, it was just dead weight. I dropped down to either 750 or 800lb bars and I got the spring back into the bars which in turn helped the sway control get back in the mix.

Silvertwinkie · 02-13-2005, 02:59 PM

...and as for brake controller, I use the Prodigy both in the sedan and the 3/4 Suburban. If you have adjusting pedals, it's far easier to install and use. If it's like most of the hydro-boost out there the pedal can travel futher making the Jordan a bit more difficult application since the Jordan actually attaches to the brake pedal bar. Not that the Jordan is not a great controller. There are two out there that most have...Prodigy or Jordan... you can't go wrong with either, unless you have Hydro-Boost brakes.

hookedonclassic · 02-13-2005, 04:08 PM

Redeagle. I tow a 29' 1992 with the truck you described (only a 2004). I use the Reese Dual Cam setup and it tows beautifully.

Tarheel · 02-13-2005, 06:28 PM

I love the reese dual cam, I also have a friction sway control on one side mine is a 34' and I don't have a sway problem.

AgZep · 02-13-2005, 07:29 PM

We have a 28' CCD, and tow it with a Silverado 2500HD, 8.1 gasser and Allison transmission.

I went with the Equal-i-zer because it just seems a lot simpler than some of the others, required no drilling of the trailer frame, and because I didn't like the idea of adjusting level by selecting a chain link. Seemed like I'd get finer control of adjustments with the Equal-i-zer, which in retrospect is not much of a reason. But in any case, the rig is incredibly easy to hitch and unhitch, which was also a priority of mine, and it tows beautifully.

I went with a Brakesmart controller. I had an inertial unit once before, and although it worked fine, the Brakesmart gives a smoother braking feel. During any kind of ordinary braking, it doesn't feel like the trailer is making any pulling or pushing force on the truck at all. It's a remarkable sensation. It was a costly controller though to be sure.

Tin Hut · 02-14-2005, 09:16 AM

On my 2005 8.1 gas Suburban I installed the Brakesmart & it is a noticeable improvement over the Prodigy that I had on the previous TV. The Prodigy was fine, the Brakesmart is a just a step up, but it also cost more. I had the Reese Dual Cam HP on my last AS which was a 24'er and I was satisfied with it. On the 2005 CCD 28' I put on a Hensley & am pleased with it.