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Wandering Weekends 6 way Hitch battle
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That's a great review! I use an Equalizer to tow my 24' enclosed bumper-pull race car trailer, and a Blue Ox to tow my Reflection 315 RLTS. I frankly have not noticed much sway using either one of these hitches. Like the reviewer, I have experienced "porposing" with the Blue Ox, and that's one of the reasons why the Blue Ox finished last in performance in that review. My 27 year old daughter actually indicated she was getting motion sickness due to the porposing driving up 95 North through South Carolina.
However, after installing the CZC AUTO Hitch Clamp Anti-Rattle Stabilizer (https://www.amazon.com/CZC-AUTO-Anti...omotive&sr=1-4) at howson 's excellent recommendation, the porposing has been reduced by about 75% with the Blue Ox. Still noticeable, but not so bad. With the use of this device, I'd give the Blue Ox the same performance as the Equalize, as the Equalizer makes a hell of lot of creaking noises when making a turn. Sure makes those you use them quite noticeable in a campground.Home Base: Fairfax, Virginia
2021 Grand Design Reflection 315RLTS Travel Trailer
2002 Ford F350 7.3 Diesel 4X4 SRW
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Originally posted by Jimmer View PostT...after installing the CZC AUTO Hitch Clamp Anti-Rattle Stabilizer (https://www.amazon.com/CZC-AUTO-Anti...omotive&sr=1-4) at howson 's excellent recommendation, the porposing has been reduced by about 75% with the Blue Ox...
Mike
2017 Imagine 2800BH pushing a 2019 Ford F150 Platinum
Formerly: 2002 Rockwood Popup
Location: Massachusetts
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Originally posted by mpking View Post
Interesting. But that clamp seems to imply that there is movement where the shank mounts in the receiver. I don't seem to have any movement there. Am I missing the application of that?Home Base: Fairfax, Virginia
2021 Grand Design Reflection 315RLTS Travel Trailer
2002 Ford F350 7.3 Diesel 4X4 SRW
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I believe the reviewer needs to separate uncontrolled sway with induced lateral motion. I doubt if any hitch experienced true sway but may have had differences in induced lateral motion from sources such as wind, truck suck, etc.
I use the Equalizer hitch with the sway brackets and there is zero noise from the hitch. One factor that the reviewer missed is having to grease some of these hitches which I'm ok with as long as its wiped down after arrival. Otherwise someone will end up with grease on their jeans. My equalizer being set up to achieve maximum front axle load results in almost imperceptible truck suck. For the small sping clips on the bars I push them all the way into the ring so there is no chance of them coming loose. I do keep spares but have not needed to use them.
If I had to buy a hitch again, It would be the weigh safe since I could see how I am preloading the hitch with varying tongue weights. For hitching as compared to the pro-pride, nothing is easier than hitching a ball under the trailer tongue so this hitch should have lost more points for this IMO. Porpoising is unacceptable as well.
https://www.amazon.com/Equal-i-zer-9...48054702&psc=1
Jim
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Guest, I'm probably going to pick a WeighSafe up myself next year once my finances recover from a home remodel.
There is a Bridge I have to cross several times a year (Sagamore Bridge in Massachusetts) that causes SEVERE porpoising for me every time I cross it.
It's some function with the road deck, the expansion joints, the 50 foot elevation change on the bridge, and the very low speed (30ish MPH) and somewhat stop and go traffic.
Whatever it is, it almost set's an oscillation up between the truck and the camper.
I've crossed this bridge 8 times in the last two years, and it has happened every time for me. (Others I've camped with have mentioned it as well).
I spent two days weighing my truck and adjusting my setup thinking I had something out of wack, just to prepare for my last trip across it. Still porpoised.Mike
2017 Imagine 2800BH pushing a 2019 Ford F150 Platinum
Formerly: 2002 Rockwood Popup
Location: Massachusetts
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mpking Mike,
Some of that motion is actually in the bridge as it has to move to reduce stresses on the structure. You may still feel this motion even with the weigh safe. Vary the speed to see if this makes a change in the porposing. Having stated that, I really like the Weigh Safe and would have purchased it had it been available at the time. I thought about the Pro-Pride and spoke with them in my pursuit of towing perfection and they tell me I would not notice that much difference based on my current performance. So it was not worth the cost to switch.
