Do I still need antisway hitch? After upgrading to Ram 3500 from 1500?

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by Andy543

It shouldn't be swaying. Something is wrong and it should be investigated, but in my opinion the solution is not to cover up the problem with a sway control hitch.

Hi

Ok, I have a diesel F-350 that typically has about 800 pounds in the bed. There really isn't much in the "get a bigger truck" category that is going to "fix" it. It's in no way specific to my trailer. There are lots of folks who see the same thing.

Simple answer is: there's always going to be a speed that this sets in at. It might be this or it might be that. Add some wind from the wrong direction and it will set in at a lower speed. Head down a long grade, it will set in at a lower speed.

Bob

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by Andy543

Now that you asked, the harm is that WD/SC hitches promote oversteer, i.e., they treat one problem but make the other problem worse.

Wow!

[majorairhead]

This debate goes round and round. The best thing I can recommend is tow your rig with the setup you believe in. If it's not acceptable, modify it until it is.

For me, I have an F250 with the camper package, tow a 30 ft. International, and run a 1,000 pound bar Equalizer setup.

So far, over thousands of miles, never a braking issue or sway event. I don't run 80mph, but might hit 75 once in a while. 😜

I've never towed on the ball and at this point am simply not interested in doing so.

[Ray Eklund]

Limitations: "Limiting Rule or Circumstance / Condition of Limited Ability / Action of Limiting Something".

*****

There are individuals whom I would never consider to be a Passenger in their Car. I use my judgment from observation and experience.

There are individuals whom I would not take their advice about anything. I observe their behavior and how it has worked out for them.

Same with towing 'reliable engineered' travel trailers. Not all travel trailers can be the 'best'. Just be, at least, good.

I like Airstream double axles. I also like Oliver Elite II double axle travel trailers. Double axles are more stable and the individual towing can have poor judgment and driving behaviors, but manage to... survive without mishap.

Those debating all of this, have managed to survive their matching tow vehicle to a travel trailer. That is good and respectable. I would like to interview those who wrecked their tow vehicle, wrecked a travel trailer and then make my own judgment as to their ability and mental acuity.

Was it pilot error, or unavoidable situation?

Mental Acuity: "a measure of the brain's ability to respond to a stimulus'.

I flew helicopters in the US Army. For 18 weeks and was disappointed that my Allergies were my limiting agent. Not my flying ability, as I soloed early at 12 hours and enjoyed flying a helicopter. A real balancing act.

Driving and Towing a Travel Trailer is easy, after this experience.

So is towing. A tow vehicle matched up to a 16 foot to 34 foot travel trailer. Again... competent drivers with experience can manage many combinations of hitch options. If any, at all. Experience and Ability varies, considerably.

The competent also know when the match of tow vehicle, hitch and travel trailer are not a... well suited combination. Survival of the Fittest type of ability.

Posts on this Thread do not consider the ability of the individual's ability and experience. After not killing myself after 12 hours flying with a Viet Nam war experienced Pilot and myself not knowing my ability. I managed to learn and even if I tried to manipulate the main rotor and tail rotor... I could NOT put myself into dangerous situations. I WAS A PILOT. I ended up being a Finance Clerk for an Artillery Company.

Everyone was nice to me as the Company Finance Clerk.

Each have natural born abilities. Some more so than others. You can follow them on the Highways and pass them, looking at their Hitch and Tow Vehicle. We cannot judge on a Post if this person has any ability for towing, at all. You watch them wandering in the lane and the UHaul swaying... Look out and get away from them. (personal experiences)

I could not read a manual to fly a TH55-A Helicopter, which is small and responds like a sports car, reacting to every minute movement. A tow vehicle towing a travel trailer is easier, but again... not everyone is to be a great travel towing expert.

Judge the Driver, not the Hitch, the SC, WD or the trailer in Tow. The wise adapt. Those that do not, risk having an accident. If you 'survived' with your present tow vehicle, hitch and travel trailer. You are among the competent. Your advice is tested and no one should degrade your experience to fit the other person's personal experiences.

I tow with a F350 4x4 Diesel, On the Ball, a 27FBQ Airstream and an Oliver Elite II. Without any sway or difficulty. I met the challenge and it works for ME.

The End.

[Ray Eklund]

My long previous post left out some information as far as my Helicopter flying experience.

I Soloed after 12 hours with a Viet Nam experienced Helicopter Pilot with a thousand or more hours of flight time in combat. I spent 18 weeks at Fort Wolters, Texas. I was to start my 19th week with the 20th graduating to Huey Viet Nam era helicopter training. These pilots could quickly eliminate those who had no business in anything like a Helicopter. They were gone within the first week. (There are some Airstream Owners on this Forum that were also Fort Wolter pilots.)

The Combat Experienced Helicopter Pilot... had his hands on the controls 100% of the time, while the student was figuring out if he had wet his pants. A Travel Trailer has similar cautions... but without an experienced pilot to make corrections as you learn.

Towing you are not looking UP and DOWN and All Around as any pilot with minimal electronics in the late 1960's. Experience is needed to control your choice of Tow Vehicle and if it is adequate to tow the Travel Trailer of your choice. Options are:

1- Exceeded the minimum
2- Meets the minimum
3- A Fool that will eventually discovers #1 or #2, maybe never.

A WD/SC Hitch may NOT the Fix, Cure, Compensator of Less to More, or any other Myth that a 'proper hitch' makes everything... good. A competent owner probably can Tow on the Ball now, but is reluctant, as I was in 2006. I learned without an experienced person during my Solo Towing the first day of purchase.

Selling Travel Trailers and Hitches is a business. You make the assumption that everything is just fine as you sweat your exit from the Dealership. They wave to you and off you go. Solo with five minutes of towing experience Off the Dealers Lot. NO experienced Co Pilot on board... Yikes.

