Guys, I have not posted here before but WE3ZS referred me here. I just a new 2016 Keystone Sprinter travel trailer. It is 35 feet long, 980lb tongue weight and 8,200 lbs dry weight. I am using just a standard WD hitch with the Reese Dual Cam 1200lb sway control system. The system did fine on old trailer which was lighter and close to 6,000lbs but this new camper was all over the road this past weekend. The guys at the camper place set it up for me. It looks ok but maybe I am missing something.

 

What tires do you have on your X?

 

I am running Firestone Destination A/T, 285/75 17's. I just dropped our camper off at camper place to get some things fixed and I talked to him about it swaying and he said try airing tires up to max?

 

You definitely want the trailer tires aired to the max pressure on the sidewall. Most run 70-80 psi in their rear tires when towing. Are you getting enough weight transferred back to the front to bring it down to non towing height?

 

Well everything we take is in the front storage except for the bikes on the back. Not sure how much they weigh but is that messing me up?

 

Did you actually weight it or are you listing manufacturer's weights? As noted above, measure the front of your truck at the fenders, then hitch and draw up the wd bars until the front of your truck is back to where it was before you hitched or slightly lower. That should get you close.


It looks to me like you are light on your tongue weight even running empty. What's your weight when loaded.

Steve

 

If your tires are LT's they should be able to be aired up to 80 psi. What tire pressure do you run on the rears?


Going from a 6k lb trailer to a 8.2k lb trailer doesn't sound like much, but they will probably tow very differently.


Have you ever used a certified scale? You can get a lot of answers by taking your rig to a scale and trying different setups. Takes the guesswork out of setting up the wd hitch.

 

RV Tech - I just listed manufacturer's weights. We just got it so I am not sure what the tongue weight is loaded. How do I figure that out?

Thomabb - I need to check my tire pressure. I am not certain. I just had them rotated and balanced so it is whatever they (tire place) put in them. I have never used a certified scale. I am not sure I would know what to do though in regards to figuring it out.

 

For tongue weight, you are going to have to use a scale. You can do that at any truck stop with a CAT scale. Run truck over unhitched. Hitch and run back over without WD bars. Difference between what you have unhitched versus what you have hitched is your tongue weight given that is the weight added to your truck by the trailer. I think there is a fairly recent post in this section of the forum that discusses the procedure in detail.

For starters, you will get close just by measuring the height at the front fenders unhitched and then hitch and use the WD bars to bring the front end back to the starting point. To be perfect, you could get the front axle weight back to the starting point, which is also a weight you would get at a CAT scale.

I think the first time you use a scale it is intimidating, but it is really very simple to use and they are as happy with your money as a big truck's. It just takes a little time. But again, most folks do quite well just measuring and assuming when the front fender height unhitched and hitched are the same, you have the weight back on the front axle.

make sense?

Steve

 

 

RV Tech- that does make sense. I am running factory springs but have recently installed the Road Master system which helped a little with the squatting in the rear. I know I need new springs but it is pricey for the budget right now. Will the springs affect the sway much though?