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Suggestions on tow weight distribution sway control hitches

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  • #1

    Suggestions on tow weight distribution sway control hitches

    HI all,

    I have just purchased a new Imagine 2500RL and I pick it up in a few weeks. I have a F150 Max tow for my vehicle. I am looking for my two hitch. I am leaning towards a equalizer brand hitch. But am not sure if this would be the best. I have seen several brands that are thousands of dollars but want to keep my costs under control. I am wondering what others have and their experience and any suggestions.

    Thanks

    Tripdreamer
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Originally posted by Tripdreamer View Post
    HI all,

    I have just purchased a new Imagine 2500RL and I pick it up in a few weeks. I have a F150 Max tow for my vehicle. I am looking for my two hitch. I am leaning towards a equalizer brand hitch. But am not sure if this would be the best. I have seen several brands that are thousands of dollars but want to keep my costs under control. I am wondering what others have and their experience and any suggestions.

    Thanks

    Tripdreamer
    Congrats on the 2500RL. Noted that was your first post, so please check out the Welcome Letter to New Members https://gdrvowners.com/forum/main-fo...to-new-members when you get an opportunity.

    I use a Blue Ox setup (2K bars with my heavy 315RLTS) paired with LCI's Strapteks. The Strapteks transform what, in my opinion, is a lousy (and dangerous) connect/disconnect method into a very simple, fast and easy process. This thread may be of interest: https://gdrvowners.com/towing-and-hi...st-impressions

    Others with setups closer to what you have I'm sure will chime in with their .02.

    Howard
    Forum moderators are not GD employees--we are volunteers and owners presumably just like yourself. Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, we have nothing to gain should you choose to purchase a product or engage a service we discuss on this forum.

    2017 Ford F-350 DRW, '19 315RLTSPlus

    Comment

    • #3
      Originally posted by howson View Post
      I use a Blue Ox setup (2K bars with my heavy 315RLTS) paired with LCI's Strapteks. The Strapteks transform what, in my opinion, is a lousy (and dangerous) connect/disconnect method into a very simple, fast and easy process. This thread may be of interest: https://gdrvowners.com/towing-and-hi...st-impressions

      Others with setups closer to what you have I'm sure will chime in with their .02.

      Howard
      I ordered the Blue Ox for my 297QB (salesman seemed annoyed that I dared to want something other than Equalizer). This is the first I've seen of the Straptek and am very intrigued. Always a few more that can be spent somewhere.
      Jonathon, Sarah, Things 1, 2, & 3 Higham
      2020 Silverado 1500
      2021 Transcend Xplor 297QB

      Comment

      • #4
        I use the Blue Ox Sway Pro. I don't seem to have any issue with hooking up like Howard did. But I have a smaller trailer than he does. And the 2500RL is 2,500# lighter in GVWR than my Reflection 297RSTS.
        You can always mount the OEM spring bar hangers, and if you run into a problem hooking up you could add the Strapteks after the fact.

        The little wrench that Sway Pro provides is not really adequate for the job. I use a two foot breaker bar and it makes the job MUCH easier.

        My son uses an Equalizer brand hitch successfully on his travel trailer. The only drawback is that it is much noisier than my Blue Ox.

        If you do go with the Blue Ox, there are several sizes to pick from, I'd suggest going with the 10,000# hitch with the 1,000# bars for your trailer.

        Jim
        Jim and Ginnie
        2024 Solitude 310GK - 2020 F350 Dually
        GDRV Technical Forum Moderator
        GDRV Rally Support Coordinator

        Comment

        • #5
          Welcome to the family and the forum!
          Jerry and Kelly Powell, with Halo, Nash, Reid, Cleo, Rosie, and the two newest additions Shaggy and Bella..
          Nash County, NC
          2020 Solitude 390RK-R​

          Comment

          • #6
            Welcome Tripdreamer,

            I'm happy with my Equalizer hitch as I have never had issues with sway. The hitch if used with the Equalizer Sway Bracket Jackets is completely silent. The only issue I could add in this hitch is the fact that it must be greased on the trunnion surfaces on the truck side. So you will want to wipe it down once your at your destination or you can expect to get grease on something. I've had no issues with this since I wipe it down when at the campsite and grease it when prepping for travel. It only requires a very thin coating of grease so its not messy at all.

            Jim

            Comment

            • #7
              Originally posted by Tripdreamer View Post
              HI all,

              I have just purchased a new Imagine 2500RL and I pick it up in a few weeks. I have a F150 Max tow for my vehicle. I am looking for my two hitch. I am leaning towards a equalizer brand hitch. But am not sure if this would be the best. I have seen several brands that are thousands of dollars but want to keep my costs under control. I am wondering what others have and their experience and any suggestions.

              Thanks

              Tripdreamer
              I use the Equal-i-zer brand hitch and I think it's great. My only advice to you is make sure whatever hitch you get is capable of a tongue weight OF AT LEAST 15% of your Gross Trailer Weight. For example, the advertised hitch weight for the 2500RL is roughly 580 lbs and the Gross Trailer Weight is roughly 7500 lbs. 15% of 7500 lbs is about 1125 lbs. So skip the 1000/10000 rated Equal-i-zer and go with at least the 1200/12000 rated Equal-i-zer. The reason for this is that when you load the trailer the tongue weight will be much higher than the 580 lbs advertised tongue weight. You want your tongue weight to be between 10% and 15% of your gross trailer weight. (750 lbs to 1125 lbs in this case) AND, since the weight distribution bars are also counteracting any weight in the truck bed that is behind the rear wheels, the load on the hitch spring bars and components will be greater than just the load exerted by the trailer tongue. I hope this helps.

              Bob
              Last edited by RJAPCOK; 01-06-2021, 09:36 PM. Reason: added "be" between will and greater.
              Bob & Lynne

              2020 Imagine 2970RL
              2019 GMC Sierra 2500 Denali HD 4x4 Duramax
              • Likes 3

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              • #8
                I too am using a Blue Ox with 1000lb bars. My rig is lighter than yours though. It takes a couple/three tries to get it dialed in but works fairly well. First time I've seen the Straptek device also. I have been raising the hitch/trailer very high to lessen the tension on the chains. Makes life easier.
                Good luck.
                Robert and Chris
                2021 XLS 22MLE (somewhat factory stock)
                2018 Silverado 1500 Z71 Crew Cab

                Comment

                • #9
                  Originally posted by Capt Bob View Post
                  I have been raising the hitch/trailer very high to lessen the tension on the chains.
                  I used to do that and it helped--but came with unintended consequences.

                  My 315RLTS' tongue weight is ~1,300 to 1,500lbs. Using the tongue jack to raise the trailer's nose and rear of the dually (even with the air bags at 100 psi) has caused noticeable "bulges" (for lack of a better word) around the joint where the tongue and jack bolt together. The "key" inside the jack also stripped which required repair. If interested, here's a link to that thread: https://gdrvowners.com/forum/mainten...jack-leg-spins

                  That's a long way to write that the powered tongue jack is not intended to raise the rear of our TVs. Your trailer is much lighter so maybe it will work out OK and someone will post that they've done it for years without any issues, but as a general rule I don't think it's a good idea.

                  IMO it's ridiculous that Blue Ox's OEM connection system requires workarounds or aftermarket solutions. I hated using the Blue Ox prior to buying and using the Straptek--so much so I almost bought a very expensive Pro Pride (or Hensley Hitch). Now that I have the Strapteks, it is easy and safe to hook up and tighten the bars.



                  Forum moderators are not GD employees--we are volunteers and owners presumably just like yourself. Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, we have nothing to gain should you choose to purchase a product or engage a service we discuss on this forum.

                  2017 Ford F-350 DRW, '19 315RLTSPlus

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Originally posted by howson View Post

                    I used to do that and it helped--but came with unintended consequences.
                    I fully agree. I'm not real happy doing it, lighter trailer or not, just for the reasons you listed. That's why I'm moving toward the Straptek system. It is indeed ridiculous that one needs to do that to offset the fact that they are not built like brick outhouse.

                    Thanks again for the tip. It will make my life a lot easier.
                    Robert and Chris
                    2021 XLS 22MLE (somewhat factory stock)
                    2018 Silverado 1500 Z71 Crew Cab

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      When I bought my BP the dealer sold me a Blue Ox. After using it for 4 years I was very happy with the ease of use and performance. I also like that you can upgrade the bars should you get a larger or smaller trailer in the future. Very simple to engage and I believe is one of the few that allows you to backup without unhooking it.
                      2020 GD 320G
                      2021 Ram 3500 H.O. SRW.

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                      • #12
                        I am using the new Blue Ox Track Pro and it works very good. I havent had any sway problems. Not even from passing trucks. Very quiet also.
                        2018 RAM 3500 Big Horn, CC SB 6.7 Cummins HO/Aisin
                        2021 GD Imagine 2800BH

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Full disclosure: We have yet to finalize our purchase of travel trailer. We are on the fence between Imagine 2670MK and Reflection 297RSTS. Therefore, I do not have any experience or advice.
                          But, I am surprised that there is no mention of Curt TruTrack as an alternative to the Equalizer WDS. GD Ambassador Wandering Weekends(Cory) did an excellent YouTube showing installation and test drive.

                          I have yet to purchase my first WDS. And questions remain:
                          1. Is either TruTrack or Equalizer better
                            1. TruTrack uses a ball and detent
                            2. Equalizer uses fiction at the head
                          2. Can you back into a campsite with sharp turns without disconnecting either of these systems?
                          3. Noise seems to be inevitable when making tight turns, either going forward or reverse. I am guessing it is because the friction is metal on metal
                            1. Can the noise be adjusted out of the system, similar to adjusting the squeak out of bicycle calipers?
                          Curt TruTrack Brings the BEEF! Definitely an Upgrade From Our Old Hitch and Costs $140 Less - YouTube
                          https://www.youtube.com
                          #towing #wdh #curtTruTrack: https://amzn.to/3nWEU57Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/wanderingweekends****************** START HERE VIDEOS **********...
                           
                          Al & Ann
                          F150 with Max Tow Pkg.
                          Imagine 2670MK (2021)

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            I have the Blue Ox. I saw that TucsonJim was using it here, and the parts counter guy steered me towards it. It was kind of funny. He REAALLY pushed the equalizer, but when I asked him about the Blue Ox, he said that's his favorite hitch, and what he has on his rig. I think there may be some incentives for the dealer to push the Equalizer.

                            Anyways, I've always been mystified by Howard's distaste for the Blue Ox. Now that I know he experienced a problem, I can see why.

                            For reference, The linked video show's one of the youtube blogger's that have the Blue Ox. You can clearly see him raise the truck slightly, and how loose the bars get. Then he just takes it off by hand. No wrench.

                            https://youtu.be/3mldkcV60NY?t=947

                            Here's another video from the top.
                            https://youtu.be/64LoJjaY07Y?t=1797


                            There is another video, but I'm not going to look for it, that show's him hitching up. Same thing. Never has the wrench out.
                            Mike
                            2017 Imagine 2800BH pushing a 2019 Ford F150 Platinum

                            Formerly: 2002 Rockwood Popup
                            Location: Massachusetts

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Originally posted by mpking View Post
                              I have the Blue Ox. I saw that TucsonJim was using it here, and the parts counter guy steered me towards it. It was kind of funny. He REAALLY pushed the equalizer, but when I asked him about the Blue Ox, he said that's his favorite hitch, and what he has on his rig. I think there may be some incentives for the dealer to push the Equalizer.

                              Anyways, I've always been mystified by Howard's distaste for the Blue Ox. Now that I know he experienced a problem, I can see why.

                              For reference, The linked video show's one of the youtube blogger's that have the Blue Ox. You can clearly see him raise the truck slightly, and how loose the bars get. Then he just takes it off by hand. No wrench.

                              https://youtu.be/3mldkcV60NY?t=947

                              Here's another video from the top.
                              https://youtu.be/64LoJjaY07Y?t=1797


                              There is another video, but I'm not going to look for it, that show's him hitching up. Same thing. Never has the wrench out.
                              Good observations. Those are not nearly tight enough to be effective. Barely any bend in the bars under full weight.
                              2020 GD 320G
                              2021 Ram 3500 H.O. SRW.

                              Comment

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