Blue ox sway pro

[gypsydad]

Checked with BlueOx this morning; said SwayPro for 25' 2014 model, should be 1000' bars. BXW1000 SWAYPRO is what they recommended. Amazon has in stock $560~but checking around also...

[ShinyPete]

Our experience with the Blue Ox SwayPro BXW1000 has been very good. For the price, ease of use, and performance, it is an excellent value in my opinion (when properly set up). Please, learn from this fine forum and other resources about how to properly setup a hitch. The young man at the dealership who "always drops 4 links on a 1/2 ton" isn't properly setting up a hitch.

We tow our Pete, a 2014 27FB Flying Cloud with a 2013 F150 Crew 2wd XLT 5.0 v8, 3.55 rear end. AirStream says Pete left JC with an 800 lb tongue weight, and I figure he has at least 1000 lbs now. Pete had an UVW when he came home with us of 5949 lbs, and 1651 lbs of payload available. Our truck also has exactly 1651 lbs of payload available (These two were made for each other, right?), and I run the max pressure of 44 lbs in the Michelin X "p-rated" mushy tires that came with it. That gets me 1030 lbs of load capacity per truck tire. I know, I know some of you are saying "where's the scale tickets?". I'm close on the numbers, but within reason with my wife and I and not much in the truck bed. We loaded 350 lbs in Pete that stays all the time, and add probably 150 lbs for a trip. I setup the Blue Ox so that Pete is perfectly level; the rear of the truck drops about 1 & 3/4" when hooked up, and the front returns to within 1/2" of unloaded height with the Blue Ox brackets grabbing the 8th link down the chains.

Back in the day, we had a 32' SunnyBrook front kitchen 2 slide TT (9400 lb UVW) that I towed with a 2500HD Chevy Duramax/Ally with a Hensley Hitch. I know how great a TT can tow. Is the Blue Ox close to the Hensley towing experience? Eh, it ain't that far off really; I do get a slight "push" right/left when a boxy truck bow wave blows past us 10-15 mph faster than we run, but the Blue Ox controls it nicely, Pete never "wags his tail" more than 4-5" and then only once, and I can live with that. I'm convinced the towing dynamics of the Airstream have a huge impact on how great it really does tow with our little 1/2 ton. I've towed a lot of trailers, and Pete is absolutely the best tracking and turning I've had the pleasure of using.

Again, for the price, ease of use and performance, the Blue Ox is very good. If I find a nice used PPP hitch that I can afford will I buy and use it? Oh Yeah! But for now, I'm satisfied.

[Landrum]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

Checked with BlueOx this morning; said SwayPro for 25' 2014 model, should be 1000' bars. BXW1000 SWAYPRO is what they recommended. Amazon has in stock $560~but checking around also...

That is interesting, and by interesting I mean frustrating. I have an email from Blue Ox recommending I use 750 lb bars for a 2014 25fb Int.

[gypsydad]

Landrum- I would call their tech support center as I suggested yesterday...they told me the total trailer weight is how they calculate for which model. I had the 750 on my last 08' 25 and I thought it was too small as I had to crank it up to level the load. If you have a dealer close by who sells/services BlueOx, that is another option. They can get your zip code and let you know who is close....that's what they did for me yesterday, so that way you can double check...either a visit or a call...I do know the AS dealer told me they would not install less than 1000 pound bars for the new 25 we are getting this week. But call Blue Ox and compare notes with a local dealer to see if BXW1000 SwayPro is what they recommend...I am getting a 2014 25' rear twin. Spec says 5600 dry, 7300 GVW hitch weight 835 w/LP, W/O options, cargo, water. BlueOx told me for the weight, BXW1000...if someone else has opinion, please chime in.

[Landrum]

I will give them a call. I'm picking up our new 25fb this Friday, and I told the dealer today I do want the Blue Ox. Hopefully it will work out. I will eventually write about my experience with the blue Ox after I've had a chance to really try it out.

[gypsydad]

Talked with new owners of our 2008' 25' which had the BlueOx hitch and he said it had the 750lb bars which were too light for this model since he had extra heavy batteries for solar system located in front area...150+ lbs. He had light stearing in front and also had some concerns when big trucks passed him with stearing. He said he talked with Blue Ox and ordered the 1000 bars recently and it was just what they needed. Steady and secure feeling now pulling with F150.

