Blue Ox SwayPro 1000 or 1500 lbs spring bars?

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by kdfulsome54

I pull a 28 ft international with 950 lbs hitch weight. I chose the 1500 lb bars and put it on the 7th link from the free end. TV is a Chevy Silverado 1500 crew cab 4x4, and have no sway issues of any kind

28' at 950lbs? Not sure what year 28' you have, but mine was 1100lbs when I weighed in at CAT scales after it was loaded including water. Have you checked yours on scales? I the new 28's say 976lbs unloaded in the brochure...just curious on your tongue weight.

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by guskmg

I have seen a 1000# bar break while pulling out of a new dealers lot. However, the oldest advice around says to keep the bar capacities near the actual tongue weight so as to provide spring shock absorbing to the hitching system. This will give the front of the Airstream the best ride. BTW, you don't always have to sock 'em up all the way. Quite often, if I plan to travel rough roads, I loosen mine up for a softer ride. That is a good reason to to by the next heavier rated TV, for the extra unplanned loading.
guskmg

I had Equalizer 1000lb bar break on me on my 2008 25', when back up. Those rigid bars on some of the other hitches I've seen, do not have the "flex" type tapered spring bar system like in the BO system uses. Never had a problem with the BO in last 3 AS's. Which hitch did you see a 1000lb bar break?

I have never loosened mine up for a softer ride?? The ride is fine with the BO system when set up properly. If you were to "loosen" the bars, you would defeat the purpose of the system...and can cause front end bounce...which is why you tighten them up in the first place; to transfer the weight, right? Let me know what I am missing here...

[PKI]

Originally Posted by guskmg

I have seen a 1000# bar break -- snip --

Is it correct to assume you are talking about a 1000 lb Blue Ox bar? Did a spring bar break or did a component of the spring bar system fail? Was the failure on a current revision hitch system? Was any flaw found on the bar at the break? Any detail on the failure would be helpful. Very interesting as generally, we do not hear of failures on a Blue Ox. Pat

[kdfulsome54]

My 28ft was full of water and propane and weighed on a 70ft 3 section scale that is checked and certified every 90 days. I manage a trucking company where we have our own scale. Very similar to the Cat scale, but without the traffic hassles

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by PKI

Is it correct to assume you are talking about a 1000 lb Blue Ox bar? Did a spring bar break or did a component of the spring bar system fail? Was the failure on a current revision hitch system? Was any flaw found on the bar at the break? Any detail on the failure would be helpful. Very interesting as generally, we do not hear of failures on a Blue Ox. Pat

Nope; it was Equalizer...while backing in a parking lot in Phoenix area, it twisted and broke. I was not aware it was happening at the time, but my brother in law alerted me to stop when he saw what was happening. My take was it did not "give" and flex enough and it started twisting and gave out.

RV dealer close by had BO in stock and we were heading to MT, so we purchased our first BO at that time. Have never had an issue with the BO. I know some of the EQ now offer similar chain set up, so may be better, but they also sell the model I had. Below is a picture of the Equalizer I had at the time. It came with my 2008 AS.

[PKI]

GD - question was to Guskmg.

GD - you identified that the bar which broke on you was an EQ. Not unusual to hear the bars or brackets on a EQ going adrift as they are stiff.

[trumpetguy]

I am selling my Blue Ox with 1500 pound bars for $450.

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by PKI

GD - question was to Guskmg.

GD - you identified that the bar which broke on you was an EQ. Not unusual to hear the bars or brackets on a EQ going adrift as they are stiff.

Sorry; did not read close enough. Missed the header..

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by ddrg

We're soon (next week) to pick up our 2018 Globetrotter. We're planning to use a Blue Ox Swaypro hitch. According to airstream.com, the GT hitch weight is 820 lbs. I thought we'd need the 1000 lb spring bars, but folks here may have experience that we don't.

Should we go with 1000 lb or 1500 lb spring bars?

Thanks... Duncan

There is no logical reason to go with heavier bars than what is actually needed.
1000 lb BO bars will do you perfectly with your set up.
I experimented going both directions with our 30' AS and found the 1000 lb perfect. The 1500 lb will give you a stiff ride and you will be wasting a lot of effort playing with the chain to compensate in vain. There is a reason its called the "Spring Bar".

[xrvr]

If not already mentioned but the heavier duty the truck the lighter the bars needed.

[PKI]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

-- snip -- Missed the header..

No problem. You kept the discussion going, identified/reinforced a lash up problem that can be avoided and proved I am not the only one. Pat

[guskmg]

The bar failed at the 90 degree bend. I would think that would be a heat treating flaw. The bars were 2-400#s lighter than the tongue weight. I would reduce the spring capacity of the TV before I would reduce the hitch capacity for ride sake. Remove a spring leaf if necessary. Don't forget all that extra stuff we all bring along adds weight the hitch has to equalize. The whole combination should be set up so that all parameters match good . Otherwise you are making trade offs that will eventually effect TV handling.
guskmg

[PKI]

Originally Posted by guskmg

The bar failed at the 90 degree bend. -- snip --
guskmg

There is no 90 degree bend on a Blue Ox Sway Pro spring bar. Do you know what brand of hitch had this failure? Pat

Edit - the concept of using lighter weight bars has been around for some time. It is a concept that was developed with Reese users. As the stiffness of their vehicle increased they found a softer bar worked better. The dual cam design is unique, so for other designs, testing your rig would be appropriate to determine there is no significant loss of sway control.

Edit - here is one of those threads. http://www.airforums.com/forums/f464...ide-63994.html Look for Andy from Inland RV advice on other threads if you want to learn more. He suggests that matching hitch to TV and TT is key.

[riquahog]

Originally Posted by ddrg

We're soon (next week) to pick up our 2018 Globetrotter. We're planning to use a Blue Ox Swaypro hitch. According to airstream.com, the GT hitch weight is 820 lbs. I thought we'd need the 1000 lb spring bars, but folks here may have experience that we don't.

Should we go with 1000 lb or 1500 lb spring bars?

Thanks... Duncan

We picked up our new Globetrotter in November and the dealer (North Trail RV, Fort Myers, FL) recommended the 1000 lb. bars. Tows great.

[stevenson748]

I have 26u with twin beds and duel AC, and have found the 1000 lb bars tow well. I had better weight distributing with 2 1/2 links showing, painted 10 link red with nail polish to make it easier to identify the correct chain link.

[Beaubill]

I just purchased a Blue Ox hitch 1000lb , how do you attach the hitch ball to the unit ?