Which load leveling hitch?

[out of sight]

Actually, a law banning weight distribution hitches would not be a bad idea. Then everyone would be forced to use a large enough tow vehicle instead. The roads would be a lot safer.

[SteveSueMac]

A law banning misinformation would not be a bad idea.

[moosetags]

I have been doing this Airstreaming thing for quite a while now. We have been avid Airstreamers for almost fourteen years. We have over 2,000 nights out in the Airstream all over the United States and Canada. We now have about 190,000 miles of Airstream towing experience. We now tow with a 3/4 ton Silverado. Our prior tow vehicles include a one ton Silverado and two 3/4 ton Suburbans. We have had two 25FB's.

We have used a Hensley Arrow hitch system from the beginning. We have never had the slightest sway issue and we always feel in control, even in hard breaking situations. The weight distribution aspect moves some of the hitch weight to the front wheels of the tow vehicle. I feel that this is necessary to maintain sufficient steering control.

Brian

[Bobbo]

Originally Posted by out of sight

For several years now all vehicles in the US have built in ESC (Electronic Stability Control). This has rendered mechanical sway control devices obsolete, as ESC will stabilize your vehicle much better in the event of an emergency.an emergency.

If your ESC activates during normal towing it means that your trailer is either poorly loaded or your tow vehicle is not large enough to tow it safely. A mechanical sway control device may help cover up the problem and make you feel more comfortable but it will not solve the problem.

Originally Posted by out of sight

Actually, a law banning weight distribution hitches would not be a bad idea. Then everyone would be forced to use a large enough tow vehicle instead. The roads would be a lot safer.

Your first diatribe was against sway control. Your second diatribe is against WD hitches, which is a totally different subject. Just what have you got against safety equipment?

[out of sight]

Sway control and weight distribution are related. When you take weight off the rear rear wheels of your tow vehicle it will be less able to control a swaying trailer.

I am not against safety equipment, but a wd hitch is not safety equipment. Quite the opposite. It is too often used to enable an undersized tow vehicle to tow an oversized trailer, when the safer solution would be to have your rig properly sized to begin with.

[tjdonahoe]

Originally Posted by out of sight

If you get a big enough tow vehicle you won't need a weight distribution or sway control hitch. For a 28' Airstream a 3/4 ton truck will do it.

I beg to differ on this....

[CBWELL]

I guess everyone on this site has their own opinions of what is "safety" and what is not. Hopefully new members looking for help and information can seperate the facts from the fiction!! Most members posting here have facts and figures to back up statements, and exterience to go along with their thoughts and arguments. Some is just "hot air"!! With a trailer overloading the rear axle and taking the weight off the front steering axle is just inviting sway to start. Not rocket science!! Too bad we can't get a law banning some operators of unsafe vehicles banned from the road for life!!

[out of sight]

I wouldn't tow a 34' trailer with a 2500. I'd look for a bigger tow vehicle. The rule of thumb is your tow vehicle has to weigh more than your trailer in order to tow safely. Installing a wd hitch is not going to make it work. If you need a wd hitch to keep from overloading your rear axle then your tow vehicle is not big enough to safely tow.You can probably get away with it but you'll have to keep your speed down.

[CBWELL]

Explain that statement to all the operators of highway tractors!! I guess we all need Peterbuilts to pull our trailer now!! End of my time wasting with this argument!!

[out of sight]

A semi is different than a bumper pull trailer. The tractor's rear wheels support half the trailer load.

[Mollysdad]

Just for fun, while driving I try to look at what hitches people use.
I have never seen a WD hitch on anything other than an RV trailer.
Horse trailers, boat trailers, flatbeds with bulldozers, enclosed trailers all tow on the ball.

[Dan and Liz]

Lots of miles with WD and sway control. Lots of different roads and terrain, lots of winds, lots of semis, no problem ever. TV lighter than trailer. Just dumb luck, I guess ...

Or maybe those things work?

[KK4YZ]

Originally Posted by out of sight

I wouldn't tow a 34' trailer with a 2500. I'd look for a bigger tow vehicle. The rule of thumb is your tow vehicle has to weigh more than your trailer in order to tow safely. Installing a wd hitch is not going to make it work. If you need a wd hitch to keep from overloading your rear axle then your tow vehicle is not big enough to safely tow.You can probably get away with it but you'll have to keep your speed down.

Out-of-Sight, have you ever met SlowMover?

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by KK4YZ

Out-of-Sight, have you ever met SlowMover?

[emoji3]

Get your popcorn....

[ghaynes755]

Remember that you can use the member blocking feature so out of sight out of mind doesn't show up. Guess the 100's of thousands of OTR truckers that have a 25K tractor and an 80K trailer didn't get his memo

[billrector]

Originally Posted by SteveSueMac

[emoji3]

Get your popcorn....

Popping now...this should be good!

[Bobbo]

Originally Posted by ghaynes755

Remember that you can use the member blocking feature so out of sight out of mind doesn't show up.

I don't block people who spread misinformation. I want to be able to provide "the rest of the story" so inexperienced folks will at least hear that a bad idea is disputed.

[rgchak]

I've been using the Pro Pride for the past 5 yrs over 10K miles and love it. I'll take it from trailer to trailer so it's a life time investment and well worth the cost.

[jpaine4]

I have had experience using the same TV (2018 F150, super crew, Max tow pkg, air bags, 3.5 Echoburst.) and same TT, which was a Lance 2375 (5000lb dry) Three different hitches. The first I wont mention, as it was complete Junk, and not proper setup from my TT dealer. They ended up giving back the 1/2 price I had negotiated with the TT purchase. I then went to a Blue OX, 1500 lb bars and proper setup by a reputable hitch dealer. Trip from Iowa to Texas and back. Preformed like a champ. I am a feeble 72 year old, and hookup and unhook were a little tough. Large breaker bar helped, but still a daunting task. I then purchased a ProPride 3. Very pricey. Did the install and setup with help from my son. There customer service, and Sean are second to none. Sean would get back to me in minutes, nights or weekends with any concerns or questions I had. Sent pictures etc. of what my setup should look like. This system towed the best and is very, very easy to hookup and unhook all by yourself. If I was younger and stronger, I’m not sure I could justify the +2,000.00 difference between the OX and the PP. But if you can afford it, I liked the PP best. The other item I would recommend is a Haul Gauge . (Google it) It installs into the OBD port in seconds and will give you weights on your TV, TT, tongue etc. Also has a setting to let you know where your at while loading the WD and enables getting correct weight front and back etc. Best $100 item on the market, regardless of hitch selection.

[SailorSam205]

Originally Posted by rgchak

I've been using the Pro Pride for the past 5 yrs over 10K miles and love it. I'll take it from trailer to trailer so it's a life time investment and well worth the cost.

X2, only I am around 30K miles... This is with a 7000lb trailer on a F150.