[Vitaminsea]

Adjusted the WD bar chain for a tighter hook up and that made the difference on the bounce I felt. The "8" links of chain before the lock point gives me three and a half chain links showing from the bar to the unit. That made all the difference.

Hope that helps.

[Sjcjr]

I have a 30 ft flying cloud and use the 1000 lb bars. I tow with an f150. I feel light steering and a push/pull movement when big rigs pass from behind. I now have the chains torqued to the 9 link, having increased the torque from the 7 and 8 link. Does anyone have further suggestions? Should I go to a heavier bar? Any help is appreciated.

[Sjcjr]

Originally Posted by Sjcjr

I have a 30 ft flying cloud and use the 1000 lb bars. I tow with an f150. I feel light steering and a push/pull movement when big rigs pass from behind. I now have the chains torqued to the 9 link, having increased the torque from the 7 and 8 link. Does anyone have further suggestions? Should I go to a heavier bar? Any help is appreciated.

As a follow up when hitched my tt measures 22 3/4 inches at the front and 22 inches at the rear. When unhitched my tv wheel height at the fender is 37 1/2 inches at the front and 39 3/4 inches at the rear. When hitched the front wheel stays at 37 1/2 but the rear drops to 37 1/4. When unhitched my ball height is 21 on the tv. When hitched the ball height drops to 18 1/2 inches. I torque my chains to the eight notch. Questions--- do my numbers look right? Should the front wheel height drop when hitched? Has the rear wheel height dropped to much? Should I torque less or more? Should I go to a heavier bar? I still feel push/ pull when large trucks pass me from the rear on the interstate. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Jim Flower]

Originally Posted by Sjcjr

As a follow up when hitched my tt measures 22 3/4 inches at the front and 22 inches at the rear. When unhitched my tv wheel height at the fender is 37 1/2 inches at the front and 39 3/4 inches at the rear. When hitched the front wheel stays at 37 1/2 but the rear drops to 37 1/4. When unhitched my ball height is 21 on the tv. When hitched the ball height drops to 18 1/2 inches. I torque my chains to the eight notch. Questions--- do my numbers look right? Should the front wheel height drop when hitched? Has the rear wheel height dropped to much? Should I torque less or more? Should I go to a heavier bar? I still feel push/ pull when large trucks pass me from the rear on the interstate. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

My understanding of a wd hitch is that it's purpose is to re-distribute weight. Based on your measurements, yours does not appear to be doing this, however you should confirm this by actually taking some weight measurements at a scale. However, since your tongue weight is most likely exceeding the capacity of your bars, I would be inclined to get 1200 to 1400 pound bars, and tighten them to ensure the same measurement delta loaded as unloaded. In your case approx 2.25 inches. So, to answer your questions, your numbers do not look right, the front wheel height should drop, the rear wheel height has dropped too much, try more torque, and most likely, get a heavier bar.
I did all of these things when using a Reese Dual Cam and the setup turned out perfectly. Jim

[gypsydad]

Hi guys;
Just picked up our 2014, 25' Flying Cloud, (3rd 25' in 8 years)....we also picked up a new BlueOx with 1000# bar hitch....with our Echoboost , 2012, F150 SuperCrew. We pulled from Reno to MT in 2 days, and she pulled like a dream...wife drove 3 hours and also commented how no notice of towing....up/down mountains....2nd Blue Ox; important to get the right bars and chain torque/chain number(8-9??)
You have talked about a 30' with F150; not sure of tongue weight, "your" F150 limit's, etc... but seems like 30' may be pushing limits of a F150?? F250 or something like that may be better match, but I am no expert...Love the BlueOx however after 2 models and 2 different AS's...Good luck!

[PKI]

Notice - there is a Texas dealer that had three old style BOSP hitches in stock. Do not purchase these. One was recently sold to a customer who thought they were getting the new hitch. The old design has an adjustable head, a solid shank, and side tilt chain tighteners. Get latest version of hitch. You will be much happier. Pat