Trouble with swaybars

[Elizabeth28]

Hello everyone, and happy Easter. I am unhitching my new rig and am stranded in a parking lot. I have put them on and off a couple of times with no problem. I got one off with difficulty but can hardly budge the other. Any suggestions welcome.

[GCinSC2]

Type of hitch or pic would help.

In general, raise the tongue with the jack to take the load off of the bars. Remove chains or clips swing bars out and lower tongue.

Type hitch will really narrow advice from possible to here’s how.

Gary

[Elizabeth28]

Yes, sorry. I’m all flustered out here and can’t handle the simplest things. Working on it.

[McStreamy_]

As said you generally raise the trailer and tow vehicle as high as your jack will go, then take off the bars or chains. Then lower and go about your business. If your tow vehicle is at an angle with the trailer (combo not in a straight line) that can add extra tension to one side.

[Iansk]

Elizabeth, I sent you a PM...

Ian

[Elizabeth28]

Thanks to all who were willing to help me on Easter Sunday. I wound up pulling the hitch pin and pulling forward very slowly. The sway bar pulled out, and the hitch did not. The problem was, as you said, that my truck was at an angle to the trailer. I guess I will have to significantly improve my backing up skills. But, many of the state parks I like to camp in have trees that make a straight back in impossible. Is there a safe alternative to sway bars? I'm pulling a 27' Flying Cloud FBQ.

[GetawA-S]

Elizabeth,
That's an Equalizer hitch? I've never had trouble doing as others said, raise the hitch just until you can feel the bar lift off the L piece. It is often a different height for each side.
Regarding the angle of the hitch. when you get the trailer into place, you can usually pull up to straighten the alignment and then back up into the same place. It's all about practice!
Happy camping!

[Bill M.]

One thing you can do is to remove the sway bars while the rig is still straight and then back into the space. Then to hook back up pull it on the ball for a few yards until it is straight and level again and put in the sway bars. This procedure is recommended if the site is markedly up or down hill too. I have never used the brand hitch you have.

[majorairhead]

When you arrive at your camp site, look it over. If you determine your truck will be on an incline when your trailer is where you want it, or your truck will be at a different height than the trailer, it may be of great benefit to remove the bars from your hitch prior to backing in.

Find a flat spot somewhere and take the bars off, then return to your camp site and back in.

[fran&frank]

Don't release the coupler form the hitch ball until you get the bars off! You want to use the trailer jack to pick up the rear of the truck to take pressure off the bars, so you need the coupler attached to the ball.

[GetawA-S]

Frank and Fran,
Good catch. That would make all the difference!

[GOUSC]

Originally Posted by fran&frank

Don't release the coupler form the hitch ball until you get the bars off! You want to use the trailer jack to pick up the rear of the truck to take pressure off the bars, so you need the coupler attached to the ball.

I made that mistake once when I was in a hurry. Never again. I have a feeling that’s what she did as the incline doesn’t look that bad.

[KCurtis]

I always remove my bars before I back into any site. I stop when the Airstream is in straight line with the truck. I then raise the jack up enough to remove the tension from the bars. Next, I remove the bars and then lower the hitch back down and back into the site. This makes unhitching so much less stressful. LOL

[aftermath]

Elizabeth, read what Frank and Fran said. When you get backed into your spot, raise the tongue of your trailer with your hitch CONNECTED to the ball. Raise it until you can move the bars with your hand. Disconnect the bars then lower the hitch until you see it move on the ball. Disconnect from the ball and raise the trailer off the ball. Been doing this for many years. No issues.....yet. I do like my Equalizer.


KCurtis, I really don't know why your system would make the procedure less stressful. Over the years I have disconnect when the truck and trailer were in a straight line, when they were slightly out of line and a few times when they were way out of line. Again, I like how the Equalizer is easy to hook up and to unhook.

[AnnaBelle33]

I would also recommend some lubrication in the proper spots on the hitch. That makes work with the bars much easier & will also quiet the ride.

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...1-00-4250.html

I use the Equalizer grease on mine & it works great.

[Elizabeth28]

Wow, great advice here! I was feeling pretty nervous about going out again. I think I get it now. Many thanks to all for the great suggestions.
Elizabeth

[Foiled Again]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth28

Wow, great advice here! I was feeling pretty nervous about going out again. I think I get it now. Many thanks to all for the great suggestions.
Elizabeth

Also LEARN from all those nice strong people who have been doing it for 20 years. Most of them WISH their wives would be willing to learn all the skills "just in case". Don't sit on your butt and let them do it for you but DO appreciate being mentored. You need only practice to become an expert.

Here is one more thing. Set your wheel chocks before you take the trailer off the ball. It is not funny to watch a new Bambi start to roll down an incline that steepens into a creek 5 feet lower. (Yanking the trailer emergency brake cable can save it, but prevention beats a rescue every time).

Paula