Sway Control - Trailer Jack Options

[jwb]

Sway Control

Those of you who have read submissions I have made about hitches and trailer will recall my comments about Sway Controls "DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT ONE".

Here is why!: Recently I was traveling the Interstate at a generous 70 mph when I blew a trailer tire. No swing, no sway, no drama and no white knuckles. I felt only a drag slowing me down. I glanced in the mirrors, saw a little smoke on the curb side and noticed the Casita had dropped on that side. I pulled on to the shoulder and found that I had only a fringe of rubber on the wheel. Imagine enough drag to slow the truck on one side and no sway. DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THE SWAY CONTROL!!!!!

Second lesson: A standard 2 ton hydraulic bottle jack will not fit under the Casita frame when it is resting on the rim. I pulled up onto a 4 " block to fit the jcak under the frame. I now carry a scissors jack.

Keep it safe out there.

jwb

[Michael]

Just my two-cents (and that's all it's worth): I once saw a fold down being pulled by a large TV "walk" or "hop" from one wheel to the other. The driver passed me at about 75 and the fold down started rocking from one wheel to the other; probably 10-12-inches up off the pavement. He slowed down and the trailer setteled down, he sped back up and the rocking started again. The point being that he had a large tow and a small trailer at speed; I think the sway bar would have been overkill but it would have helped control the trailer since he didn't want to slow down. I use an Equalizer hitch, which the sales rep told me was overkill, but I like towing with it. I did 14,000 with an S-10 Blazer and a Scamp 16 w/o anti-sway, and have done around the same with the Casita and the Equalizer. Never needed it on the Scamp, and hope I never need it with the Casita; but it's there just in case.

[ronsmith100]

Just my two-cents (and that's all it's worth): I once saw a fold down being pulled by a large TV "walk" or "hop" from one wheel to the other. The driver passed me at about 75 and the fold down started rocking from one wheel to the other; probably 10-12-inches up off the pavement. He slowed down and the trailer setteled down, he sped back up and the rocking started again. The point being that he had a large tow and a small trailer at speed; I think the sway bar would have been overkill but it would have helped control the trailer since he didn't want to slow down. I use an Equalizer hitch, which the sales rep told me was overkill, but I like towing with it. I did 14,000 with an S-10 Blazer and a Scamp 16 w/o anti-sway, and have done around the same with the Casita and the Equalizer. Never needed it on the Scamp, and hope I never need it with the Casita; but it's there just in case.

I bought a sway thingie. I have a 01 Ranger ext cab 4x4 offroad... all that to say that when I am juiced up and ready to go camping it weighs around 4500 lbs. I am not sure if I will need the anti sway thing. I'll try it both ways and give you all a report.

As far a trailer bouncing goes one would think that the bar might help keep trailer wheels on the ground.