My experience with Blue Ox Sway Pro and Bilstein 5100s
07-27-2020, 11:13 AM
#1
My experience with Blue Ox Sway Pro and Bilstein 5100s
Just thought I'd throw this out there in case anyone is looking for thoughts on towing... I have a 2016 SCREW 3.5L Eb 4x4 off-road with heavy duty tow package (but not max tow) and recently entered the world of travel trailer towing. First upgrade (before I bought trailer) were Bilstein 5100s. I couldn't believe how much better the truck handled/felt after having those installed. Like an entirely different truck. And it seemed to tighten up without making daily drive harsh. Just felt a lot more solid and planted, but still comfy. And when I hit bumps, especially mid-turn, truck no longer feels like it's going to kick out, one half bounce, and it's back planted again. These trucks should either come with these shocks from factory or it should at least be part of the 4x4 off road package... I noticed that even while towing a 6k lb trailer, I could hit a big bump and get less bounce than I would unloaded with the factory shocks... Anyways, highly recommend.
Next, I bought a 26' trailer, ~5,900 dry, ~7,500 gvwr and installed the Blue Ox Sway Pro wdh. I am SUPER impressed with how well the Blue Ox performed. I've just finished 5k miles cross country and back, pushing max speed limit (75-80), and encountered 20 mph winds through much of Oklahoma and Texas. With low winds, holding speed limit was super easy, and you almost don't even notice the trailer back there. When I started hitting higher winds, I'd have to slow down to 65-75, but it still held the sway to an absolute minimum and was super easy to just keep trucking. Extremely easy to backup (no need to unhook), essentially silent (have heard complaints that some wdh can be really loud, this one I've never heard a single noise from), and seemed to do an excellent job keeping the trailer in line. Maybe had 4-5 moments total over the 5k miles where I tensed up, typically when I'd be pushing speed limit, crest a hill and get hit with a big wind out of nowhere, could feel the slight kick of the trailer (sphincter tightens) and then right back in line. Slow down a bit, and just keep going. Had I not been pushing the speed limit, wouldn't have even noticed it I don't think. Full disclosure, this is my first experience with a WDH, so I'm not recommend over others, just wanted to share my experience. It's also pretty easy to hookup/unhook (once you learn the process).
Anyone looking to tow, I couldn't recommend enough the Bilsteins and the Sway Pro, both excellent... Hopefully this is helpful for someone out there!
Phoenix
Next, I bought a 26' trailer, ~5,900 dry, ~7,500 gvwr and installed the Blue Ox Sway Pro wdh. I am SUPER impressed with how well the Blue Ox performed. I've just finished 5k miles cross country and back, pushing max speed limit (75-80), and encountered 20 mph winds through much of Oklahoma and Texas. With low winds, holding speed limit was super easy, and you almost don't even notice the trailer back there. When I started hitting higher winds, I'd have to slow down to 65-75, but it still held the sway to an absolute minimum and was super easy to just keep trucking. Extremely easy to backup (no need to unhook), essentially silent (have heard complaints that some wdh can be really loud, this one I've never heard a single noise from), and seemed to do an excellent job keeping the trailer in line. Maybe had 4-5 moments total over the 5k miles where I tensed up, typically when I'd be pushing speed limit, crest a hill and get hit with a big wind out of nowhere, could feel the slight kick of the trailer (sphincter tightens) and then right back in line. Slow down a bit, and just keep going. Had I not been pushing the speed limit, wouldn't have even noticed it I don't think. Full disclosure, this is my first experience with a WDH, so I'm not recommend over others, just wanted to share my experience. It's also pretty easy to hookup/unhook (once you learn the process).
Anyone looking to tow, I couldn't recommend enough the Bilsteins and the Sway Pro, both excellent... Hopefully this is helpful for someone out there!
Phoenix
07-27-2020, 02:17 PM
#2
Agree'd. I put the Bilstein's on my 2014 about 3.5-4 years ago and have had them for about 45000 miles now. They are night an day better than stock in any scenario and 100% agree that they should be the stock shocks. The OE shocks are pretty pitiful. And its not even like the stock shocks ride better by being underdamped. I actually thought the ride was more uncomfortable because the truck tossed and shook and jittered over all the bumps. It really makes me wonder what kind of buyer they were trying to tune them for.
If I buy another F150, new shocks will be put on immediately.
If I buy another F150, new shocks will be put on immediately.
Last edited by mass-hole; 07-27-2020 at 02:20 PM.
07-27-2020, 05:51 PM
#3
Senior Member
I've had the BO WDH for 3 years now, towing a 8K car trailer all over the midwest and it was a vast improvement over my previous WDH. Added some 10 ply LT tires last year and that added to the towing improvement. OEM tires were P-Metric and too squishy when towing. Real curious if the Bilsteins will also add to the towing improvement. There's lots of positive comments on the forum about them, so guess that speaks volumes. Truck is now 5 years old and I may just pull the trigger early next year before towing season again.
07-27-2020, 06:56 PM
#4
Senior Member
Just thought I'd throw this out there in case anyone is looking for thoughts on towing... I have a 2016 SCREW 3.5L Eb 4x4 off-road with heavy duty tow package (but not max tow) and recently entered the world of travel trailer towing. First upgrade (before I bought trailer) were Bilstein 5100s. I couldn't believe how much better the truck handled/felt after having those installed. Like an entirely different truck. And it seemed to tighten up without making daily drive harsh. Just felt a lot more solid and planted, but still comfy. And when I hit bumps, especially mid-turn, truck no longer feels like it's going to kick out, one half bounce, and it's back planted again. These trucks should either come with these shocks from factory or it should at least be part of the 4x4 off road package... I noticed that even while towing a 6k lb trailer, I could hit a big bump and get less bounce than I would unloaded with the factory shocks... Anyways, highly recommend.
Next, I bought a 26' trailer, ~5,900 dry, ~7,500 gvwr and installed the Blue Ox Sway Pro wdh. I am SUPER impressed with how well the Blue Ox performed. I've just finished 5k miles cross country and back, pushing max speed limit (75-80), and encountered 20 mph winds through much of Oklahoma and Texas. With low winds, holding speed limit was super easy, and you almost don't even notice the trailer back there. When I started hitting higher winds, I'd have to slow down to 65-75, but it still held the sway to an absolute minimum and was super easy to just keep trucking. Extremely easy to backup (no need to unhook), essentially silent (have heard complaints that some wdh can be really loud, this one I've never heard a single noise from), and seemed to do an excellent job keeping the trailer in line. Maybe had 4-5 moments total over the 5k miles where I tensed up, typically when I'd be pushing speed limit, crest a hill and get hit with a big wind out of nowhere, could feel the slight kick of the trailer (sphincter tightens) and then right back in line. Slow down a bit, and just keep going. Had I not been pushing the speed limit, wouldn't have even noticed it I don't think. Full disclosure, this is my first experience with a WDH, so I'm not recommend over others, just wanted to share my experience. It's also pretty easy to hookup/unhook (once you learn the process).
Anyone looking to tow, I couldn't recommend enough the Bilsteins and the Sway Pro, both excellent... Hopefully this is helpful for someone out there!
Phoenix
Next, I bought a 26' trailer, ~5,900 dry, ~7,500 gvwr and installed the Blue Ox Sway Pro wdh. I am SUPER impressed with how well the Blue Ox performed. I've just finished 5k miles cross country and back, pushing max speed limit (75-80), and encountered 20 mph winds through much of Oklahoma and Texas. With low winds, holding speed limit was super easy, and you almost don't even notice the trailer back there. When I started hitting higher winds, I'd have to slow down to 65-75, but it still held the sway to an absolute minimum and was super easy to just keep trucking. Extremely easy to backup (no need to unhook), essentially silent (have heard complaints that some wdh can be really loud, this one I've never heard a single noise from), and seemed to do an excellent job keeping the trailer in line. Maybe had 4-5 moments total over the 5k miles where I tensed up, typically when I'd be pushing speed limit, crest a hill and get hit with a big wind out of nowhere, could feel the slight kick of the trailer (sphincter tightens) and then right back in line. Slow down a bit, and just keep going. Had I not been pushing the speed limit, wouldn't have even noticed it I don't think. Full disclosure, this is my first experience with a WDH, so I'm not recommend over others, just wanted to share my experience. It's also pretty easy to hookup/unhook (once you learn the process).
Anyone looking to tow, I couldn't recommend enough the Bilsteins and the Sway Pro, both excellent... Hopefully this is helpful for someone out there!
