Sway Control on FC 23FB?

[pcskier]

Whelp, I just fixed my mistake made in the spring when I sold my FC 19. Just put a deal together on a 2014 FC 23 FB.

On my FC 19, with a tongue weight (unloaded) of 550 lbs, I used a Reece WD hitch setup with 750 lb bars--No sway control. Worked great. In fact, when I lost a bar (don't ask) on the road, I towed 1,000 miles with no bars and no problems. Just scraped the bottom of the hitch on some gas station entries, etc...but the rig was fairly level.

The tongue weight on the FC 23FB is less--467 lbs. I plan on doing another WD hitch with 750 or 800 lb bars.

Question: While sway control I guess can never hurt, anyone towing a 23 without, and can comment on how things work. My understanding from reading on here recently is that double axles like the 23 actually will sway less than the 19 single axle? I know I'll feel a lot better with 2 axles in the event of a blowout, and easier to change a tire.

P.S. I tow with a 2000 Toyota Tundra 4WD with 7100 lb towing capacity. Towed the 19 like it wasn't even there, I'm picking up 1,000 lbs but thing I'll be fine.

Thanks much.

[HD Pilot]

Well I have experienced sway WITH a sway control WDH, so my bet would be yes, it can happen. I am hoping that I now have the issue fixed, I swapped out the std 7 hole receiver for the 9 hole receiver to get the height of the ball right in relation to the height of the 23 FB AS coupler. Will be taking a short trip next week to see, I was only getting the sway occasional if I went 65+ mph. I would definately recommend a sway control WDH with the 23 FB.

[mpsgolf]

I had a 25' and found it important for safe towing. 23' is only 2 feet less so...

But with integrated weight dist and sway control why take a chance? Your investment plus the safety of you and your family should be enough imho.

[CRH]

The previous owners of my 25 ft didn't use sway control. The tongue had never been drilled. I pulled it about 500 mIles and had no issues. I went ahead and put a friction control sway bar on it anyway.

[xrvr]

Sway control is always a good idea, even if you don't need WD. Your set up needs sc and WD.

[GettinAway]

Interesting. We went from a 19' Bambi to a 23FB also. We also pull with a Tundra. I have a WD hitch, that I also used on the 19. It has square bars that must also provide some sway control, as they also distribute the weight. FYI, we almost always tow with all the tanks empty. Maybe just a bit in the freshwater tank for a lunch or Walmart stop.. I don't think we ever had any sway with the 19, but there have been a few instances when I thought I might have actually felt a bit with the 23. I keep the tires on the TV and the AS at high pressures, so it wasn't a tire issue. Both times it's been very windy and I was passing a 18 wheeler. It's just a tiny bit, but I can actually feel the trailer want to "wiggle" just a bit. I didn't even react to it because it went away so fast. When we are hooked to the Tundra, my set up is completely flat. There is no sag in the rear of the truck, and the trailer appears level. Needless to say, I haven't changed anything since we went to the 23 as I consider it a non issue. I wish I could recall the make of our hitch. The friction of the square bars against the plates they rest on, (on the trailer) certainly have some anti-sway properties. I'm not sure how much.
The 23FB (as I understand it) has a lighter tongue weight due to all the weight being in the rear of the trailer. The kitchen and bath certainly weigh more than the bed.. I doubt you'll have any issues with the Tundra and 23FB combination. Guys are pulling much bigger trailers than our little 23FBs with Tundras. By the way, we love our 23FB.

[CRH]

A little sway a couple of times would be enough for me to put on a 50 dollar friction type sway bar. You never know if that little sway is gonna turn into big sway.

[JamuJoe]

Originally Posted by pcskier

Whelp, I just fixed my mistake made in the spring when I sold my FC 19. Just put a deal together on a 2014 FC 23 FB.

On my FC 19, with a tongue weight (unloaded) of 550 lbs, I used a Reece WD hitch setup with 750 lb bars--No sway control. Worked great. In fact, when I lost a bar (don't ask) on the road, I towed 1,000 miles with no bars and no problems. Just scraped the bottom of the hitch on some gas station entries, etc...but the rig was fairly level.

The tongue weight on the FC 23FB is less--467 lbs. I plan on doing another WD hitch with 750 or 800 lb bars.

Question: While sway control I guess can never hurt, anyone towing a 23 without, and can comment on how things work. My understanding from reading on here recently is that double axles like the 23 actually will sway less than the 19 single axle? I know I'll feel a lot better with 2 axles in the event of a blowout, and easier to change a tire.