Jim
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I had the Blue Ox Sway Pro with my TT. Granted it was not heavy, but a change of 1 link in the bar loading changed everything in the way the system worked. Also looking at the bars in the video, they look extremely thin compared to my bars. This could contribute to the issues noted. Note that Blue Ox has bars with different ratings, the rating can be determined by the number of dots in the shank of the bar.
See page 2 of 10. https://www.blueox.com/wp-content/up...-BXW1500-S.pdf
I do think my bars were much stiffer than needed though.Joseph
Tow Vehicle: 2024 GMC K3500 Denali Ultimate Diesel
Coach: 303RLS Delivered March 5, 2021
South of Houston Texas
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Originally posted by mpking View PostGuest, I'm probably going to pick a WeighSafe up myself next year once my finances recover from a home remodel.
There is a Bridge I have to cross several times a year (Sagamore Bridge in Massachusetts) that causes SEVERE porpoising for me every time I cross it.
It's some function with the road deck, the expansion joints, the 50 foot elevation change on the bridge, and the very low speed (30ish MPH) and somewhat stop and go traffic.
Whatever it is, it almost set's an oscillation up between the truck and the camper.
I've crossed this bridge 8 times in the last two years, and it has happened every time for me. (Others I've camped with have mentioned it as well).
I spent two days weighing my truck and adjusting my setup thinking I had something out of wack, just to prepare for my last trip across it. Still porpoised.
We hit one interchange flyover in Montgomery that was so bad I had to slow down to 20 MPH. You can't tell me that was because my WD wasn't dialed in. Had a very pleasing 2,000 mile journey up until then.
I will also add that I installed the Lippert Road Armor equalizers and HD shackles. Before that I had bounce/porposing going over some humps in the road, etc . . . After installing the equalizer I have none of that.Mike & Lisa
Central Florida
2021 Imagine 2970RL
1996 Chevy K3500 Crew SRW 7.4L Gas
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Originally posted by Jlawles2 View PostI had the Blue Ox Sway Pro with my TT. Granted it was not heavy, but a change of 1 link in the bar loading changed everything in the way the system worked. Also looking at the bars in the video, they look extremely thin compared to my bars. This could contribute to the issues noted. Note that Blue Ox has bars with different ratings, the rating can be determined by the number of dots in the shank of the bar.
See page 2 of 10. https://www.blueox.com/wp-content/up...-BXW1500-S.pdf
I do think my bars were much stiffer than needed though.Mike & Lisa
Central Florida
2021 Imagine 2970RL
1996 Chevy K3500 Crew SRW 7.4L Gas
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Ah, so many variables to consider and tweak with any setup... TV specs, hitch configuration, trailer loading, etc. Currently tow our 2400BH with Chev 1500 and BO SwayPro. Previously towed a 2018 Imagine 2150 RB with same truck/hitch and experienced porpoising and a squirrelly ride in the wind. Spent many hours dialing-in and couldn't get a comfortable ride. When we moved to the 2021 2400BH, I added Bilsteins and LT tires. I kept the BO SwayPro and adjusted for a slightly different tongue height. Night and day difference in the ride... no porpoising, stable in the wind and very little (if at all) truck suck. New shocks? LT tires? Trailer geometry/weight? All three? Whatever, it works. Now and then I consider shortening the drawbar to move the ball closer to the bumper, but as it is now, the tailgate clears the tongue jack and I can mount two bikes over the tailgate without threat of pinch. I'm set.Mike & Sonya
2017 Silverado 1500, 5.3, Tow Pkg, RAS
Blue Ox SwayPro
2021 2400BH (DeBunked)
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mpking
We have a bridge close to where we live that I travel quite often with out the RV. The joints in the concrete are spaced just in the right amount that vehicles will get porpoising with out towing anything. I have traveled across this bridge and wondered how in the world did I reach the other end, the rest of the journey with the TT was nice and smooth. All of that to say I would not invest in something to take care of one situation on your travel route, slowing down may help or even changing lanes may make a difference, I do not think any hitch setup will account for the joints and dips in the bridge decking.
BrianBrian & Michelle
2018 Reflection 29RS
2022 Chevy 3500HD
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