Weight Distribution Hitch and Sway Control

[curryp]

Okay, I have been thinking of asking this question and now after seeing the "Exceeding Towing Capacity" thread I decided I need to ask....... I know I can tow my Coleman Tacoma PU easily with V8 Toyota Tundra w/towing pkg, but what about controlling the sway? I believe we should get a weight distribution hitch (WDH). Due to my husband's summer contracting business we never really have traveled more than 100 miles with the camper and never on the interstate and have no problems with sway as long as we keep it under 60 mph. But we are able to get away for a few days and will be traveling over 300 miles including interstate travel. Right now if we do go much more than 60 mph we get sway. My question is what is the cheapest and easiest WDH we can get that will do the job and keep us safe? I believe the camper is about 2500 lbs. with gear in it.

[wavery]

Okay, I have been thinking of asking this question and now after seeing the "Exceeding Towing Capacity" thread I decided I need to ask....... I know I can tow my Coleman Tacoma PU easily with V8 Toyota Tundra w/towing pkg, but what about controlling the sway? I believe we should get a weight distribution hitch (WDH). Due to my husband's summer contracting business we never really have traveled more than 100 miles with the camper and never on the interstate and have no problems with sway as long as we keep it under 60 mph. But we are able to get away for a few days and will be traveling over 300 miles including interstate travel. Right now if we do go much more than 60 mph we get sway. My question is what is the cheapest and easiest WDH we can get that will do the job and keep us safe? I believe the camper is about 2500 lbs. with gear in it.

I'm actually a little surprised that you are having sway problems with that set-up. Be sure that your tongue weight is between 10-15% of the loaded trailer weight and also be sure that the front of the trailer is level with the back of the trailer or even slightly lower in the front.

Do you have bikes or anything hanging off of the back of the trailer???

[coach]

Not a wdh, but a Pro Series Friction Sway Control Kit

Colemans at one time came pre drilled for a friction sway bar.

I'd prefer to reduce/eliminate sway by loading the trailer different.

[curryp]

I'm actually a little surprised that you are having sway problems with that set-up. Be sure that your tongue weight is between 10-15% of the loaded trailer weight and also be sure that the front of the trailer is level with the back of the trailer or even slightly lower in the front.

Do you have bikes or anything hanging off of the back of the trailer???

I too am surprised that there is sway, but there is. We do not have anything attached to the rear of the camper or anywhere else for that matter. How do I check the tongue weight that you described? The trailer is level when hooked up.

[curryp]

Not a wdh, but a Pro Series Friction Sway Control Kit

Colemans at one time came pre drilled for a friction sway bar.

I'd prefer to reduce/eliminate sway by loading the trailer different.

I checked out the sway control kit. That is used independently and just attaches to the trailer tongue? I did read that sway could be reduced by loading most of the weight in the front of the camper. Is that what you meant?

[curryp]

Would this work too and is it used w/o a weight distribution hitch?

 http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=96462

[coach]

Would this work too and is it used w/o a weight distribution hitch?

 http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=96462

Yes, that's it.

[wavery]

I checked out the sway control kit. That is used independently and just attaches to the trailer tongue? I did read that sway could be reduced by loading most of the weight in the front of the camper. Is that what you meant?

Yes. The axle acts as your fulcrum point. Any weight place behind the axle reduces the weight on the tongue. If tongue weight is below 10% it increases the possibility of swaying.

A sway control devise is not a "bad" thing, that's for sure. It's just another "thing" that you have to do.

[curryp]

Yes. The axle acts as your fulcrum point. Any weight place behind the axle reduces the weight on the tongue. If tongue weight is below 10% it increases the possibility of swaying.

A sway control devise is not a "bad" thing, that's for sure. It's just another "thing" that you have to do.

Well, if it keeps me safe and avoids a picture of my set-up from being posted on here then it is worth it.







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[dthurk]

Eliminating sway by proper loading is preferable to taming it with an anti-sway set up.  Anti-sway is a great safety feature, but should never take the place of proper loading.  As to your earlier posts, a weight distributing hitch is a totally different creature.  Weight distribution does nothing to counteract sway.

[surffishjimmy]

I would think that you would have very little sway with that setup.   I tow with a 2006 Pilot and my pup is on the heavy side 3,000 + pounds loaded.   I would first make sure that the rear end of you PU isn't sagging to low.   I put air bags in my TV to get the rear up a bit.  Also make sure you have the correct rise/drop on the hitch so that you pup is level when hitched, this makes a big difference.

I don't go over 60 mph when towing.   Anything for me over 60 mph the pup will start to sway a bit.