sway bar for towing a trailer

[highdesertranger]

that's probably the combined weight rating not how much the trailer can weigh. I am sure your van can handle your trailer my main point was about the brakes, you can never have to much braking. highdesertranger

 

[Dean and Buster]

Are you SURE of that number?

That's really high for a half-ton.

Again, please tell us which engine, transmission, and rear end you have, if you know...

5.8 liter

 

[tx2sturgis]

Ok, that motor will do the job.

Just keep things as light as possible. My 4.6L van can pull my 6x12 cargo trailer with a motorcycle and gear inside easily, but climbing long grades I do have to downshift.

Keep the heavy items forward of, or over, the trailer axle and it should be OK. You want final tongue weight around 10-15% of the total trailer weight.

 

[Dean and Buster]

Ok, that motor will do the job.

Just keep things as light as possible. My 4.6L van can pull my 6x12 cargo trailer with a motorcycle and gear inside easily, but climbing long grades I do have to downshift.

Keep the heavy items forward of, or over,   the trailer axle and it should be OK. You want final tongue weight around 10-15% of the total trailer weight.

tongue weight is 200 with nothing in it

 

[Dean and Buster]

looking at a friction sway control

 

[Dean and Buster]

thank you for the input I want to do this safely

 

[SoulRaven]

As someone who has watched his trailer swing around and jack-knife, I think a 300.00 equalizer hitch and and sway bar is just insurance. You may never need it but it's there if you do.

 

[Dean and Buster]

saw an suv in new jersey have the rv trailer fish tailing and roll the suv and trailer 2 times .this was on the news this morning

 

[tx2sturgis]

looking at a friction sway control

Why?

 

[GotSmart]

Brian;  Dean does not understand what is needed,  niether do I

I suggested he ask here on the open forum.  

Please give reasons for the questions and suggestions.  I would like to learn also.

Thanks.  (I need to get smarter!)

 

[SoulRaven]

Tx, the why part of it is that we are not all experts such as yourself and make mistakes loading or driving during high winds. A $300.00 equalizer hitch and sway bar may never be needed, especially with an expert like you loading and pulling it. But for us novices who don't have your vast wealth of knowledge perhaps a bit of insurance would be nice.

I got no dog in this hunt so what anyone does is their business, but a simple response like "why" does nothing.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Tx, the why part of it is that we are not all experts such as yourself and make mistakes loading or driving during high winds. A $300.00 equalizer hitch and sway bar may never be needed, especially with an expert like you loading and pulling it. But for us novices who don't have your vast wealth of knowledge perhaps a bit of insurance would be nice.

I got no dog in this hunt so what anyone does is their business, but a simple response like "why" does nothing.

It was a simple question.

I had previously expressed my opinion that a 6x12 cargo trailer loaded correctly will not need a sway control device when pulled by his van...or almost any other truck equipped for towing. If the van is an extended van, then we can talk about that differently, since they DO have issues...sometimes.

IF the cargo trailer is  NOT loaded or equipped correctly, then it needs to be changed. THAT is your insurance.

Putting a band-aid on will not fix the problem, only hide it until the trailer has tipped or swung so violently by high winds or too-fast turns that a sway bar or WD hitch will be of no use..the wreck will happen.

Recreational travel trailers are a different breed, and have weight and rear overhang issues, and they can really get into a 'tail wagging the dog' scenario pretty quickly.

But this is a 6x12 cargo trailer. The rear overhang on that cargo trailer will only be about 5 feet.

And the van will outweigh the trailer by about 3 times even when the trailer is loaded to 2000 pounds.

If the tongue weight is correct, and the van does not have any suspension problems, (weak shocks, loose ball joints, sagging springs etc) then it and the driver should be able to handle that small of a trailer.

Let me ask you which device are we talking about? A $2500 WD equalizing sway control hitch or a $20 teflon insert for the coupler?

I guess we need to be on the same page.

 

[SoulRaven]

I have an Equalizer Elite Weight Distribution hitch with a single point anti sway. Etrailer has them for $315.00. What anyone else does is none of my business, I was simply stating MY belief that it is better safe than sorry.

No big thing and certainly not my business. Just gave an opinion.

 

[Dean and Buster]

Brian;  Dean does not understand what is needed,  niether do I

I suggested he ask here on the open forum.  

Please give reasons for the questions and suggestions.  I would like to learn also.

Thanks.  (I need to get smarter!)

there are more experts here than there are in my world the dogs are here just for the ride .

 

[SoulRaven]

I am no expert nor do I claim to be. Do as you want.

 

[Dean and Buster]

I have an Equalizer Elite Weight Distribution hitch with a single point anti sway. Etrailer has them for $315.00. What anyone else does is none of my business, I was simply stating MY belief that it is better safe than sorry.

No big thing and certainly not my business. Just gave an opinion.

this is why I put this up

 

[tx2sturgis]

And it is a valid opinion and a valid concern.

The Blue Ox light duty WD hitch with sway control I found during a casual search here on the net was rated at up to 3500 pounds and a tongue weight of 350 pounds.

It was in the range of about $800-$1200

If the OP is so inclined to add this or one like it, I would not stand in the way. A distinct advantage is that the van will not sag at the rear with a WD hitch installed and adjusted correctly.

Just make sure it will fit, since cargo trailers this size usually have a fairly short drawbar, especially if it is a v-nose type.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Rob and Dean, I found this paragraph on the e-trailer website:

 

[SoulRaven]

https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Curt/C17422.html

 

[tx2sturgis]

Rob, the one you linked has an 1000 pound minimum tongue weight...which is too heavy.

I think we have a bit of a cross-connect.

Aren't we talking about a small cargo trailer with a tongue weight of about 200 pounds more or less?

:huh: