WD hitch / sway control for 5k lbs?

[SteveCZ]

The family and I are renting a 28' travel trailer in a week, and the spec says it's about 5000 pounds. While its tongue weight falls within the acceptable range to not use a WD hitch, I'm more concerned with sway of a 28' wind sail. The dealer said they have a spare WD hitch I can use, not sure if it has sway or not.

 

Biggest thing I've towed is a two place snowmobile trailer, so I'll be taking my time and being careful but also want to avoid any surprises.

 

Thoughts?

[Chevor]

You can always just use light tension on the WDH bar chains if the truck doesn't squat much.

 

You can always stop and adjust if it doesn't feel right.

[Sierra Jon]

Yea I tow an 8000 lb TT with WD hitch and only use the spring bars. I've never found that I needed the anti sway plus I don't want to have to worry about forgetting it when I back up.

 

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

[Wintersun]

Sway control is nice to have but from a practical standpoint if it is windy it is safer not to drive at that time (travel in the morning) or take an alternative route that is more protected. Sway control is not going to compensate for high winds and keep the trailer from flipping over.

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I usually tow a 20' enclosed car hauler - with the car, tools etc - it's only about 6,000lbs. After a couple years - when I changed out trailers - I added a WD Hitch with Sway-Control. Over-all the "feel" driving was much improved, with out the constant steering wheel inputs/corrections I had before. I towed these trailers with both 1500 and 2500HD trucks.

 

As stated above - "high winds" will blow you around. But high winds (35mph+) are not that common and you just slow down accordingly. Sway or Anti-sway control is more about passing or being passed by 18 wheelers at 70+ mph. Their sudden wake - that blows you momentarily sideways - causing you to over correct - and trailer going too far the opposite way - setting up an increasing dynamic in the sway - - that is what a good anti-sway system helps avoid.

 

If you have a lot of miles and experience towing - you most likely don't "need" it. If like me you tow two or four times a year - usually less than 1000 miles - - I see it as a good investment in both safety - and a less nerve racking drive.

 

If I towed a larger/heavier trailer - or put far more hours in on the road each day - I would want a 2500HD with the longer wheel base. The larger/heavier trucks are just much easier, more stable and far less nerve racking to drive towing a trailer.

 

FWIW,

Carl B