That was my experience. I then discovered that even the Sales Person had NO Travel Trailer experience, owning or towing.

So again. You start a Zero and over years gain experience. Hours on the 'stick' they say in a Helicopter. Good, Bad or whatever. But be weary of any advice until you can actually experience what Towing should Feel Like.

When you get the 'towing time in experience', you will look back at those first minutes knowing nothing at all... and wonder 'How in Hell did I Survive'.

Find someone you trust that has experience and get some options and ideas. You may not like what you hear. Towing is like flying... if you make a mistake, there are consequences. Some are... whew... that was close. Or could be worse.

Sorry to be expressing my experiences, but after I look back... I had to learn everything about Towing AFTER driving home and satisfied that I survived that first experience. You will as well... but there are numerous options to consider. Some not so good.

[sarge12212]

Another thing not often mentioned is the front end of the truck. Are the ball joints, tie rod ends and track bars worn out? Is the bearing on the power steering pump shot. All that leads to front end "death wobble". I rebuilt my front end a few years ago and it stiffened up the whole combo.

[Hermes]

I think we are better to keep our hitch debates in the family, or else we are going to scare folks into moving to Class A and Class C motorhomes!

[Boxite]

I am a Pilot, Airline Transport Rating, and am a retired Instructor Pilot and Pilot Examiner, and have flown (so far) for 51 years and 13,000+ hours and never had an incident, accident, or an aviation violation. But I know some pilots I would never let my family ride with.

I believe there are RV owners who are similar.

(Ray…. Military Intelligence, Amicable divorce, Helicopter Pilot…are oxymorons.)

[Ray Eklund]

Originally Posted by Hermes

I think we are better to keep our hitch debates in the family, or else we are going to scare folks into moving to Class A and Class C motorhomes!

******
Owners of RV's will go to a TT, once the RV is out of warranty. Not the other way around.

Our 'fear factor' are can be self inflicted, but most can be taken resolved, towing a Travel Trailer with a Tow Vehicle, as a stable combination towing on the Ball, or needing WD to achieve SC.

Boxite needed to pass plenty of physicals and flight tests to get to work on his Airstream. Do you use SC? Just curious.

TT's require no experience or time towing, once leaving the Dealer's Lot.

Travel Trailer owners have the Dealer set the Hitch to whatever Tow Vehicle the new owner may have than appears adequate and wave... After six years towing a 23 foot Safari, I did not realize the WD/SC dealer installed: 'Husky Sway Control' on an Equalizer Hitch?... was not even activated. It had a 'Sway Control Husky Towing Product' system that you would loosen or tighten a either a bolt for Less/More and a lever to adjust 'On/Off'. Towed 7 years behind a 4.7L small Toyota pickup 4x4 and later a 2008 5.7 full sized Toyota Tundra without injury and NO white knuckle driving.

I just did not know and being ignorant sometimes works out well for a Neanderthal.

My current Equalizer, the dealer used 1000# bars (I cannot see any number on them). I NOW tow on the ball and do not need WD or SC, towing behind a 2016 F350 Diesel 4x4 towing a 2019 27FBQ. Or the WD needed on the Bars to GET Sway Control... friction on the L Brackets.

I removed the bars, put them into the bed of the F350. Started at a slow speed, slowing gained speed, tried to cause Sway, which did not occur after trying. Then gained speed above 55, then 65 to 75... nothing negative.

Any wind, cross wind, head, rear, 18 wheeler passing me... not one complaint.

That was some years ago. My Oliver Elite II has been towed on the Ball for two years, since purchase with the F350. Smooth, uneventful, any dry or wet highway conditions, that one can experience.

One step at a time. I did the full range of speeds with the 2006 23 foot and did not know, that for six years I already had been towing on the Ball.

My 'Husky Sway Control' has an instruction label on the 2006 SC unit:

"Caution! Remove sway control if experiencing icy or slick road conditions. Sway control may hit bumper or trailer coupler in extreme jack knife position".

[Boxite]

Originally Posted by Ray Eklund

******

Boxite needed to pass plenty of physicals and flight tests to get to work on his Airstream. Do you use SC? Just curious…..".

I’m towing a 22’ Bambi (single-axle) 65 mph …on the ball …with a lightly-adjusted friction anti-sway …(not absolutely necessary but does improve handling on the Interstate w/18 wheelers that blow by)…. using a crew-cab Ram 1500 with a 4.7 V8, 3.92 axle and 4WD.

[sarge12212]

Or what if Airstream started building gooseneck trailers? ��

[Thiss]

Originally Posted by sarge12212

Or what if Airstream started building gooseneck trailers? ��

Take my money.

[Hermes]

Originally Posted by sarge12212

Or what if Airstream started building gooseneck trailers? ��

Like this? There are only 2 left. Last time I checked, the couple who own this one (they have been in our AS club for many decades) were selling theirs.

They had it lifted twice over the years because pickups were getting bigger every time they changed their TV!

[sarge12212]

Yes, exactly like that. No more WD/sway issues. No more front separation worries. Has a great front sleeping loft. Follows you around like a lost puppy! Whats not to like? ��

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by Hermes

Like this? There are only 2 left. Last time I checked, the couple who own this one (they have been in our AS club for many decades) were selling theirs.

They had it lifted twice over the years because pickups were getting bigger every time they changed their TV!

Posted this before. This one was built for Howard Hughes, and some guy in Texas has had it for many years. Inside supposed to be pretty nice; it was on AS Camper Clinic2 lot in Buda TX when I saw it...not sure what happened to it? I wish I could have gotten inside to see and take pictures...understand it was all mahogany wood paneled...