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01-15-2025, 05:54 AM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member 
2017 25' International
Yuma
, Arizona
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 6
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Which Blue Ox Sway Pro Bars?
We are new AS owners with a 2017 International Signature 25. It came with the Blue Ox Sway Pro setup wit BXW750 spring bars. Should I be using the BXW1000 bars instead?
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2017 International Signature 25 (Rear Twin Beds)
2018 F-150 3.5 EB SuperCrew 4X4 w/HD Tow
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01-15-2025, 06:02 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master 
2022 25' Flying Cloud
NCR
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,522
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we use 1000lb with our Fc 25FB
its best to use bars that are rated higher than the tongue weight
our TW was 750 lbs thus the 1000 lb bars work well
if too high , then there too stiff
it there too low i.e. less than TW, then they won't work very well
__________________
2023 25' FB FC, hatch, Queen,30A,1AC,Awning pkg, Convection uwave.Multiplus 12/3000-50,700A Lion,MPPT 100/30,Orion-TR 30,Cerbo GX,GX touch 50,Lynx distributor,dual BMV-712, smart shunt 500A&1000A, RUUVI temp/humidity sensors,2 Mopeka LP sensors
NCR,Ontario,VE3HIU since 1978
WBCCI# 21212
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01-15-2025, 06:57 AM
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#3
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1 Rivet Member 
2017 25' International
Yuma
, Arizona
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 6
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Thanks so much for your response waninae39, greatly appreciated! That makes sense to me, I was worried that the stiffer bars would be harder on the trailer.
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2017 International Signature 25 (Rear Twin Beds)
2018 F-150 3.5 EB SuperCrew 4X4 w/HD Tow
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01-15-2025, 09:49 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master 
2019 27' Globetrotter
McHenry
, Illinois
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,588
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Like waninae39, we use 1000 lbs bars on our 27’ Globetrotter which has a lighter tongue than a 25’ front bed Airstream at the time.
You didn’t mention what tow vehicle you have which can be a factor. How much weight transfer you need to level the tow vehicle comes in to play. The more weight you need to transfer, the tighter you’ll need to make the bars.
We used to tow with 3 1’2’ links showing but found with our 3/4 ton truck, I could loosen them by one link and still have enough sway control. I didn’t have to transfer a lot of weight because the 3/4 ton truck’s rear suspension could handle it.
You can learn a lot by going to a CAT scaler and doing the 3-pass method. Measure the front and rear wheel openings on the truck to see how much each adjustment affected the weight transfer. Also, the readings from your weigh tickets will reveal what’s really happening.
Good luck!
__________________
2019 27’ Globetrotter FBT Walnut/Dublin Slate
2018 FC23FB
2019 Ram 2500 6.4 Hemi Laramie Blue Ox 1000#
WBCCI# 10258
RETIRED!
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01-15-2025, 09:52 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master 

2017 26' Flying Cloud
Tampa
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 8,115
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IMO, one should go with the lowest bars that get the job done. Step one is to weigh the tongue of the trailer, not rely on the factory specs. (Airstream said mine was 903 when in reality it's 1125.)
So I'm over on the 1000# bars but way below needing the 1500# bars.
Next consideration is the trailer in motion, not just on the scale. With the rash of frame flex problems I want as soft a bar as practical. Too often bridge transitions or pre-cast sections leave me with "Humpty-humpty" up and down motion. Too stiff and that force gets transferred to the frame.
So, in my humble opinion, I'm going with the 1000# bars even though I'm over. I can make up the WD by subtracting a link, but still have the more flexible bars.
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01-15-2025, 11:44 AM
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#6
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4 Rivet Member 
2014 25' Flying Cloud
Temple
, Texas
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 311
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I use the 1000# with my 25FB but I did make a couple of trips with the 750# while waiting for the heavier bars to arrive with no issues, using the 1000# bars with a 2500 Ram are sufficient, 1500# just seem to be too stiff for my application.
