Towing with and without a weight-distributing hitch

[padlin]

Why would someone not want to add sway control? Seems like you would want towing to be as safe as you can make it.

When you find out you should have had it it may well be to late.

[rotateclockwise]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 View Post
Mike,
What was your performance with the Tundra, avg speed and avg mpg?
No, I have a Tacoma. I pull at 60 mph in general and get around 13-14 mpg when towing. US 101 is a twisty road between campgrounds in Olympic National Park, so I drove a bit slower, maybe 50-55 mph.

Sorry, too many mikes, I was referring to member Rotateclockwise

Because the terrain, speed limits, and traffic across the US is so varied, the Tundra averaged between 10.5 and 13 mpg. On US highways, we stayed around 60-65 (depending on speed limit and terrain) and would tow no faster than 70 on interstates. The west offers much higher speed limits than the east and generally much less traffic. I installed SumoSprings on my 3.5 Tacoma and that was a good setup, but don't need them with the Tundra.

[skyfree]

Originally Posted by padlin

Why would someone not want to add sway control? Seems like you would want towing to be as safe as you can make it.

When you find out you should have had it it may well be to late.

Traditional friction bar sway control is noisy and it's an extra step when hitching and unhitching. You also need to be careful backing up because a jackknife will break it. There are other solutions but if you don't need it, why bother? We have never needed it with the Escape ... there isn't even a hint of sway.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by padlin

Why would someone not want to add sway control? Seems like you would want towing to be as safe as you can make it.

When you find out you should have had it it may well be to late.

With a properly loaded trailer there is no sway at all. My 19 and 5.0TA both never once displayed even a hint of sway.

The biggest cause of sway is improperly loaded trailers, ones with too little hitch weight. Even sway control here would not be much help, as there is a bigger problem that needs proper addressing, not lipstick put on it.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

With a properly loaded trailer there is no sway at all. My 19 and 5.0TA both never once displayed even a hint of sway.

The biggest cause of sway is improperly loaded trailers, ones with too little hitch weight. Even sway control here would not be much help, as there is a bigger problem that needs proper addressing, not lipstick put on it.

Add to that a couple of other factors: Some weight distribution hitches incorporate anti-sway, like my Andersen Hitch, and many tow vehicles also have anti-sway built into the receiver. I fail to see the need for an add-on anti-sway device with a properly loaded trailer, especially if using a WDH.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

... many tow vehicles also have anti-sway built into the receiver.

Robert, do you mean that they have anti-sway action built into the vehicle's brake-based electronic stability control system? The receiver is just a piece of structure, not an active or dynamic component.

[citabria90]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

AKA loose nut.....

Good one! Ha!

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

Robert, do you mean that they have anti-sway action built into the vehicle's brake-based electronic stability control system? The receiver is just a piece of structure, not an active or dynamic component.

I meant built into the vehicle - not the receiver. Don't know why I said "receiver" - that's just a steel tube.

[Mike Lewis]

Yeah, my Tacoma has some kind of anti-sway built into it. It might be a feature of traction control. So it must be pretty common nowadays.

[Brookfielder]

Our 19 is due to be complete in the middle of the coming month. This is our first trailer, and we are setting up or F150 for it.
We ordered a WDH from ETI.
The majority of my trailer experience is behind an old Kenworth, though I did ferry my parents' 27' Cougar from Arizona up to their place here on Vancouver Island after they had a medical emergency and came home without their rig.
Although their rig is much heavier than our 19, that ferrying experience showed me how valuable the WDH can be. The folks who were staying in the park with my folks got the trailer ready for travel, so all we had to do was jump in the driver's seat and hit the highway. Problem is, it wasn't nearly tight enough. I may have pooped just a little bit the first time a tractor-trailer rig passed us. My dad pointed out how loose t was when we got home. Wish I'd known before we had left... oh well. It as a learning experience.
The F150 has the trailer stability control, so we'll be taking advantage of that. We had considered putting airbags in the rear suspension, but we'll try it without first. I anticipate it will be a smooth ride home from ETI with the WDH, but if improvement is needed we can react.
Everyone's comment here have been interesting. Thanks for your experience!

[rbryan4]

You dont mention which F150 you have Brett, but I seriously doubt you'll need airbags to level your truck when towing a 19. You may not even need a WDH depending on how it's equipped. Just try it with the WDH you are having Escape install. Should be fine.

[padlin]

A WDH certainly can't hurt, other then your back when lifting it. I used the one I had when I moved from a Ford Ranger to a GMC 1500. No idea how it would have handled without, but I was used to using it so continued to do so and didn't think twice about it.

As far as I can tell, many with pick ups do not use a WDH with Escapes, your call. If you want to try it without, you can always get one later. Or if you think it'll make you feel better, buy it from the get go.

[BCnomad]

Originally Posted by BCnomad

Re: wdh.

I really like my Andersen in a) windy or b) twisty road conditions ... For sway control. WD is not needed, depending on how I load "my stuff". Semi's can be a nightmare

For the Island, I would try first without. But it's all about driver comfort.


tl;dr
Run what you brung.

From the silverado thread.

http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f1...wing-7037.html

[Brookfielder]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

You dont mention which F150 you have Brett, but I seriously doubt you'll need airbags to level your truck when towing a 19. You may not even need a WDH depending on how it's equipped. Just try it with the WDH you are having Escape install. Should be fine.

Got it with the WDH. Pulled it. Happy!



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[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Brookfielder

Got it with the WDH. Pulled it. Happy!



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Good to hear.