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03-01-2015, 06:33 PM
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#41
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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The Andersen No-Sway system head - the most visible part - is aluminum. The shank is steel, and since the part in the receiver is solid (as is typical for Class 4 ball mounts) rather than hollow (as is typical for steel Class 3 mounts), it's hefty. The triangular plate is steel too, as are of course the chains, threaded ends, nuts, and brackets.
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03-01-2015, 06:44 PM
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#42
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Money aside, I'd much rather tow without WDH, if I had that option.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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03-01-2015, 06:54 PM
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#43
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Olathe, Kansas
Trailer: 2015 21ft Escape "Spirit of the Plains", 2014 GMC Sierra with max tow package
Posts: 1,100
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I have never been so back and forth as to getting a WDH. I have a big enough truck to easily handle the 21, but Reece still thought it might be a good idea. One concern is, how big of a pain is it to couple and uncouple the trailer? I would just about be done with the build sheet if I could make up my mind on this one. Loren
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03-01-2015, 07:15 PM
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#44
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Auburn, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 #3
Posts: 385
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To throw something else into the mix. Honda recommends using sway control but not Weight Distribution Hitches for safety reasons. Since I already owned an Anderson WDH I called Anderson. I asked if I could take advantage of sway control without redistributing any weight, and if so, how much weight I would need on the ball. They said I didn't have to redistribute any weight and all I needed was 100 lbs on the ball for sway control to work. Kind of expensive sway control but, what the hay!!!!!!!!!
Tom
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03-01-2015, 07:23 PM
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#45
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Loren & Cathy
I have never been so back and forth as to getting a WDH. I have a big enough truck to easily handle the 21, but Reece still thought it might be a good idea. One concern is, how big of a pain is it to couple and uncouple the trailer? I would just about be done with the build sheet if I could make up my mind on this one. Loren
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I did the same thing. Talked myself into it, then out of it, many times. In reading all the previous threads on the Andersen when towing with a full size pickup, the general consensus seems to be it makes towing feel more smooth and connected. I probably won't benefit much from it, but I guess I'm saying I just talked myself back into it - with a little nudge.
If you don't want to decide right now, you can always leave it off the build sheet and pick one up later. -- um, like I did.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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03-01-2015, 07:27 PM
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#46
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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One less instruction manual to read.
And, one less thing to maintain.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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03-01-2015, 07:27 PM
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#47
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Marysville, Washington
Trailer: 2022 Coachmen Nova 20C
Posts: 652
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Loren & Cathy
I have never been so back and forth as to getting a WDH. I have a big enough truck to easily handle the 21, but Reece still thought it might be a good idea. One concern is, how big of a pain is it to couple and uncouple the trailer? I would just about be done with the build sheet if I could make up my mind on this one. Loren
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It's easy Loren.
In addition to the usual hitching steps, you install a steel plate under the ball with a pin and tighten a nut at the end of the two chains.
I needed the WDH with my Trailblazer so I don't have to make the "buy" decision... I will keep using my Anderson for the stiffer connection and sway control.
__________________
Paul & Norma
2013 Escape 21 & 2014 Chevy Silverado - sold
2022 Coachmen Nova 20C
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03-01-2015, 07:37 PM
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#48
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TAfraser
... I called Anderson. I asked if I could take advantage of sway control without redistributing any weight, and if so, how much weight I would need on the ball. They said I didn't have to redistribute any weight and all I needed was 100 lbs on the ball for sway control to work.
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I don't think that's quite true, and likely a bit of playing a little loose with the facts, which is common for marketing people.
For the sway control action, the chains must be hooked up so that they turn the plate and thus the ball/shaft in the friction material. Slack in the chains would cause a jerky action, so to avoid slack the urethane springs must be compressed at least a bit, and that means tension in the chains. With tension, you get load transfer (weight re-distribution)... but you could operate with very little load transfer.
As long as the chains don't go slack, the amount of sway control depends only on the tongue weight on the ball (which apparently needs to be at least 100 pounds for proper operation, but it will be for any travel trailer).
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03-01-2015, 10:44 PM
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#49
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 2013 19' & 2013 15B
Posts: 2,636
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Pretty unlikely that sway control or WDH would be required with an f150 towing a escape 19'. You may be better off applying that money to campgrounds and gas.
__________________
2013 19' \ 2013 15B, 2020 Toyota 4Runner TRD Offroad
"It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it." - 1907, Maurice Switzer
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03-01-2015, 11:09 PM
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#50
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Oakland, California
Trailer: not yet
Posts: 166
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There is a bit of a difference in "needed" and "appreciated". I don't think anyone would advise that the F150 "needs" any sort of WDH to pull a relatively small ETI 19. But there are plenty of folks that don't need the Andersen that have appreciated using it, simply for how it smooths out the ride.
I have had my wife along on only a few tows with my Frontier, and she's always commented on the bumpiness of the ride while towing. I for one would be considering getting the Andersen in order to get a smoother ride.
