New Trailer Ordered and Rethinking Hitch

[Thiss]

Hey all.

I got a deposit on a Flying Cloud 28. We are looking forward to the better layout than our Overlander.

I have been towing worry free with a Husky Centerline for 8 years now. I had an Eaz Lift with a friction device. I didn’t like the friction device because I tow in slippery conditions sometimes and I don’t like backing it off to reverse.

I have a Hensley that I picked up on Craigs for a deal, but I am not sure I want to commit to it.

I know front end separation is a possibility so I am overthinking the whole process. One dealer recommended that I ditch my Ram 3500; that’s not happening. I love my Cummins for all our mountain grades and it’s paid off.

I am starting to think about the Air Shocker Equilizer with a Blue Ox Sway pro or with my current Husky Centerline

https://youtu.be/kZ6-nMulma8

I think this set up could protect both truck and trailer and give good sway and weight distribution.

Hitch weight is 799. Payload is right about 4000lbs

Anyone use the Shocker with WD yet?

[jeffb831]

I use the Boss Torsion Flex weight distribution shank with an Equal-i-zer hitch towing my 28 and have not issues or complaints with my Chevy 2500.

https://genyhitch.com/product/boss-t...-distribution/

I was also able to order the distribution hitch without the shank to save a little $$$:
https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Dist...EQ37101ET.html

[jondrew55]

That 3500 won’t even know that trailer is back there. I don’t think you need WD. The Hensley will give you good anti sway. I don’t know about this frame separation thing. If you’re buying a new FC and it happens that means it was not built correctly and airstream will fix it under warranty.

I’m sure people that have actually had the separation issue will be happy to correct me

[jeffb831]

Since the 28s are rear bedroom, they don't have the front storage compartment so they are less likely to have the frame separation issue. The issue usually appears on the edges of the compartment opening.

Since there isn't an opening, there are additional support/attachment points for the shell to the frame in the front.

[crispyboy]

Since you own the Hensley you should try it. With the Hensley you will get sway protection no matter how the weight distribution bars are adjusted. Adjust them lightly and you can have more tongue weight on the back of the truck which should give the trailer a better ride. If you don't like it then you can sell it and buy the Shocker hitch.
I have nothing against the Shocker hitch as it seems to be a good concept in giving a better ride to the trailer.

[Daquenzer]

Your issue will not be weight distribution. Rather it will be sway control. Just because you have a big truck doesn’t mean you won’t get sway. I’d use the Hensley. Enjoy the 28’.

[CBWELL]

I am pulling a 34' with a Hensley. Prior to being given the Hensley by my brother-in-law, I used the Husky Centerline. I was very pleased with the sway control the Centreline offered, and the only thing that I can see with the Hensley that surpasses the Centreline is the ability to uncouple while at an angle. I have used both hitches in horrible crosswinds and can't really see where the Hensley is superior. Try both and see which you feel most comfortable with.

[Thiss]

Thanks all. Whatever I pick proven sway protection will be a part of the set up.

What I pick might come down to what the dealer can install. Although, I can and have setup my own hitches, I kinda just want them to do it so I have one more layer of protection should a front end separation happen.

We intentionally bought the 28 in part to avoid the door. Maybe I am being a bit paranoid but I already fixed front end separation on my Overlander and I don’t want to see it happen on a new trailer.

I do have the Hensley, but I will need to get the right stinger. I have heard I can ask to buy a new warranty and get the stinger that way.

Good thing I got time to think about it with the delayed production 😂

[uncle_bob]

Hi

One part of doing *any* hitch is to match the components correctly to the rig you have. All hitch outfits sell a range of hitches under the same name. Some are set up for heavier loads , some are set up for lighter loads. Yes, there's an adjustment range. No, you don't really want to run any of them right at the edge of that range.

Next up, hitches (even very good ones) do wear out. Used hitches from some guy named Bob might have been significantly abused ( or they could have lived a quiet life). In some cases a hitch that looks fine actually is on it's last breath. There's not any real good way to know.

The only point is to carefully go over anything you have "in inventory" and be very sure it matches up with what you need. Also replace anything that looks the least bit suspect.

Only running a tiny little F350, I would suggest that, at least on it (and packing what we pack), WD is still a very good idea. CAT scales, at least once, are a good idea with any rig.

Bob

[Mark of SJC]

We're pulling a 28' AS with an F-250.

I personally wouldn't tow without a WD set up, even though the F250 is a heavy vehicle, we drive through areas with extremely high winds (tractor-trailers doing involuntary lane changes ) with no loss of control. We're very happy with the Blue Ox sway control - effective, quiet and allows us to back up without uncoupling.

We combined it with an Air Safe air hitch https://airsafehitches.com/receiver-hitch/ and the difference is remarkable! The coach no longer arrives at destination with interior contents tossed to the ground. The truck goes over RR tracks without jerkiness from the coach crossing after. Ride in truck is noticeably smoother. Not popped a single rivet since we started using it....30k miles ago, despite the HD suspension of the truck! Note that the Air Safe (we got a Class 6) is heavy! We use a rolling tranny jack from Harbor Freight to mount/dismount and store it. The additional length it adds allows the tailgate to easily be dropped while connected, but negates the automatic back-up feature on the Ford (if yours is equipped) as it puts the hitch too far back to be "seen".

