Looking for opinions on best weight distributing hitch

[Windscreen]

In anticipation of arrival of my new truck, I'm shopping for a weight distributing hitch. I've made many miles towing a car on an open deck car hauler w/o weight distributing behind my 1500 Chevy, so I'm not new to towing. However, I'll soon be buying a 24' enclosed trailer to put the car inside, and total trailer weight should be around 7-8k pounds.



What I'm confused by is the array of weight distributing hitches available. Are there any in particular that are better? What about round bar vs. trunnion style square bars? Should I plan on an anti-sway device? I've heard the Reese cam type anti-sway is prone to wear out and a friend told me to stick with the friction type. Does one allow you to turn tighter than the other?



Thanks in advance for the replies to this diesel newbie (well, soon to be a diesel newbie).



Steve

 

[Diesel Gunner]

I recommend that you contact Hensley about their Arrow hitch. I tow a 26' Arctic Fox at very near gross and love it. The trailer tracks truer, cuts quicker while backing, and does not sway. I rate this hitch second only to an exhaust brake for safe towing. In fact, I would actually rather be without the exhaust brake than the hitch after thinking about it for a moment. Great piece of equipment. Expensive, but worth it.

 

[RobertBolinger]

I like the Reese Weight Distributing hitches, with the Dual Cam sway control-I used to work at a RV Wholesale Distributor and a RV Dealership-I saw a few friction sway controls that were worn out/broken, but don't recollect ever seeing a Dual cam worn out-you can use both Dual cam, and up to 2 friction types-maybe overkill-Reese had a lifetime warranty, so wearout may be a non-issue.



Remember that the weight distributing bars (800lb, 1200lb, etc) are not "sway controls"-they transfer the weight from the ball to the front of the towing vehicle-the sway controls keep the trailer from swaying-back and forth.



You may not need weight distributing bars with your 3/4-1 ton truck-you could use the friction type (1 or 2 of them) without the weight distributing hitch, but you cannot use the dual cam type without the weight dist. hitch.

 

[Deezul1]

I second the Hensley Arrow hitch comments, I tow a 32' Airstream and its rock solid behind the truck but even used they are way spendy. On regular type hitches If not setup right the friction bar type sway controls can bend things on real tight turns.

 

[Buffalo]

Diesel Gunner

Hi Diesel Gunner. I have an '03, 3500, 4X4, 6-speed and tow a 25' Nash trailer (bumper pull). I noticed that You seem to really like your Pacbrake. Your trailer is just a little bit larger than mine. I've been thinking about a Pacbrake, also, but wonder if it is really necessary. Alot of guys swear by them even when they are not towing. They say that the Pacbrake saves on wear on the truck brakes. I would appreciate your opinion and the opinion of anyone else with experience. Thank You. Joe.

 

[SBall]

Hi Buffalo. In response to your desire for opinions on the Pacbrake, I have nothing but praise. Of course, I haul a slide in camper that offers no braking assistance like a trailer does. Besides the added feeling of security, it does really help on those long downhill sections where I just select the gear that offers the braking force I need, and rarely touch the service brakes. Another nice feature of the PacBrake is that it enables your engine to warm up better when idling in cold weather.

Steve

 

[Diesel Gunner]

SBall, Ditto.



Buffalo, I would have a heck of a time deciding between the Hensley and the exhaust brake. The Pacbrake is the only one that I have any experience with, so I am not an expert. PM me if you have any further questions about Pacbrake. They have treated me very well.



I have not been able to figure why these trucks are built without an exhaust brake. I would never own one without one. The only thing that I will fault the fleet manager with when I bought my truck is talking me out of an exhaust brake. \\



No doubt, Joe, run with one. I intend to add more go in the future, but, I am glad that I have more "Whoa" already.



Nash and Artic Fox get my thumbs up. I tow close to gross and my Pacbrake helps to make it safe.

 

[JNailor]

I've been using the same Reese Dual-Cam hitch that came on my Airstream 16 years ago. I see many hitch set-ups at club rallies and such, but i'm still sold on the Reese. I've been to most of the lower 48 states, and the towing has been a real pleasure.

 

[JimBeck]

I like my equalizer hitch system for towing my nash 25- +_7500 pounds Oregon to Maine rt this fall and no swaying . Jim Beck

 

[LEerkes]

Steve,



No offense intended toward your friend but...



The order of preference for sway control as rated by the "experts" would be:



1. ) Hensley or PullRite (both very expensive)



2. ) Reese Dual Cam or Equalizer Brand sway control hitches



3. ) Friction Sway Control



Some reasons why: the friction bar's simply act as a motion dampener, doesn't matter what the motion is they try to stop it. So, think about that for a moment, imagine coming out of a tight turn on a slippery road. The friction sway control will try to stop the TV and Trailer from getting back in line with each other. The friction bar, by its nature, will also be impacted by moisture. Because of these inherent weaknesses the friction bar will come with instructions to be careful using it on wet roads or slippery conditions.



