Reese Stabilizers

[mok]

Why do you need to unhook when backing up?

[johnhh]

I never have. Are you supposed to?

[idroba]

If you are talking about the spring bars on a normal Reese hitch, there is no reason to unhook them when backing.

[mok]

Another question. I am towing a 23' International with a 5.7 liter Hemi Jeep Grand Cherokee and using Reese load levelers. When a truck passes, The. Trailer does a slight shift to the right, then back to take led. It appears this is normal. Does the same thing happen with a Hensley?

[dkottum]

Originally Posted by mok

Another question. I am towing a 23' International with a 5.7 liter Hemi Jeep Grand Cherokee and using Reese load levelers. When a truck passes, The. Trailer does a slight shift to the right, then back to take led. It appears this is normal. Does the same thing happen with a Hensley?

With the Hensley/ProPride the truck passing feels like when you are driving your tow vehicle with no trailer. In normal conditions it's nothing, with strong crosswinds you may feel the truck passing, but everything stays in line and it is a complete nonevent.

That is because with Hensley/Propride the trailer cannot move from a straight line with the tow vehicle; with other hitches the trailer is pushed slightly out of alignment (depending on size truck and strength of crosswinds) with the tow vehicle as the truck passes, then returns as it goes by.

doug

[AldeanFan]

I think unhooking the weight distributing bars when backing up is only necessary if backing up a steep hill.

I have seen people unhook the bars when on muddy ground to put more weight on the drive wheels (at the expense of steering). I have 4x4 so traction is not an issue.

[azflycaster]

It is recommended to unhook a friction sway bar when backing. The reason is to prevent damage to the device. The theory is that the bar could bend if you turn too quickly.

I loosen my friction sway bar to keep the darn thing quiet, but have forgotten to do it at times with no damage.

[DanB]

Mine come off before I back. My bad backing ability draws enough attention, I don't need the slamming of the metal bars into their pockets to draw more of a crowd.

It really only take about a minute to do, so why not? I also have heard that you could potentially damage the works. I'd love to know if that's true.

[Silverbee]

I agree with Azflycaster. On the standard Reese, if you don't remove the friction bar, you risk it breaking. The bar is a type of metal that will break to prevent warping the other equipment when put in an extreme bind. Removing the weight distribution bars is not necessary. We changed to the Reese dual-cam hitch which does not have the friction bar and can back up as is.

[mok]

Thanks all. I have the Reese with the dual cam, so I don't have friction bar issues. I used to have a friction bar on my pop-up, that I did screw backing up, but so far have not had a problem with the dual cam.

Anyone else have Hensley experience. Do they have a downside?