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Sjcjr · 04-21-2014, 06:50 PM

Does anyone tow with the blue ox sway pro hitch? If so, what are your thoughts?

xrvr · 04-22-2014, 05:27 AM

Have used one in the past and found it very good. Worked well for WD and sway control and was easy to hook up. Jim

TCA and GPO · 04-22-2014, 07:38 AM

We have blue ox sway pro hitch. This is our first trailer and TV experience so we don't have anything to compare but it is not difficult to hook or unhook.

Maybe Later · 04-22-2014, 07:48 AM

Our 30 ft Classic with S/O is our 2nd AS that we have used the Blue Ox on. I have no complaints with it all. In fact, I really don't know how any other make could be any better. Highly recommend it.

Walter

Pat Cassity · 04-22-2014, 08:38 AM

I tow a 27' international with a Yukon Denali using the Blue Ox Hitch. So far it has worked perfectly for me but I also don't have anything to compare it to. I just returned from a 2000 mile trip through far west Texas with heavy cross winds and 5 to 7% grades. I never had any sway problems even when 18 wheelers would pass me in the 85 mph speed zones.

John&Vicki · 04-22-2014, 10:07 AM

I tow a '90 25' Excella with a 2006 Mercedes ML500 and a Blue Ox. I just returned from a 3,000+ mile 3-month trip touring the Southwest. Mountains, curves, winds, semi's passing at 75+ mph - no problems whatsoever. Never any sway and trailer felt rock solid. I really appreciate that the hitch is totally quiet and there is no partial disassembly required for backing up. Also, I got pretty fast at hitching and unhitching after a while.

The hitch came with the trailer when I bought it and it's the only WD hitch I have experience with. I'm a statistical sample of one but it certainly seems to be doing the job for me. I spoke with others with more exotic hitches who seemed less satisfied than me. Common complaint was about noise.

Poppy

Vitaminsea · 04-23-2014, 08:49 PM

The blue ox sway pro is new to me. I've only towed it a couple times now. One thing I've noticed over my old hitch setup is the bounce or bounciness. It's very slight in bounce but notice it on our California concrete freeways. I need to play with the amount of chain links and hitch height to dial it in.

I like the relativity light weight, the silence making turns at slow speeds, and not having a friction sway add on. The hitch feels solid and no sway. It's more of a comfort level in the TV that I need to work on.

We have a 2011 tundra crew cab and a 28' international. Pin weight is 850#.

Landrum · 04-23-2014, 08:59 PM

Are you saying the hitch is light weight? I'm picking up our new 25 FB next week, and I'm trying to decide between the Eaz-lift with friction sway and the blue ox. I thought I read that the blue ox was very heavy. The weight is my last concern on trying the blue ox. (TV is a 2011 Toyota Sequoia).

Sjcjr · 04-23-2014, 09:09 PM

The hitch is somewhat heavy but manageable. It is totally quiet during towing. It is also easy to hook up. How many chain lengths do you torque on hook up? I usually torque 8. I'm wondering how much difference an added chain length of torque will make with towing. As I understand it the more you torque the more weight you distribute and less sway you encounter. Am I correct?

Sjcjr · 04-23-2014, 09:13 PM

I would estimate the hitch weight is 35 plus lb or so. I can weigh it to be exact. I have had a problem with the pin connectors that hold the sway/ weight distribution bars in place. Blue ox was good about replacement. I keep a few extra connecting pins on hand just in case.

Landrum · 04-23-2014, 09:21 PM

Thanks. I really like the idea of backing up without needing to remove the sway bars. I have a hitch included with the new AS, but I can upgrade to the Blue Ox for $250. It might be worth a try.

SSquared · 04-23-2014, 10:57 PM

I started with a Blue Ox SwayPro, and was not satisfied. It transferred weight OK, but the rig did not feel stable going down the road. We sometimes experienced continuing oscillations.

I discussed my experiences in detail in another thread:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f238...tem-92737.html

By the way, my hitch head weighed in at 55 pounds with the drop shank attached. The shank was a long drop version, not made by Blue Ox. I haven't weighed the hitch or shank by themselves. (I still have the shank but it is bolted tight to my replacement hitch)

Landrum · 04-24-2014, 05:57 AM

Thanks. Tough decision. Were the oscillations on your setup vertical "bounce" or side to side "sway"?

It sounds like the weight of the hitch is typical and therefore not an issue. I do trust Andy with Can-Am, and it sounds like he always sets folks up with the Eaz-Lift and friction sway. That is basically what I have now in a different brand on our 23 fb. However, I'm being drawn towards the light of "easy backing up", "no greasy bars", and "rotating brackets".

