First, I am new to towing anything bigger than a 5X8 cargo trailer. Knowing that,
I can use a little help for the experienced towing peeps here. I have a 2012 F-150 SCREW EcoBoost. Short bed with the regular tow package. I have the electronic sway control and brake controller. I will be purchasing a 22ft. travel trailer with a GVWR of 6225lbs. (I don’t plan on getting to near that) and a Hitch weight of 635 lbs. The salesman is telling me I should get a weight distributing hitch. We will be heading from Illinois out west hitting Moab, AZ, NM, and CO this fall.


Is this necessary?


Thanks in advance.


B.

 

Absolutely. The hitch is only rated to 500/56000lbs without the WD hitch. Anything over that requires it. It will also make your drive a lot safer and more comfortable.

 

Thanks,

B.

 

Take a look at this thread for info on tongue/trailer weight with and without a WD hitch.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/to...-mount-ok.html

 

I tell everyone to get a 800 or 1000lb weight distributing hitch with sway control. Even on smaller trailers it makes towing much more controlled and comfortable.

 

I've got a 22' TT with only a #5000 GVWR, but that's what it actually weighs too... I pack heavy!

I have a standard EAZ-Lift WD hitch with #1000 bars and it does a good job at WD... I have around #650 TW on the trailer, but it works out good.

No additional 'sway device', and I've been towing this same trailer for over 11 years now...

Here is the difference between no WD and WD. It's hard to see, but I pick up about 2.5" of sag once the bars are in place..

No WD



With WD




Works for me..

Good luck and enjoy!

Mitch

 

Had the dealer include one in the cost of the trailer so I have no excuses not to use it.

thanks for the advice,

B.

 

A while back I bought a 25' TT and installed a Reese weight distributing hitch with 1000lb bars and towed it to FL from NC without sway control. I was ignorant and foolish to do that. At 65mph the TT would be pulled back and forth when a tractor trailer passed. I was pulling it with a SWB F150. I was a road hazard. It took both hands to steer the truck at all times. After getting back to NC, I installed the Reese dual cam sway control which made it very stable.

 

The big disadvantage you had was the SWB. The longer the wheelbase of the towing vehicle, the better.

 

You don't need sway control on your hitch because the truck already has electronic sway control. You just need the WD bars.

 

Lets try leaving the towing advice to people that pull something bigger than a 4x8 open trailer.


The electronic sway control is only for emergency situations. It counteracts the sway once it is already at the edge of out-of-control. It operates by braking your truck brakes in a special pattern to slow you down while reducing the sway. But ultimately its the slower speed that stops the sway. The electronic sway control just lets you slow down without loosing control.


On the other hand - Sway control on the hitch is a continuously operating device. There are several designs, but they all work to make it hard for the trailer to change angle relative to the truck. (a lot of them say to remove them before doing slow speed maneuvers like backing into a campsite)

The sway bar is a MUST-HAVE for anyone towing a decent size camper. It will allow you to pull at the higher speeds (stay within the tire speed limits) without getting trailer sway.

But even more important - it will keep the sway in check when passing or getting passed by semis. And it will keep you more stable when you are hit by a side wind.

For a 25' camper you definitely want to have a sway bar.

 

I stand corrected, but you didn't have to slam me. Thank you.

 

I have towed my 22 ft. , 4000lb. travel trailer now for a whole 500 miles. I have a Centerline WD hitch with sway control. I must say, it is rock solid.


B

 

For most people the difference between sway control and no sway control is night and day. Very few are able to set the weight balance to pull correctly without it. Passed a Expedition towing a 30ft travel trailer yesterday he had weight dist but no sway the trailer wagged like a dog tail all the way never bad but never still. We tell everyone to remove them once in the campground because you make maneuvers at low speeds and backing up you would never make on the road and you can ruin the sway bar. My goal when setting up a hitch is to adjust it so you need to check your mirrors to see if the trailer is still behind you. This is not about me there are hundreds of good hitch guys out there sadly there are even more who are not so good working at hitch places. I applied at a Camping World one time and when I told them what they had to pay me to hire me his response was they could get 2 techs for less than that I told him that's why I have to fix so many of their installs. We have 3 other dealers within 3 miles of us all sell satellite systems all of them send their comebacks and repairs to me. Yet they all could of hired me but refused to pay what I wanted they get what they pay for and I get their rework.