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2014 Flying Cloud 25FB
2018 Ram 2500; Cummins
Blue Ox WDH
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01-15-2025, 12:21 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master 
2022 25' Flying Cloud
NCR
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,522
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__________________
2023 25' FB FC, hatch, Queen,30A,1AC,Awning pkg, Convection uwave.Multiplus 12/3000-50,700A Lion,MPPT 100/30,Orion-TR 30,Cerbo GX,GX touch 50,Lynx distributor,dual BMV-712, smart shunt 500A&1000A, RUUVI temp/humidity sensors,2 Mopeka LP sensors
NCR,Ontario,VE3HIU since 1978
WBCCI# 21212
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01-15-2025, 05:03 PM
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#8
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"Cloudsplitter"

2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,129
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ceparosa
We are new AS owners with a 2017 International Signature 25. It came with the Blue Ox Sway Pro setup with BXW750 spring bars. Should I be using the BXW1000 bars instead?
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What is your loaded for camping tongue weight and how much weight are you moving back to the steering axle?
The 750 lb bars that you have should move 500 lbs without a problem.
POI...We use 1000 lb bars to move 720lbs, with a 1200 lb tongue weight.
Bob
🇺🇸
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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01-15-2025, 11:55 PM
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#9
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1 Rivet Member 
2016 25' International
Williams
, Oregon
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 9
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I went to the 1000 pound on mine. They bent a lot less and are easier to hook up.
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01-19-2025, 11:18 AM
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#10
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New Member
2025 25' Trade Wind
Sparks
, Nevada
Join Date: Jan 2025
Posts: 1
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Blue Ox Sway Bar
I’m traveling the States full time and have the blue ox sway bar with tension bars and it works fantastic
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01-19-2025, 01:41 PM
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#11
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New Member
2021 30RB Classic
ACTON
, California
Join Date: Jan 2025
Posts: 2
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Use what the dealer recommends.
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01-19-2025, 02:03 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master 
2017 28' Flying Cloud
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
2008 25' Safari FB SE
Georgetown (winter)Thayne (summer)
, Texas & Wyoming
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,437
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ernesto62
Use what the dealer recommends.
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If your talking about which WDH, AS now recommends Blue Ox. But if your talking about setting up your WDH, listening to the dealer on which WDH or how to set up, is not a blanket correct statement IMHO. Most dealers are not that "smart" on WDH, TV, and are more interested in the sale. Many here will agree on that, I am sure. You can find out a lot of good information here on the Forum, by watching Youtubes on WDH and Airstreams, by visiting the different websites of the WDH Mfg. also. The dealer/sales person is last person to take advise from unless you know he has experience in this area. Case in point, when I went to pick up my 2017 28', when new, I had experience and liked the Blue Ox Sway Pro set up from previous AS's I had owned. When I called Blue Ox techs, they recommended 1500lb bars which I had told the dealer in Portland prior to driving there from TX to pick up my unit. The dealer had included 1000lb bars, per his recommendation. He said my tongue weight was only 850lbs; I argued from experience with my 25's that it was likely over 1000lbs and asked him to get his sure scale. It pegged out at 1000lb, which surprised them. They set me up with 5.5 links showing on the sway bars, which were too loose and caused me to "porpoise" when I hit the highway shortly after I left the dealer, until I changed to 4.5 links showing. My actual scale weight came in at 1150lbs when I got to a cat scale. It was 4 years before I was able to get the links down to 3.5. Today, I still run with 3.5 links. Handles great.
__________________
Empty Nesters; Gypsies on the road! 2017 28' Twin Flying Cloud
2017 F250 King Ranch, 4X4, 6.7L, Blue-Ox WDH
Summer-Star Valley Ranch RV Resort (Thayne, WY); Winter-Sun City (Georgetown,TX)
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01-19-2025, 02:33 PM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member 
Eden Valley
, California
Join Date: Jan 2025
Posts: 20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by waninae39
we use 1000lb with our Fc 25FB
its best to use bars that are rated higher than the tongue weight
our TW was 750 lbs thus the 1000 lb bars work well
if too high , then there too stiff
it there too low i.e. less than TW, then they won't work very well
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Do you currently own a TW? How do you like it? I just ordered one. They are adding the hitch in the sale. What’s the benefit of the 1000 over the 750?