P.S. I tow with a 2000 Toyota Tundra 4WD with 7100 lb towing capacity. Towed the 19 like it wasn't even there, I'm picking up 1,000 lbs but thing I'll be fine.

Thanks much.

The published tongue weight of the FC23FB can be misleading. Loaded for camping, with full propane and fresh water, our 2011 FC23FB tongue weight is 785 lbs. I use a 1000 lb Equalizer Hitch towing with a 2014 Grand Cherokee diesel. No sway issues whatsoever.

[pcskier]

Thanks for all the feedback. I bought a friction anti sway bar. Haven't installed it yet, I wanted to do without for first half of trip, then use it on second half to see if I notice a difference.

I also never had any away with my 19, but *think* I can feel a very subtle bit of wiggle occasionally with the 23.

[GettinAway]

That's all I've ever felt. "Maybe that was a wiggle?" Not enough reason for me make changes. I've always thought filling up the fresh water tank and hauling it 800 miles across Missouri, Nebraska, and half of Wyoming seemed unnecessary. We've been in some real out of the way campsites. There's always water around somewhere.. Seems like a lot of weight on the structure holding the tank, and a lot of extra weight to pull 800 miles. Might be thoughts for another thread. Do you top off your fresh water before you leave home??

[JamuJoe]

I always travel with full water. It makes little difference in fuel economy, and does benefit trailer stability by lowering the center of gravity. Then there's the Boy Scout in me that wants to 'be prepared'.

[GettinAway]

Heck. You live in Durango! You've got great camp sites within site of your house. Sorry, I couldn't resist. We do have a small amount of water in the tank. I'll have to try it full. That would certainly increase the weight forward of the axles. I can see where it would increase stability. I haven't done the calculations to determine the added weight with a full fresh water tank, and full hot water heater. I would think coming down some of those Colo passes you'd know it was there..

[lsbrodsky]

I am reading into this thread that some might suggest no sway control on a 23? Some friends of ours rolled their 23 this summer, towing with a Frontier and a Reese. Semi passed them downgrade, sway started and got worse until the trailer got sideways and rolled. That tells me that sway control is indeed needed.
Larry

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by lsbrodsky

I am reading into this thread that some might suggest no sway control on a 23? Some friends of ours rolled their 23 this summer, towing with a Frontier and a Reese. Semi passed them downgrade, sway started and got worse until the trailer got sideways and rolled. That tells me that sway control is indeed needed.
Larry

Sorry to hear about this accident, hope your friends are OK. Were there any special considerations which might have contributed to the accident, like bikes on the rear of the trailer, a tire blowout, etc.?

Thanks

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by pcskier

Thanks for all the feedback. I bought a friction anti sway bar. Haven't installed it yet, I wanted to do without for first half of trip, then use it on second half to see if I notice a difference.

I also never had any away with my 19, but *think* I can feel a very subtle bit of wiggle occasionally with the 23.

Maybe install the SC ASAP, and then test the "without it" function later? Why keep what may be a crucial tool locked in the tool chest?



Have a great trip!

[pcskier]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Maybe install the SC ASAP, and then test the "without it" function later? Why keep what may be a crucial tool locked in the tool chest?



Have a great trip!

The ball mounts are already on--sway bar going on when I start my long drive tomorrow!

[lsbrodsky]

No special considerations except inexperience towing a trailer. This is proof that sway can happen with an Airstream, even a 23 in like-new condition. He had even upgraded the wheels and tires. Certainly there are things that could have ameliorated or eliminated the sway, but not recognizing it early enough and applying the truck brake aggravated an already bad condition.
They now have a brand new 23 with a RAM ecodiesel 1/2 ton and a ProPride hitch. It will never be a problem for them aagain.
Larry

[GettinAway]

Interesting that they rolled a 23. I guess I'll look harder at pulling it with the fresh water full. Glad they are back in business though. I would have thought the Frontier was enough truck for a 23. I'm sure there's more to it than the TV. Hopefully putting 15" tires vs the 14s that come on it didn't contribute. I'm going to 15s when my GYMs get old.

[lsbrodsky]

I cannot see how 15's would contribute. I would suggest most anything will pull a 23 but the question becomes what tow vehicles are better if sway is an issue.
I always tow my 25 with full water; it just seems to tow better.
Larry

[CRH]

I also tow my 25 with a full tank. I agree that it seems to tow better. Basically, you have a ballast between the axles.