We wouldn't change a thing! Congrats on your new addition!

[Kawboy01]

If you are masking sway with a mechanical device you need to find the cause of the sway. Is it how it's loaded, hitch set up etc.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by Kawboy01

If you are masking sway with a mechanical device you need to find the cause of the sway. Is it how it's loaded, hitch set up etc.

Hi

Ok, the source of the sway is the location of the great big A/C unit at the rear of the trailer. Now what?

Bob

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by Kawboy01

If you are masking sway with a mechanical device you need to find the cause of the sway. Is it how it's loaded, hitch set up etc.

Do you mean the guy who just darted in front of me, and jammed on his brakes to get to the exit? What do I do with him?

[Thiss]

To be clear. I will have both sway and WD in my chosen set-up, and I would like to have some cushioning too.

I like the look of the Gen Y with WD and sway (I am a Millennial

I like the Air Safe too, but the cost and weight are much higher than Shocker Equilizer.; however, I do like that there are several folks who attest to Air Safe success.

I like that I have the Hensley in hand and that it will completely prevent sway and that the WD has a lot of adjustments. I am not sold on abandoning all cushioning

I think the cushioning would be a good thing even not being worried about separation.

Can someone with more time and money run out and buy the Shocker bolt it up to Blue Ox Sway Pro, hitch to an Airstream, drive across country in a few storms and over the mountains, and let us all know the result? �� It could be the launch of a YouTube career….

[WellSaid11]

Originally Posted by jeffb831

I use the Boss Torsion Flex weight distribution shank with an Equal-i-zer hitch towing my 28 and have not issues or complaints with my Chevy 2500.

https://genyhitch.com/product/boss-t...-distribution/

I was also able to order the distribution hitch without the shank to save a little $$$:
https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Dist...EQ37101ET.html

Same. Can't go wrong with this setup (other than the Chevy vs. the RAM.....)

[Vesuvius]

I just finished a 4000 mile trip across the Southwest with many days of gusty 35 Knot crosswinds and too many semi trucks to count.



27 foot FBT behind an F250 diesel


Replaced my Blue Ox with a Boss Torsion Flex/Equalizer just prior to the trip.

Quite happy with the new set-up. No sway, no oscillation, no popped rivets, and magazines left on the table stayed there!

Have a lightly used Blue Ox for sale!

[s1000pre]

We just moved 5 times over the past week enjoying S. Carlsbad Beach. One overlooked feature of the Hensley is the aggressive angle backing up. We have a 30’ and the turning angle more like a fifth wheel with the Hensley comes in handy. It will help you get into tighter spots, especially with the length of the 3500 & 28’. I agree with WD above, you might not need it, just dial it back…another great feature of the Hensley.

To make hooking up a breeze. Buy the Hensley chocks, crank on them until you squish the tires.
If the stinger doesn’t seat all the way into the hitch:
1. Get out of the truck while idling in reverse.
2. Try grabbing the WD bars or over center latch (while perpendicular to the stinger) and shake up and down. That is typically enough for the stinger to seat 100%.
3. If it’s really close, you can just use the over center latches to pull the stinger in.
Use common sense: keep fingers away from all moving parts and no kids in the vehicle.

[WellSaid11]

just posted this in another thread:

Originally Posted by WellSaid11

Towing a 28’ PB right now in the central valley of California. 2019 2500 Ram 3/4 ton diesel. Gen-Y TorsionFlex Boss along with Equalizer weight distribution/anti-sway.

This is with high winds, with gusts up to 30 mph. Probably a steady 15 mph headwind and/or crosswind. Likely about 500 pounds short of what would normally be in the cab and the bed.

16.7 MPG average is pretty good for this set up, flat terrain and this wind (just went to 16.9 mpg). The 2500 diesel along with the Equalizer and Gen-Y tow almost without regard to the wind. Zero sway, even with the wind, and it times it feels like you’re not towing anything.

Lots of choices for people based on what they need.

Attachment 414195

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by Vesuvius

Quite happy with the new set-up. ... magazines left on the table stayed there!

I'm glad you like the setup and I'm not being critical of it. But magazines staying on the table can't be attributed to the hitch alone. What tire pressure do you run?
I think mine rides great and then I open the closet and half the hangers have jumped off the bar!

[Fungus]

Originally Posted by s1000pre

...and the turning angle more like a fifth wheel with the Hensley comes in handy. It will help you get into tighter spots, especially with the length of the 3500 & 28’.

My experience exactly with a PP on a 25-er.

An acute angle of ~45* truck-to-campsite. Narrow road. Trees everywhere. An audience.

The onlooker standing next to my wife kept saying..."He's going to jack-knife it." I didn't. Then he said, "I thought for sure he was going to jack-knife it."

I hadn't backed the AS more than 10 times before that day.