Phoenix
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Maury82 (07-28-2020)
07-28-2020, 12:53 PM
#7
Senior Member
Just thought I'd throw this out there in case anyone is looking for thoughts on towing... I have a 2016 SCREW 3.5L Eb 4x4 off-road with heavy duty tow package (but not max tow) and recently entered the world of travel trailer towing. First upgrade (before I bought trailer) were Bilstein 5100s. I couldn't believe how much better the truck handled/felt after having those installed. Like an entirely different truck. And it seemed to tighten up without making daily drive harsh. Just felt a lot more solid and planted, but still comfy. And when I hit bumps, especially mid-turn, truck no longer feels like it's going to kick out, one half bounce, and it's back planted again. These trucks should either come with these shocks from factory or it should at least be part of the 4x4 off road package... I noticed that even while towing a 6k lb trailer, I could hit a big bump and get less bounce than I would unloaded with the factory shocks... Anyways, highly recommend.
Next, I bought a 26' trailer, ~5,900 dry, ~7,500 gvwr and installed the Blue Ox Sway Pro wdh. I am SUPER impressed with how well the Blue Ox performed. I've just finished 5k miles cross country and back, pushing max speed limit (75-80), and encountered 20 mph winds through much of Oklahoma and Texas. With low winds, holding speed limit was super easy, and you almost don't even notice the trailer back there. When I started hitting higher winds, I'd have to slow down to 65-75, but it still held the sway to an absolute minimum and was super easy to just keep trucking. Extremely easy to backup (no need to unhook), essentially silent (have heard complaints that some wdh can be really loud, this one I've never heard a single noise from), and seemed to do an excellent job keeping the trailer in line. Maybe had 4-5 moments total over the 5k miles where I tensed up, typically when I'd be pushing speed limit, crest a hill and get hit with a big wind out of nowhere, could feel the slight kick of the trailer (sphincter tightens) and then right back in line. Slow down a bit, and just keep going. Had I not been pushing the speed limit, wouldn't have even noticed it I don't think. Full disclosure, this is my first experience with a WDH, so I'm not recommend over others, just wanted to share my experience. It's also pretty easy to hookup/unhook (once you learn the process).
Anyone looking to tow, I couldn't recommend enough the Bilsteins and the Sway Pro, both excellent... Hopefully this is helpful for someone out there!
Phoenix
Next, I bought a 26' trailer, ~5,900 dry, ~7,500 gvwr and installed the Blue Ox Sway Pro wdh. I am SUPER impressed with how well the Blue Ox performed. I've just finished 5k miles cross country and back, pushing max speed limit (75-80), and encountered 20 mph winds through much of Oklahoma and Texas. With low winds, holding speed limit was super easy, and you almost don't even notice the trailer back there. When I started hitting higher winds, I'd have to slow down to 65-75, but it still held the sway to an absolute minimum and was super easy to just keep trucking. Extremely easy to backup (no need to unhook), essentially silent (have heard complaints that some wdh can be really loud, this one I've never heard a single noise from), and seemed to do an excellent job keeping the trailer in line. Maybe had 4-5 moments total over the 5k miles where I tensed up, typically when I'd be pushing speed limit, crest a hill and get hit with a big wind out of nowhere, could feel the slight kick of the trailer (sphincter tightens) and then right back in line. Slow down a bit, and just keep going. Had I not been pushing the speed limit, wouldn't have even noticed it I don't think. Full disclosure, this is my first experience with a WDH, so I'm not recommend over others, just wanted to share my experience. It's also pretty easy to hookup/unhook (once you learn the process).
Anyone looking to tow, I couldn't recommend enough the Bilsteins and the Sway Pro, both excellent... Hopefully this is helpful for someone out there!
Phoenix
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07-28-2020, 10:09 PM
#8
Yep. 80 MPH towing a TT. Better have the best tires on it. Most are rated at 65 MPH, the better ones at 75 MPH. They don't call them china Bombs for nothing.
If that is the FX4, right choice dumping those godawful shocks. Did the same on the 2016 I had, 100% improvement. The Blue Ox I had once I got the correct bars was rock solid. That reminds me, still have the 1500 pound bars to list for sale.
If that is the FX4, right choice dumping those godawful shocks. Did the same on the 2016 I had, 100% improvement. The Blue Ox I had once I got the correct bars was rock solid. That reminds me, still have the 1500 pound bars to list for sale.
07-28-2020, 10:31 PM
#9
I debated for a couple of hours whether I wanted to add the speed because I knew I'd get this response and I didn't want to have a debate... But I thought it was helpful for people to understand the capabilities of the WDH... But yes, I was probably pushing limits...
07-28-2020, 10:33 PM
#10
I have 285/55's (275/55 were stock), so I bumped it up to the first stop which is, I believe at .79 inches. Tire is .6 inches taller, so I was basically making room for it, although it will level it a tad, but not really.