But I guess it depends on the truck/trailer combo.
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03-02-2015, 03:59 AM
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#51
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Most Escapes are putting between 300 to 500 lbs on the tongue, so the 100 lb threshold for sway has been put in place, without the chains. Whether it is as effective still needs to be tested.
I have used mine without but it is simple to tighten and forget about them.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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03-02-2015, 09:18 AM
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#52
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Auburn, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 #3
Posts: 385
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I agree Brian. He didn't say so, but I assumed that the chains had to be installed and snug enough to turn the plate, but not so tight to transfer any load. Without controlling the plate I don't see how there would be any sway control.
I did tow the 21 for a while without the Anderson and had no issues what so ever. In fact, there was less rear end drop on the Ridgeline then I had with the Casita. Sway control is suggested for everyone's safety, but it can be done with a $65 sway bar.
I went back and forth prior to receiving my 21 like so many others, but purchased the Anderson for use with the Ridgeline and future tow vehicles. If I remember correctly, Ford does recommend use of a WDH with the F150 for the weight of a 21. Ford owners can correct me if I'm wrong.
Sorry to add to the confusion, but I tend to do that.
Tom
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03-02-2015, 10:13 AM
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#53
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,561
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LeonardS
There is a bit of a difference in "needed" and "appreciated". I don't think anyone would advise that the F150 "needs" any sort of WDH to pull a relatively small ETI 19. But there are plenty of folks that don't need the Andersen that have appreciated using it, simply for how it smooths out the ride.
I have had my wife along on only a few tows with my Frontier, and she's always commented on the bumpiness of the ride while towing. I for one would be considering getting the Andersen in order to get a smoother ride.
But I guess it depends on the truck/trailer combo.
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Too some degree, I agree with this assessment. With our Pilot, we really didn't need the Anderson WDH, but when used it did smooth things out a bit. Not really safer, just a nicer ride.
However, with an F150, I really doubt there would be enough noticeable difference to warrant its use, with its firmer suspension. I guess if you try it out first, and it bothers you enough to want to spend the money, there is no harm in using the WDH.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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03-02-2015, 12:15 PM
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#54
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Tucson, AZ, Arizona
Trailer: gone, 19 and 21 & 17B with 5.0 now. gone
Posts: 790
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f-150 towing
When towing a Casita 17 with the Ford Super crew I didn't think I needed the WDH until the casita bounced the TV onto the floor from the back corner of the bed. My next stop was the RV store where I bought the smallest single bar WDH to slow down the bounce on rough roads, I-5 in Calif truck lane. The next stop was a TV store.
Jack
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03-02-2015, 12:17 PM
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#55
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TAfraser
... I assumed that the chains had to be installed and snug enough to turn the plate, but not so tight to transfer any load. Without controlling the plate I don't see how there would be any sway control.
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Absolutely correct.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
Most Escapes are putting between 300 to 500 lbs on the tongue, so the 100 lb threshold for sway has been put in place, without the chains.
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Without the chains, there is no sway control action of the Andersen "No-Sway", regardless of the load on the ball. Without the chains, it is simply a plain adjustable-height ball mount.
I asked Andersen about this and this is the relevant part of the reply from Andrew in customer service:
Quote:
Without the triangle plate attached this would just be a heavy duty ball mount which is fine if you don't need sway control. As you figured out, the plate needs to move the ball against the friction material to gain sway control and it can't do that without the chains in place so it can turn.
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This was first posted in a discussion in 2013. I'm not suggesting to anyone that they read that discussion unless they are really interested, as there was lots of confusion at the time.
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03-02-2015, 12:31 PM
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#56
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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My bad I was referring to post #44 where Andersen mentioned 100# was need for sway to work?
I do understand needing the chains to activate the swivel ball but thought there might be something there.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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03-02-2015, 12:41 PM
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#57
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
My bad I was referring to post #44 where Andersen mentioned 100# was need for sway to work?
I do understand needing the chains to activate the swivel ball but thought there might be something there.
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Okay, we're in synch about the chains.
I think the friction material won't work very well if too lightly loaded, so they're just saying that even with everything hooked up as intended, if you tongue weight is extremely low then the friction will be suitable. I'm guessing it would either not wedge into the cone adequately so it would slip, or it would slip-and-grab unevenly.
So, you need at least 100 pounds of tongue weight for sway control, but just having that tongue weight is not enough - you still need the chains.
Not an issue for an Escape, anyway.
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03-02-2015, 12:42 PM
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#58
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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It seems that just as all food discussions now mention poutine, all hitch discussions become about the Andersen No-Sway WD!
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03-02-2015, 07:32 PM
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#59
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Auburn, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 #3
Posts: 385
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Good catch Brian, food vs hitches! Got me laughing
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03-06-2015, 04:22 PM
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#60
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Reace said he'll just sell me the right one when I get there. Easy.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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