Do I need a WDH?
#11
Thanks for the info guys. I towed it home from the dealer with only a drop hitch and it seemed ok, but every time I’d pass a semi i could feel the wind off it, but didn’t notice any sway. I think I’ll go with an inexpensive weight distributing hitch. If I have trouble I guess I’ll just upgrade.
#12
Grumpy Old Man
#13
A properly set up inexpensive WDH with a properly adjusted friction sway control used on a truck that isn't overloaded and is driven with some respect will have no problems.
#14
Grumpy Old Man
Until you are towing on a crooked, hilly highway in a sudden shower on slick pavement, then notice a large animal in your lane right in front of you, and an 10-wheeler is speeding towards you in the other lane. So you swerve hard to the right to miss the animal, then back to the left to stay on the road, and that starts a severe sway of the trailer. Just as the 18-wheeler blasts by and sucks on your trailer that's already in the middle of a big sway. When that happens to you, you'll wish you had paid a bit more for your hitch to get better anti-sway capability.
#15
Until you are towing on a crooked, hilly highway in a sudden shower on slick pavement, then notice a large animal in your lane right in front of you, and an 10-wheeler is speeding towards you in the other lane. So you swerve hard to the right to miss the animal, then back to the left to stay on the road, and that starts a severe sway of the trailer. Just as the 18-wheeler blasts by and sucks on your trailer that's already in the middle of a big sway. When that happens to you, you'll wish you had paid a bit more for your hitch to get better anti-sway capability.
#16
People have successfully been using friction sway controls for at least 40 years. The first one I saw was in 1976 when we got a larger camper decided we might need it.
#17
Grumpy Old Man
Right. We're discussing a travel trailer and weight-distributing/sway control hitch. You're the first one to mention a 5er. The rules are completely different for a 5er hitch. If properly installed with the center of the kingpin kingpin 4" in front of the center of the rear axle, sway is not a problem with a properly-loaded 5er.