Dissatisfied with Blue Ox
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Dissatisfied with Blue Ox
Does anyone here use a Blue Ox Sway Pro? I purchased one last Spring to haul my Arctic Fox 29-L and have not been able so far to make it do it's job. I have a 2016 F-250 S/C and have not been able to level the camper and truck when hitched up. The Sherline tells me that I have 1025 lbs. of tongue weight empty. when hitched up, the front of the camper is 1 1/2 " lower than the back, and the rear of truck visibly squats. I have raised the ball up to the 10th hole ( the shank has 11 holes )so the ball is 1-3/4" higher than the coupler when level. I have called the factory in Nebraska a number of times trying to find a solution, and now the service rep. won't talkto me or return my calls.
It should be noted that the camper does sway at speeds higher than 50 m.p.h. and the laws of physics take over. The factory rep did tell me that I should disable the trailer sway control on my truck, but I have noticed no difference in the ride Any real life suggestions would be appreciated......or should I craigslist it?
Thanks,
Bob
)
It should be noted that the camper does sway at speeds higher than 50 m.p.h. and the laws of physics take over. The factory rep did tell me that I should disable the trailer sway control on my truck, but I have noticed no difference in the ride Any real life suggestions would be appreciated......or should I craigslist it?
Thanks,
Bob
)
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
Reading through the owner's manual and watching the YouTube video, what I gleaned is, if your trailer tongue is too low, raise the ball mount on the hitch and if you truck is squatting, increase the spring bar tension. I am thinking you have already tried those things and also checked your spring bars so they match your tongue weight? 
Steve
Steve
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
I have no scale readings. The nearest cat scale is almost 100 miles away. No picture. They are tearing up the road and driveways for storm sewer, etc.and the camper is at a friends. I will work on posting a close up of the hitch. I have the #1500 spring bars (the next lower size is #1200) due to the tongue weight. The camper weighs #8340 according to the cert. plate, and has a #10400 gvwr. The kitchen is in the front of the camper, and after my wife gets done packing.....I have not had a chance to weigh the tongue when loaded yet. I did not raise the ball any higher because one tech. rep said not to, and another said that I should. I cannot put any more tension on the spring bars, because I can't get the camper high enough to get another link up. (I have a 24" breaker bar that I use).
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
I would do exactly what the manual says in terms of making adjustments. It sound like your bars should be ball park given your weights.
Here is etrailer's link for the set up on this hitch.
I also ran a search for problems with this hitch to see if there is a common problem and could not find any.
Steve
Here is etrailer's link for the set up on this hitch.
I also ran a search for problems with this hitch to see if there is a common problem and could not find any.
Steve
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,698
Likes: 12,822
From: Wyoming
It's interesting that the new Blue Ox hitch has the bars pre-angled and the hitch itself cannot be adjusted for that angle. I have the old style Blue Ox that requires/allows adjusting the angle of the hitch to get more oomph on the bars.
I don't know that I have mine set up quite right but I do know that the current configuration has my tow vehicle and the trailer level. I had to start from scratch since I have a completely different vehicle from the prior owner (plus I don't think he had it set right at all). I got lucky and managed to get it right the first time.
Bob, how did you decide on the 1500 lb spring bars?
I don't know that I have mine set up quite right but I do know that the current configuration has my tow vehicle and the trailer level. I had to start from scratch since I have a completely different vehicle from the prior owner (plus I don't think he had it set right at all). I got lucky and managed to get it right the first time.
Bob, how did you decide on the 1500 lb spring bars?
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Jim, I went by the cert label weights on the camper. It shows the gvwr at#10,400, the dry weight at 8,340, and empty tongue weight at 1,180. All Arctic Foxes are tongue heavy, and by the time I load the box of the truck and Mama loads the kitchen, it would be over the 1,200 rated spring bars. The next highest size was a 1,500 rating. I talked to the trch. reps at the factory and that is what they advised.
By the way,the bars are not pre bent. they are round where they fit into the hitch head and taper to a flat bar about 8" away. They flex when you put the tension on them.
