what hitch do i need ?

[fordman13]

i have a 2004 f-250 4x4 with a 6.0, i am pulling a 27 foot 7000lb camper i have a heavy duty hitch and ball rated for 10,000lbs. do i need a weight dist hitch or just a sway control bar. when i hook it to my truck and turn my receiver hitch up side down ,up 4 inches, it sits my truck and trailor level. thanks ,new to towing

[jerry350]

Personally Yes, WD will make life much more relative...

[Markford14]

I will also agree. Most say its needed specially for going more than 5 miles.

[vitalep]

I have to agree with the rest, I tow a 30ft enclose Unighted Express 5k empty and with car 8400 lbs and I use the weight dist hitch. I also pull with a DRW and that helps with swaying. I had SRW and every time a truck came by the trailer would sway, also I made the mistake one time of not have the trailer brakes working make sure you have your trailer brakes working before you try towing and if you are towing with SRW I would use a sway bar to be safe.

[FloridaEd]

I towed a 26' Avion (silver bullet) with an 1991 E-250 gasser, a 1994 F-150, and a 1997 F-250 CC PSD. The trailer, wet, was about 5700#.

In every case, I used a weight distributing hitch and TWO sway controllers. You might get away without the weight distributing hitch, but you will rue the day you go with sway controllers. Fish tailling is a re-inforcing over-compensation situation where your corrections insure the next sway will be larger than the last. Surely you've seen idiots on the road with the trailer behind them whipping back and forth...even small trailers the lawn maintenance guys pull have done this in front of me.

I've been scared poopless at 70 MPH on I-95 when sandwiched between two semi's, with both sway bars locked down and my Avion would still try to fishtail on me because the semi's were passing me and the pressure buildup on the sides of the Avion were vastly different as the semi's passed me.

Pullling a trailer like you propose without a WD and sway controller is like "trying a taste" of CRYSTAL METH.....you don't have any clue as to how bad it can get and it will be too late when you find out.

But a WD hitch. Buy a sway controller. If not, let your family follow you in another vehicle.

Florida Ed

[69grandecj]

I am new to towing so I will also be interested in these comments.

[Leader]

I have been pulling trailers behind trucks & cars for over 40 years now and have NEVER had any type of sway control. I did use WD hitches a lot. When I had a problem with trailers trying to fishtail, I just readjusted the load & it took care of itself.(Usually adjusted MY driving too)
I NEVER expected the rig to handle the same as a sports car with NO trailer.

[johnmart]

[ QUOTE ]
i have a 2004 f-250 4x4 with a 6.0, i am pulling a 27 foot 7000lb camper i have a heavy duty hitch and ball rated for 10,000lbs. do i need a weight dist hitch or just a sway control bar. when i hook it to my truck and turn my receiver hitch up side down ,up 4 inches, it sits my truck and trailor level. thanks ,new to towing

[/ QUOTE ]

Your receiver isn't realy capable of safely carrying 1000# of tongue weight which is about what you should have with a 7000# tag trailer. A good WD system will make your towing experience much more enjoyable since it tends to stiffen the connection between truck and trailer. Sway control will save on your laundry bill if you are going to run the interstates where you will be passed many times by big rigs running upwards of 80 mph - their bow wave will push you all over the road. Don't make the mistake of lifting too much weight off the rear of the truck with the WD or you will have a really squirelly setup just like too much weight in the rear of a trailer.

Take it easy and enjoy your trips.

[Packard8]

[ QUOTE ]
I have been pulling trailers behind trucks & cars for over 40 years now and have NEVER had any type of sway control. I did use WD hitches a lot. When I had a problem with trailers trying to fishtail, I just readjusted the load & it took care of itself.(Usually adjusted MY driving too)
I NEVER expected the rig to handle the same as a sports car with NO trailer.

[/ QUOTE ]

Seems like it depends on the truck & trailer combo. I’ve had several trailers both open and enclosed and always used a WD hitch but have never needed a sway dampening device. The trailer I have now came with a friction type sway dampener from the former owner and I’ve tired towing both with and without it and can’t tell any difference. I’ve never had a problem with sway from big trucks passing me (or visa versa).

[mgwerks]

[ QUOTE ]
Buy a WD hitch. Buy a sway controller. If not, let your family follow you in another vehicle.

[/ QUOTE ] And make sure they have a broom and dustpan for the remains...

[Mozz]

WD should be mandatory equipment IMO. The ride is much smoother and SAFER!