Thx in advance
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01-19-2025, 02:53 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master 
2021 30' Flying Cloud
Sioux Falls
, South Dakota
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,557
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"The dealer/sales person is last person to take advise from unless you know he has experience in this area." Very true. When we bought our previous SOB the dealer gave us 1000 pound bars for the Blue Ox Sway Pro. As measured at the Blue Ox factory later that year, the tongue weight was nearly 1,900 pounds. We got a set of 2,000 pound bars. The dealer also installed one of the brackets incorrectly.
I'm using the 1,000 pound bars on our Airstream. We don't have an accurate tongue weight (yet) but plan to get that when we head out in a couple of months. Since our trailer has a GVWR of 8,800 pounds, we ought to have a tongue weight of somewhere around 1,000 pounds. We're towing with a 2016 F350, so I suspect that I probably don't need much weight distributing, more sway control. I'll play around with it some as we start traveling in a month or six weeks.
__________________
David Lininger, kb0zke
7490
2021 Flying Cloud 30 RBQ
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01-19-2025, 03:30 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master 
1966 24' Tradewind
Kansas City
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 670
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01-19-2025, 03:33 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master 
1966 24' Tradewind
Kansas City
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 670
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01-19-2025, 03:39 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master 
1966 24' Tradewind
Kansas City
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 670
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You might think about doing away with the needlessly clunky and complex bars and chains setup and go with a simple and slick hydraulic system. Go to the website for B&W Hitches and check out the Continuum setup.
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01-19-2025, 03:50 PM
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#18
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4 Rivet Member 
2023 23' Flying Cloud
Another
, World
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 325
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The bars and chains are incredibly easy to use. Complete lash up with the blue ox takes around 5 minutes after you’ve done it a couple times. It’s a rock solid platform. Nothing complex about it. I’ve used the Blue ox Sway Pro and now use the Weigh Safe. Both are simple and effective.
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01-20-2025, 10:48 AM
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#19
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2 Rivet Member 
Eden Valley
, California
Join Date: Jan 2025
Posts: 20
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Thank you all for the comments. Very informative — thanks again for the insight!
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01-20-2025, 01:11 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master 
2017 28' Flying Cloud
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
2008 25' Safari FB SE
Georgetown (winter)Thayne (summer)
, Texas & Wyoming
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,437
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NutmegsCamper
The bars and chains are incredibly easy to use. Complete lash up with the blue ox takes around 5 minutes after you’ve done it a couple times. It’s a rock solid platform. Nothing complex about it. I’ve used the Blue ox Sway Pro and now use the Weigh Safe. Both are simple and effective.
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Agree; once you understand how to load/unload your Sway Pro bars on the Blue Ox using the power jack up front, it's pretty straight forward. I too can hook up in about 5 minuets tops. The earlier Blue Ox system came with a stamped metal wrench, which was terrible and dangerous, IMHO. I quickly switched to a 15" braker bar with socket and threw the BO wrench in my toolkit as back up....(I did forget my wrench on my bumper "once" while pulling out of a campground in WA...was glad I had the backup wrench!) Lesson learned; now I store the wrench in the Airboard rack I installed above my tanks in the tank cover, along with my gloves, 115-50A pigtail, and ball lub.  (that lub is for the "hitch ball", by the way!)
__________________
Empty Nesters; Gypsies on the road! 2017 28' Twin Flying Cloud
2017 F250 King Ranch, 4X4, 6.7L, Blue-Ox WDH
Summer-Star Valley Ranch RV Resort (Thayne, WY); Winter-Sun City (Georgetown,TX)
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