Towing question
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 374
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From: Ridgecrest, CA
Towing question
I have a 2000 PSD 4x4 Supercab short/normal bed. I'm towing a 25' toy hauler weighing about 7000-8000 lbs. (a huge "billboard" sign) I have the friction swaybar and 1400 lbs equalizer springs. My question is that when being passed by other sizable vehicles, the back end of the trailer gets pushed over which transfers to the truck and creates a handleful for me. I had the sway bar tension at 1 turn past pad contact and 3 loose chain links on the equalizer springs. On the return trip, I went an extra 1/2 to 1 turn on the sway bar tension and had 4 loose chain links on the equalizer springs. It towed much better. Is this normal, I don't want to over stress anything. Is there an ideal measurement of hitch height difference between loaded and unloaded hitch?
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 824
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From: Helotes, Texas
Sounds like you have too much tongue weight on your trailer. Try moving whatever you're carrying farther to the rear to help balance the load. Trailer and truck should look fairly level when the load is situated right.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Ridgecrest, CA
In bad case scenario, I had the quads in the rear of the trailer and probably about 800 lbs. of water in the front half.
When returning, good case scenario, I put the quads over the axle and dumped about 500 lbs of water. I'm more concerned of the preload on the equalizer springs/sway bar tension.
When returning, good case scenario, I put the quads over the axle and dumped about 500 lbs of water. I'm more concerned of the preload on the equalizer springs/sway bar tension.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 389
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From: NorCal
Proper hitch set up is a must. Sounds like you figured it out for return trip. You can not over tighten the sway control.
I believe this is the culprit to most rvers problems with sway. They tighten the thing down to where it feels tight. Well, keep crankin on it. If need be get a bar for levereage. The skinny little crank can be somewhat hard to tighten especially for those with small guns
I have never had to use different settings (loose links) for return trip (empty).
2001 Excursion PTD 4X4 with 24-ft Toy Hauler (9000lbs).
I believe this is the culprit to most rvers problems with sway. They tighten the thing down to where it feels tight. Well, keep crankin on it. If need be get a bar for levereage. The skinny little crank can be somewhat hard to tighten especially for those with small guns
I have never had to use different settings (loose links) for return trip (empty).
2001 Excursion PTD 4X4 with 24-ft Toy Hauler (9000lbs).
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Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Phx, AZ
How fast were you going too? Usually this is the #1 mistake of Rv'ers especially TH.
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From: IOWA
Keep everything tight as possible between the truck and trailer, and try your best to equalize the weight in the trailer, balancing it over the axles. It can make a big difference in how the truck will ride and handle if you have more weight in front of or behind the axles, and not balanced as well as possible. It will probably take some rearranging in the trailer a few times to figure out what works best. Once you figure it out, stick with it. Pulling a 26' toy hauler, 7,000lbs for a 1,000mi round trip, I had everything tight as possible on the hitch, and it trailed awesome, never had a problem with sway. Other truck with us was a F-150 with a 28' trailer, thought he was gonna wreck a few times the thing was whipping so bad, granted he had too small of a truck.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Ridgecrest, CA
My speed was between 60 - 65 on the Vegas (between Barstow and Baker) freeway. I did tow the trailer (empty) the other day at the above speed and had a cross wind. The hitch was pretty close to the bad tow situation and still had the trailer pushed around when being passed by any vehicle. So I think I need to go a little tighter on the sway and use the equalizer springs with 4 loose links.
I want to thank all you guys, even in a funny/wierd reply, there may be a nugget of info for me to use.
Have a wonderful Turkey day and may the Lord watch over our family's when on the road. Especially our brothers/sisters/sons/daughters in the service.
I want to thank all you guys, even in a funny/wierd reply, there may be a nugget of info for me to use.
Have a wonderful Turkey day and may the Lord watch over our family's when on the road. Especially our brothers/sisters/sons/daughters in the service.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 588
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From: AZ.
I have no problem even without any sway control with my F-350, PSD, CC, long bed and 26' TH, but installed an Equal-I-Zer hitch for insurance. Correct tongue weight is important but some folks on other RV forums consider a 5000# trailer about max for a friction sway bar . They like the Dual-Cam or Equal-I-Zer. The side push on your "billboard" toy hauler is quite strong...Just another thought..
Good luck..
Good luck..