The Dual Cam/Equalizer type of sway control don't attempt to stop all motion, they constantly push back to center. The further out of line the TV and Trailer get the harder they push. They are a little more expensive than a friction bar but not much. They attempt to keep the TV and Trailer in line with each other, but unlike the Friction bar they try to put them back if you get out of alignment, the friction bar always try's to keep you in the position you are in currently (good or bad). You can buy the dual cam add-on for a Reese Weight Distribution set-up for about $130 and the friction bar is at least half of that.



The Pull Rite controls sway by moving the pivot point up closer to the rear axle. This shortening of the lever arm helps significantly and rather than controlling sway they claim to eliminate it. The idea is to make the connection work like a 5th wheel as far as sway is concerned. No lever arm (distance from axle to pivot point) means no sway. This assumes that you buy into the idea that sway is different than "trailer wiggle" caused by ruts in the road etc. They define sway as the catastrophic type where the TV and Trailer feed off of one another in an increasingly violent sway (this type is caused by the lever arm in a normal set-up). The normal "wiggle" caused by uneven roads and the occasional passing semi is not sway by their definition - although they significantly reduce "wiggle" also.



The Hensley is an ingenious contraption that uses a normal receiver and a bunch of stuff that I don't understand. Basically Hensley says that their system allows the TV to pivot in front of the Trailer but won't allow the Trailer to pivot behind the TV... . ?? People that use it swear by it as do the Pull Rite owners. I couldn't justify forking over a couple thousand bucks more than my Reese would cost. Both the Pull Rite and the Hensley are fairly expensive. You can read about both at their respective websites, just search for "Pull Rite" and for "Hensley Arrow".



Hope it helps.

 

[RobertBolinger]

Ditto on LEerkes's comments. The friction type is more like a shock absorber-non gas filled-just resists motion, the dual cam resists the motion, but also pushes back towards center.



The Pullrite, etc. are slick but also $$$$. When I worked at the RV place we were #2 in Trailer sales in NC (#1 in motorhomes)-I worked there a little over a year. I saw lots of Reese, few Eazlifts, and Zero Pullrites & Hensley's-only old guys w/ lots of dough buy something like that

 

[Diesel Gunner]

Mr. Bollinger,



Who you calling rich? And the comment about old is way out of line. Watch yourself, or I will come over there and hit you with my cane!



Actually, I am 47 and care more about safety than money. It won't do Bill Gates any good knowing that he did it on the cheap if he is dead from it. I am not saying that you cannot be safe with other systems. I am saying that I think mine is very safe and makes towing a pleasurable experience instead of a potential nightmare.



So, take it from an "OLD" guy and spend your money once. You get what you pay for.



Robert, .

 

[JNailor]

Well move over junior... i'm 57 and have RV traveled over 33 years. I have seen plenty of rigs that don't handle well. More times than not, the hitch is either set up wrong or is being mis-used by the owner. I like my Reese, but I think most any reputable hitch will be safe if adjusted and used properly. I say if your rig isn't fun, something is usually wrong with the set-up.

 

[RobertBolinger]

Diesel Gunner,



OK I shouldn't have categorized as old and rich... I agree on safety items-just never saw many Pullrite type hitches-to much $$ for the kind of dealership we were-high volume, lower profit per sale.



I just have in my head the kind of guy who bought Pullrite, would drive a meticulously maintained big Detroit car (1970's vintage with big block V-8) or truck, and be like 50-60 years old.



Not trying to put anybody down



Robert

 

[BV]

We bought our trailer with a Reese WD setup and it tows just fine. I'm not rich or old so I can't afford a Hensley but I sure would consider one if anyone is buying

 

[ARARAR]

That's why some of us 50-60 yr. olds are still around. "Pull-Rite", hands down. The"name" speakes for its self. There is no $ub$tituition for safety.

 

[ARARAR]

That's why some of us 50-60 yr. olds are still around. "Pull-Rite", hands down. The"name" speakes for its self. There is no $ub$tituition for safety.

 

[Diesel Gunner]

Robert,



Just trying to be funny and pass some useful info to everyone else. I showed the video of the Hensley to my Dad, a retired truck driver (40+ years), and after he watched it he told me "if it does what they say it does, its worth the money!"



Well, he uses the rig too and loves it. I agree that it is spendy, and I am no Bill Gates, but when you consider that many of us spend 30k+ on a truck, and that much and more on a trailer, the additional cost is small. I am in no way impuning any other product or towing system. I have no experience with the Pull Rite and am sure that it is a quality set up. It has already been said here that the most important thing, whatever you use, is to make sure that it is set up properly and driven properly.



If I were ever to meet up with anyone who would want to, I would be happy to let them try it out.



Hope to meet some of you guys out on the road.



P. S. '95 Lincoln Mark VIII (meticulously maintained) 290HP 280CI twin overhead cam V-8 the Dodge and dang near 50!



Roll On, Brothers!

 

[Beast2B]

No prices in plain view, but where are some good places to get hitches, brake controllers, etc?

Thanks