Jack46 · 04-24-2014, 06:07 AM

We moved from a 28' International to a 30' FC. We also moved our Blue Ox to the new trailer and found that there was a significant problem with sway with the new setup. We ended up going with a used Hensley. That made all the difference in improving our ride.

gypsydad · 04-27-2014, 06:49 PM

Experience: We bought a used Safari 25' in AZ few years back and the hitch broke in Tucson, just after picking it up. Only hitch local dealer had was BluOx, so we went with it....$850+ installation...after several thousand miles, to/from TX-MT, we had no issues with the hitch and actually liked the ease of hook up and take down...10 min max for either... after talking with several "experts"....looking at which hitch to use on new 25', question is should I use Ox or Reese Straight Line....I think the Ox from experience, and also looks like less of a hassle for hook up.

Question: After some excellent advice from several sources, I am leaning toward the BlueOx hitch...worked well for me on my last AS Safari 08', 25';it was very easy to hook up/take down. Now question: with BluOx, which weight bar for the new 25' with 835lb hitch weight (empty); 750lb or 1000lb? (BluOx website not real clear) I have advice to go with lower weight bar for smother ride from some pretty savy folks; also have advice from a dealer that they can not sell me the lower weight bar (750) for this trailer (835' hitch weight) and are suggesting 1000' bars....I am told the 1000' bars will give me stiffer ride however, and if I use 750' bars, it will give me the stability I need plus softer ride...I also know with full propane tanks, weight may increase from 835 to perhaps to ~ 1000'? Who is right and what is suggested?? lost and confused

By the way, forgot to add that new BluOx is around $550-$600 on Amazon....so not sure installation charge, but should be less overall than what I paid back then...

Landrum · 04-27-2014, 08:00 PM

I am picking up our new 25fb next weekend, and I'm trying to make a decision on the Blue Ox. I emailed Blue Ox with a couple of questions. One of the questions was bar size, and they recommended 750lb bars for my Toyota Sequoia. My sequoia is equivalent to a 1/2 ton truck in terms of ride and suspension. BTW the dry hitch weight for the newer 25fb's is 833. We pack light, so I'm expecting maybe 950 lbs actual weight. My other question was concerning the weight of the hitch. I had heard it was very heavy. I was told by Blue Ox the entire kit was 91 lbs including shank, head, bars, and brackets.

gypsydad · 04-27-2014, 08:37 PM

Call Blue Ox tomorrow....they should be able to answer any questions...I am planning on calling also. As for 833 weight list from AS specs....add propane (60 lbs) and you have including 4.2 lb/per gallon propane x 60 Gallons, an additional 252 lbs...so your up around 1052lb...Flying Cloud 25 hitch weight dry, is 835.....according to brochure.

SSquared · 04-27-2014, 09:20 PM

Our concern with the SwayPro was side-to-side sway.

It may be that the problem relates to the model of our tow vehicle. These GM SUV receivers have some up-and-down flex when you drop on the ball, and when you tighten up the chains. I took a picture of my rig and emailed it to the tech guys at Blue Ox, and they said my bars did not show enough flex, even though fender measurements and the CAT scales said I had good weight distribution (front axle was within 20 pounds of it's non-trailer weight). The receiver was doing some of the flexing. Andy T at Can-Am said he recommended reinforcing the receiver on these vehicles. Since I was traveling that way, I had Can-Am reinforce my receiver. I did not do before-and-after tests with the SwayPro to see if the receiver work changed the handling--it would have been very interesting, but we did not have the time.

As for the choice of bar, I have a 25FB with no options. My tongue weight has ranged from 900 to 960 pounds. We used 1000 pound bars and got the front axle to about 100% of its non-trailer weight. I would not recommend using lighter bars with a 25FB, unless you want less weight distribution (somewhere on this forum people have quoted other tow vehicle owner's manuals recommending 50% "Front Axle Load Restoration").

Even with the trailer jack at max extension, I found the rotating brackets took considerable force to turn. I used a breaker bar instead of the provided wrench to turn the brackets.

Landrum · 04-27-2014, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gypsydad

Call Blue Ox tomorrow....they should be able to answer any questions...I am planning on calling also. As for 833 weight list from AS specs....add propane (60 lbs) and you have including 4.2 lb/per gallon propane x 60 Gallons, an additional 252 lbs...so your up around 1052lb...Flying Cloud 25 hitch weight dry, is 835.....according to brochure.

I'm pretty sure the dry weight includes batteries and propane. Our 23fb dry hitch is 423. I've weighed ours at just over 500. I think most of our additional weight is water in the water heater. I was kidding when I said we pack light.

Landrum · 04-27-2014, 09:59 PM

Thanks for the info Square. I have a similar TV ( Toyota Sequoia ) which has a smaller wheel base than a truck so sway is a big concern for me. Unfortunately I will not have a chance to test the new hitch before we embark on a big trip west and north. I love the idea of no more greasy bars and the ease of backing up with Blue Sway, but I really trust Can-Am and I know they prefer to use the Eaz-Lift with friction sway.

I often wish there was no internet. I wonder how many hours I would have saved on WD hitch research (not to mention research on converters. TPMS, tires, centramatics, surge protection, etc etc etc)