Fordlover
Spring, Texas
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Joined: 12/27/2005
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We currently have the setup in the signature, which we love and have been very happy with. For a few reasons, we are considering a F250 to become the new tow vehicle.
Trailer stats:
Exterior Length: 23' 1"
Dry Weight: 3988
GVWR: 7494
Carrying Capacity: 3048
Hitch Weight: 494
Axle Weight: 3494
Potential TV: '10 F250
GVWR 9400 GCWR 16,000
Max Trailer 9300
WB 156"
Truck and Hitch is rated for 6,000/600 without WD.
With only 19 feet and very little storage, there isn't a whole lot of room to load the trailer, but I estimate we might manage to lug 400 lbs. of stuff and water. I'd really like to be able to drop the Equalizer and just go without since going by the numbers it's doable.
We are also not looking to upgrade the TT anytime soon, as we still don't have any children and wouldn't upgrade till we had two or at least one over the age of 6.
So my obvious question is at what point is the TV big enough and the TT small enough to not need WD/sway control?
02 Ford Explorer 4.6 V8 4x4, prodigy and equalizer
07 Crossroads Sunset Trail ST19CK
and no payments
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MitchF150
NW
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Joined: 07/13/2002
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I'd find out what my actual trailer weights were and go from there...
More then likely, you will find that your trailer will probably exceed either the tongue weight limit or the trailer weight limit or both!
You could always get a hitch for the truck that has like a #1000/#10000 rating without WD... But, then you'd be out several hundred dollars for that, so you might as well just keep the current WD setup you already have and be done with it..
I think it's up to your individual setup and comfort level that would determine at which point you can go for only a standard hitch setup and not a WD setup..
Lots of variables.. Sure, you can have a hitch rated to tow a #1000 tongue weight trailer, but how is it going to handle? If it's a huge boat, then it'll probably handle fine... If it's a TT, then it'll be a totally different load..
I'd stick with your existing WD setup.. Heck, you already have it and you won't have to worry about the trucks stock hitch ratings and it'll tow better anyway!
Good luck!
Mitch
1997 F150 XLT, 4x4, SuperCab, ShortBox, 5.4, 3.55 gears, Prodigy, EAZ-Lift WD hitch, Autometer Water/Trans temp gauges, 228,000 miles (GVWR #6250 GCWR #12500)
2003 Prowler Lynx 722F (GVWR #5000)
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mkirsch
Rochester, NY
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Joined: 04/09/2004
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This is going to be a matter of opinion, so here's mine:
1. There is NEVER a point at which you do not need sway control. You should always have sway control on a bumper-pull travel trailer.
2. Friction bar sway controls are a waste of time. The best sway controls are integrated into WD hitches.
You've got it, it's not a big deal to set up. What do you have to lose by using it?
2002 Chevy 3500 DRW 8.1L/Allison
2000 Palomino B1500
...and the reason why I need a DRW to haul a Palomino:
2004 United 7x14 tandem axle enclosed toy trailer
2011 PJ 8x20 7-ton deckover equipment trailer
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LoudDog
Washington
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Joined: 07/22/2008
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First off, figure you'll carry closer to 1000 lbs. 30 gallons of water alone is nearly 300 pounds. Add food and everything else and it adds up fast. I thought I was being very weight conservative on our 18er and was shocked to see my trailer over 1000 pounds over the dry weight (which actually included awning and AC) when i put it on the scales.
I've towed with and without the WDH and it's much nicer with. The sway bar helps when it's windy, but in most situations i can't tell the difference when I've left it off.
TV: 2005 Toyota Tacoma
TT: 2010 Surveyor SP189
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Terryallan
Foothills NC
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Joined: 06/28/2004
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mkirsch wrote:This is going to be a matter of opinion, so here's mine:
1. There is NEVER a point at which you do not need sway control. You should always have sway control on a bumper-pull travel trailer.
2. Friction bar sway controls are a waste of time. The best sway controls are integrated into WD hitches.
You've got it, it's not a big deal to set up. What do you have to lose by using it?
Well. I didn't need sway bars or WDH on my pups, and didn't need sway bars on the High school band trailers, or WDH either for that matter, and well. The Sway bar on the TT works very well. and many on the intergrated sway controlers are friction as well.
there is a tongue weight that the WDH becomes useless at. If you are well with in the "weight carrying" tongue weight capacity of your truck. You probably won't need A WDH. After all. If there is no weight to transfer, There is no need to try.
Terry & Shay
Pioneer 23T6
04 F150, 5.4, Lariat SuperCab
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TURK2500
SE Michigan
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Joined: 04/12/2005
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MitchF150 wrote:I'd find out what my actual trailer weights were and go from there...snip
I agree, visit a CAT scale and work with real "loaded" numbers.
Assumptions to often provide you with only the data you want to hear.
Turk2500
02 Chevy, 2500HD/4x4, 6.0L/4:10, GVWR 9,200lbs., GCWR 16,000lbs.
05 Jayco Eagle, 278FBS, GVWR 9,000lbs.
TV/TT loaded: 14,700lbs.
Loaded Tongue Weight: 1,200lbs.
Loaded TT weight: 8,400
Putnam XDR Class V, Reese HP Dual Cam.
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mowermech
Billings, MT
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Joined: 06/28/2003
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I had a 19 foot TT that I towed with a Ford E150 Club Wagon, a Jeep wagoneer, and a Dodge 3/4 ton 4X4.
The ONLY time I ever "needed" a WD hitch was with the Wagoneer, and then only to keep the rear bumper up off the ground.
I did not use any kind of sway control with any of the three vehicles.
The Ford Van and the Dodge Truck towed the trailer just fine, up and down the mountains, on the freeway and on 2 lane roads, in headwinds, tailwinds, and cross winds.
CM1, USN (RET)
'94 Dodge 3500 4X2 CTD, 5 speed, 4.10 LS diff., Jacobs Rambrake, 275,000 Miles
'95 Tioga 29H Ford-based Class C
Daily driver: 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Hemi
Toad: 2006 Jeep Rubicon LJ
"When seconds count, help is only minutes away!"
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shum02
Burlington ON CDA
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Joined: 04/22/2005
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Friction sway control is a waste eh? Ah no. I'm well trucked and here in Ontario several times the wind picks up out of no-where and friction sway control then becomes very handy. Several times DW has forgotten that one chore and it didn't take me long on the highway to notice!
I vote for keeping your EQ setup, heck you already got it and it's a premium piece of kit!
2006 F350 Lariat FX4 CC 4x4 PSD
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samsontdog
Oregon, Wash Coast summer, Yuma Az winter
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Joined: 08/06/2002
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I would continue useing the EQ setup and also the sway bar. I have used both for many years and the sway bar really helps in the wind and when big Trucks pass etc
samsontdog 
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Yeldarb
Omaha, Nebraska
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Joined: 03/07/2008
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Another opinion - I have the rig in my signature and have gone away from the WDH "sometimes". Short trips, lightly loaded and I just use my standard hitch. Longer trips or carrying water and I'll keep with the WDH when in all reality as FIRM as the Super Duty is I probably dont need it at all... Sway control, if you rig is properly loaded and balanced the only time you need sway control would be in windy conditions or higher speeds, say on the interstate... Of course I have "overkill" for a TV with my TT...
Brad('67) and Valerie('68) Clements
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Sam and Toby
2008 Cherokee Grey Wolf 28BH
2005 Ford F350 DRW Crew Cab 6.8L V10
Omaha, Nebraska
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Nights in 2010 - 30
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