weight distributions system or not for a 16' bambi with jeep liberty v6

[firenze]

Hello -

Any thoughts on if I need a weight distribution system for my 3500lb 16' bambi with my 04 jeep liberty v6 sport?

right now, I do not have one..but will be driving from msp to seattle - down the coast and back.

any thought appreciated!

F

[r carl]

I would put on a reese twincam with #600 or #800 bars on it.

[firenze]

thanks for your advice...what difference in the way it tows now versus with that system? Will I notice the diff? I don't go over 65 mph currently. is it bad for my towing vehicle if I don't do the dist. system?

[blmitch5]

I would never back out of the driveway without one! Have you towed it long or will this be your first trip? I have a Reese WD hitch and anti sway and it works great. When I only had the WD I hated the sway and wouldnt go on long trips until I got it. Do yourself a favor and buy both the WD and anti sway kit. On that long of a trip you will be glad you did. Have a great trip!

[firenze]

hi - well, I've been at this for over 2 years... I picked it up in NY and drove it thru Penn. i guess i haven't been too worried until now and your message. i guess i wanted to avoid spending more money for this trip.

[blmitch5]

Well the big rigs used to push mine all over the place and being a single axel I have noticed a big improvement. Most on here would never just drop it on the ball and take off. I would at least do the WD hitch but the anti sway makes it much smoother etc. I didnt mean to scare you, I'm a newbe here but Im really glad I added the anti sway before I went to Colorado. I bought mine in Williamsburg VA and drove it home with just the WD bars and didnt have a problem but there wasnt any wind either. Just my 2 cents.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by firenze

hi - well, I've been at this for over 2 years... I picked it up in NY and drove it thru Penn. i guess i haven't been too worried until now and your message. i guess i wanted to avoid spending more money for this trip.

It has NEVER been an issue of "spending more money".

It has ALWAYS been an issue of safety for you and your uninformed passengers, who are not aware that their life is more than likely in jeopardy, the very instant you lose control of your rig.

Statistics SAY "it will happen".

Andy

[Mikethefixit]

DITTO on What Carl said. Look around in the local paper and Craigs list and find a old REESE TwinCam with 5 to 800 lbs bars like Carl said. That will take away any sway from passing rigs and give you just the rite amount of WD. without breakin the bank. I do recommend that after finding and installing that hitch that you make a trip to the scales(Cat or any State Certified scales) and find out where the weight is before and after applying the WD.
GOOD LUCK

[Gene]

Reese is not the only company making WD hitches. I have an Equal-i-zer and it works fine and you can back up with it.

Learning how to set up hitches is difficult, but do-able. Some dealers don't take the time to do it right.

Gene

[firenze]

Thanks for the tip and recommendations. I will be setting up my appt at the dealer. If I am going do it...I want it done right.

[blmitch5]

You can order from etrailer.com and do it yourself. Follow the directions and you will be fine. Maybe save enough for antisway. Good luck and happy towing.

[arcamedies]

Originally Posted by firenze

Hello -

Any thoughts on if I need a weight distribution system for my 3500lb 16' bambi with my 04 jeep liberty v6 sport?

right now, I do not have one..but will be driving from msp to seattle - down the coast and back.

any thought appreciated!

F

I had a Jeep Liberty and traded it for a wider stance vehicle. Even so the first thing I optioned for was weight distribution and then added the dual cam setup Reese has. I merrily have gone 3,000 miles with the twinkie without any twitches except for being buffetted behind a car carrier and with another rig passing me at 70+ . The dual cam sway was momentary and disappeared as soon as I instinctively let up on the gas. BY the way, so far I have not seen a trailer tire that says over 65 is ok.

[r carl]

I would buy and install yourself to save some money. Take your time and do a thorough job. This link will tell you how to adjust it.
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f464...ams-52579.html

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, I have only seen one Airstream trailer swaying on the road, and it was a Bambi, being towed with a small SUV on the ball only. I thought he was going to lose it on the freeway.

[jdalrymple]

I echo the previous posts. While it may look like the trailer doesn't squat your Jeep much when lower the tongue onto the ball, there is weight transfer going on. And, even if the weight is within limits, the anti-sway of the dual cams is worth all the effort, and cost. Not having heavy trucks causing the "suck and blow" effect as they pass you on the road makes for a much more relaxed drive.

Best Regards,

[mutcth]

The funny thing is that weight distribution doesn't really have to cost that much. I just bought a new Eaz-lift weight distribution hitch with friction anti-sway for $250 shipped.

The improved steering feel alone is worth the cost and the additional 3 minutes of hitching-up time weight distribution requires.

Tom

[markdoane]

If you need some help setting up I will be happy to give you a hand. I have some extra shanks, a Reese head and some 600# bars if you want to test them, but I don't have a pair of snap up brackets or friction bar.

I'm not trying to talk you out of going to a dealer if that's where you are headed. If you do go to the dealer, stop at the Cat Scales in Rogers before you go there and get baseline weights on your Liberty and Bambi. Then you can check the weight again after the dealer installs the WD system.

I'm in Minnetonka and have some time Friday or Saturday if you want to get together.

BTW, I think we met at Taylor's Falls last October. We were the couple in the '59 Tradewind. Is your Jeep red?

[firenze]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for your generous offer! It's nice to have someone be so wonderfully helpful like yourself! Indeed we did meet in TF. Great memory!

I am going to hit the dealer tomorrow. I have to get off on my trip starting Sunday -- myself and two little Boston Terriers. If you want to follow me and my ramblings posts please friend me on Facebook. Look up vflats@gmail.com or Kerry Hinze.

Regards!

[Freeheel]

FWIW, we have a Reese WD with 600lb square bars and the dual cam sway control to tow our 19' Bambi with a Tundra. While it has always given a fantastic ride under every condition we've yet experience, this summer it's more than paid for itself on at least 2 occasions:

#1 - Driving back to Calgary from Waterton National Park we had sustained 80kmph side winds. Other (white box) trailers were literally fighting to stay on the road and many had to pull over where they could. The ones that were rolling were constantly swaying back and forth. Apart from feeling a slight pressure on the left, now and then, we hardly felt the wind, even when being passed by tractor units. Obviously the more aerodynamic shape of the AS helped but I could really feel the hitch working to keep the trailer and tow vehicle working as a single unit.

#2 - Driving into Vancouver on the way to the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal we came around a blind bend at 80 kph into a poorly marked construction zone where moments before a 3 vehicle pile-up had occurred. Crushed pylons, debris, vehicles (and angry drivers) were randomly strewn about the lane and we had only a split-second to navigate through the scene by making a series of sphincter-puckering S-turns. Again, without the sway control I'm pretty sure we would've had a loss of control with horrible consequences instead of a good learning experience and a great story to tell our friends later that day over a glass of wine.

Not trying to scare you but these are the kinds of things that you can realistically expect to happen on the road, and having the right gear could make all the difference in the world.

[SteveH]

IMHO, you need sway control more with a single axle trailer than with a tandem axle. Then, throw a small tow vehicle into the equasion, WD with good sway control is a must.