The problem I have is that I cannot put enough torque on the rotating brackets to take another link up.I use a 24' breaker bar. The one that came with the hitch is useless. I raise the jack up to the end of the stroke but can only take up 9 links. when I take the jack up, the front of the camper is 1"lower than the rear. the rear of the truck is 1 1/2 "lower and the front 1/2" higher when measured at the center of the wheel housing. This is when the camper and truck are empty. I do not know if this height difference is normal or acceptable.
By the way,the bars are not pre bent. they are round where they fit into the hitch head and taper to a flat bar about 8" away. They flex when you put the tension on them.
The problem I have is that I cannot put enough torque on the rotating brackets to take another link up.I use a 24' breaker bar. The one that came with the hitch is useless. I raise the jack up to the end of the stroke but can only take up 9 links. when I take the jack up, the front of the camper is 1"lower than the rear. the rear of the truck is 1 1/2 "lower and the front 1/2" higher when measured at the center of the wheel housing. This is when the camper and truck are empty. I do not know if this height difference is normal or acceptable.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,698
Likes: 12,822
From: Wyoming
The reason I asked about the spring bars is that I'm not sure I have the right ones.
Dry tongue weight: 1340
Tongue weight with ATV loaded: 920
Fully loaded: Unknown, but I bet it is over 1,000 lbs.
I have 1,000 lb spring bars. That may be right when I have just the ATV loaded up but I suspect it isn't enough at the full 11,000 lb wet weight.
Dry tongue weight: 1340
Tongue weight with ATV loaded: 920
Fully loaded: Unknown, but I bet it is over 1,000 lbs.
I have 1,000 lb spring bars. That may be right when I have just the ATV loaded up but I suspect it isn't enough at the full 11,000 lb wet weight.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,465
Likes: 725
From: Calgary Canada
drbbob, if I was you, I'd spend the time to drive the 100 miles to the nearest CAT scale, and spend the hour or two or three that it takes to get all the weights known 100%.
A lot of people don't bother with this, but you are having problems you can't explain and it would be really helpful to know this stuff for sure. Even if it takes all day, it'll be worth your while.
A lot of people don't bother with this, but you are having problems you can't explain and it would be really helpful to know this stuff for sure. Even if it takes all day, it'll be worth your while.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,509
Likes: 662
From: Sioux Falls Area
if your jack is out of length, then put a block or two under the jack.
I use a 6x8 and jack the back of the truck up about an inch with the trailer before I tension the chains.
if not for doing that, I'd be in the same boat and there's no way I'd get them tight enough.
at a minimum, you should raise the trailer enough that the draw bar is tight against the top of the receiver tube, since that's where it is going to be when you get the bars tight.
get a big block and grab a few more links, then report back.
I use a 6x8 and jack the back of the truck up about an inch with the trailer before I tension the chains.
if not for doing that, I'd be in the same boat and there's no way I'd get them tight enough.
at a minimum, you should raise the trailer enough that the draw bar is tight against the top of the receiver tube, since that's where it is going to be when you get the bars tight.
get a big block and grab a few more links, then report back.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,392
Likes: 22
From: very South Texas
I do not have the brand of WDH that you do... but I use a block under trailer nose jack.. and lift the rear of the truck almost 3 inches.. then connect the chain links.. and I used the provided 12 inch pipe.
if truck bed is empty I use link #3,, if motorcycle and stuff is in the truck bed. I use link #4.
my trailer tongue weight is listed as 1,200 pounds.
as already stated.. Scale the truck then the Rig... weight slips will help with setup.
FYI, trailer tags state the weight of trailer.. and NOT always correct.. my trailer is 800 pounds more then the tags "EMPTY."
7,500 to 8,300 pounds.
if truck bed is empty I use link #3,, if motorcycle and stuff is in the truck bed. I use link #4.
my trailer tongue weight is listed as 1,200 pounds.
as already stated.. Scale the truck then the Rig... weight slips will help with setup.
FYI, trailer tags state the weight of trailer.. and NOT always correct.. my trailer is 800 pounds more then the tags "EMPTY."
7,500 to 8,300 pounds.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
HRTKD
All Things Towing
52
Jul 4, 2025 01:39 PM