Towing airstream 22’ help

[Straightravage]

Just upgraded to a 2022 2500 longhorn diesel with rear air suspension.
With my previous truck I used a weight distribution hitch with sway control.

My salesman couldn’t explain or help me out with my setup question.

My current airstream is a 22’ 5000lb rig. (Upgrading within a few months, hence the diesel upgrade.)

Do I need to use the weight distribution hitch with sway control? Or am I safe to only use my Gen-Y hitch w/o the weight distribution hitch?
The truck has sway dampening on the sticker.

Thanks for any help!!

 

[Lary0071]

Always use the sway control. Going up to a 2500/3500 does not change the physics of how energy is absorbed from outside wind/pressure forces and transmitted to the pivot point of the hitch. The heavier 2500/3500 may do somewhat better at resisting lower level energy input, but the causation of sway is ever present (trailer/camper side profile acting as a sail) and the pivot point on a "bumper pull" is still outside of the axles. This is why a fifth wheel or gooseneck trailer does not have this same effect, it is over the axle, or within the envelope of the axle pairs. Your front wheels/tires are also still being lightened by the leverage of a bumper pull, you apply weight down at the very rear like a lever and apply lift at the opposite end, the front tires. You now have reduced steering and braking capability. The concept of a WDH is to replace the front axle weight and give back all steering and braking capability. The concept of the sway control to consume the energy of side loading that causes sway in the chassis at the ball mount that is your pivot point between the trailer and truck that this energy acts upon.

Use your WDH/Sway control system.

 

[Phil T]

Always use the WD hitch.

 

[Wileykid]

The truck has sway dampening on the sticker.

Thanks for any help!!

Understand, the sway control (not just RAM, all vehicle manufacturers), is a reactionary system, not a pro-active system like the sway bars on your setup. The system only kicks in when it detects a sway condition over "X" amount, and if it does, you already have a serious problem.

 

[IndyRamMega]

I routinely tow 9k pounds without using a WD hitch or sway control....these HD's don't need all that imo especially if you have rear air....I almost got one of the gen-y hitches but ended up going with shocker since it's adjustable and not restrictive to a certain tongue weight....

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

No need for a WD hitch or sway control just tow it level and hammer down

 

[Jacob]

I had a weight distribution hitch but got to where I never used it. Sure, there is some magical thing going on there and it helps it ride a little better. Really makes a difference on half-tons. I found my weight distribution hitch didn't have enough drop to make my camper ride level. So I just used a drop hitch and it rode fine. Never used one on a flatbed trailer or my enclosed trailer either.

 

[RockaRhyme]

I mean you don’t need your seatbelt until you do.

Same thing with the WD hitch and sway control. You’ll likely be fine without it, sure, but when you’re going down the road with the wife and kids, doing 70mph on a gusty day, and someone cuts you off forcing you to swerve and slam the brakes… well, I doubt you’ll think “I wish I hadn’t had that sway control hitch”.

 

[Straightravage]

Thanks for all the feedback guys!

Fyi, I towed my airstream 600 miles.
The trucks air suspension leveled the trailer, no issues there.
Sway….at 75mph with strong winds I could see a little sway, little sway. The truck dampened it out and went away within seconds.

Next tow I will is my old setup for peace of mind for the sway.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

I mean you don’t need your seatbelt until you do.

Same thing with the WD hitch and sway control. You’ll likely be fine without it, sure, but when you’re going down the road with the wife and kids, doing 70mph on a gusty day, and someone cuts you off forcing you to swerve and slam the brakes… well, I doubt you’ll think “I wish I hadn’t had that sway control hitch”.

If your trailers brakes are setup properly the trailer wont have any “sway” in an emergency maneuver sway only happens when the trailer is traveling faster than the tow vehicle or the trailer does not have enough tongue weight anything else is not sway by definition also not an issue if you know how to drive with a trailer like watching your surroundings and anticipating possible idiot drivers around you…. I have towed quite a few camping trailers where it would never even be possible to have a WD hitch setup because of how its configured

 

[RockaRhyme]

If your trailers brakes are setup properly the trailer wont have any “sway” in an emergency maneuver sway only happens when the trailer is traveling faster than the tow vehicle or the trailer does not have enough tongue weight anything else is not sway by definition also not an issue if you know how to drive with a trailer…. Besides most trailers tires have a max speed rating of 65MPH

lol. I’m picking up what you’re throwing down, really, but I’m thinking if you’ve made “you’re doing it wrong” a personal a motto, you might just disagree because it’s in your nature.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

lol. I’m picking up what you’re throwing down, really, but I’m thinking if you’ve made “you’re doing it wrong” a personal a motto, you might just disagree because it’s in your nature.

Thats not my doing just the uppity mod’s doing….. i tow all kinds of trailers for people and have been doing it for decades never once have i used a WDH except for with a 1/2 ton. Some smaller more center balanced trailers i have run an anti sway friction bar off a normal hitch due the light tongue weight it they don't like the higher speeds.

I have had sway before with a poorly loaded equipment trailer the customer had loaded it And i had no way to adjust the load but anytime it wanted to try to get rowdy i would just apply the trailer brakes manually lightly and it would settle back down no issue…

 

[RockaRhyme]

Thats not my doing just the uppity mod’s doing….. i tow all kinds of trailers for people and have been doing it for decades never once have i used a WDH except for with a 1/2 ton. Some smaller more center balanced trailers i have run an anti sway friction bar off a normal hitch due the light tongue weight it they don't like the higher speeds.

I have had sway before with a poorly loaded equipment trailer the customer had loaded it And i had no way to adjust the load but anytime it wanted to try to get rowdy i would just apply the trailer brakes manually lightly and it would settle back down no issue…

You’re right and I’ve gone back and forth with the same question as the original poster. I’ve got a equal-i-zer from my half ton that I’ve been trying to talk myself into using with the 3/4. It’s a PITA to hookup and heavy as sh*t, but I’m towing my family and six figures worth of gear down the highway and there’s no denying the hitch makes me, mine, and the folks around us all a little safer if the worst happens. So i’m gonna use it. If it wasn’t already in the shed…. well… I might find a good reason not to go get one. Don’t know. Us humans are amazingly good at justifying our decisions, good or bad, I‘ve found.

 

[spinned]

This is what blue ox.com suggests… “
Another way to help you decide is by measuring the front and rear unladen heights of the vehicle and the trailer’s level front and rear heights. Then, measure your tow tug’s wheen arches from the center top of the wheel arch to a fixed point on the wheel. Once you hitch up, take each of those measurements again to see if there is more than 20mm difference. If there is, you will need a weight distribution hitch.”

Since you’re only pulling 5k pounds with the auto leveling air suspension, you may not notice any change.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

You’re right and I’ve gone back and forth with the same question as the original poster. I’ve got a equal-i-zer from my half ton that I’ve been trying to talk myself into using with the 3/4. It’s a PITA to hookup and heavy as sh*t, but I’m towing my family and six figures worth of gear down the highway and there’s no denying the hitch makes me, mine, and the folks around us all a little safer if the worst happens. So i’m gonna use it. If it wasn’t already in the shed…. well… I might find a good reason not to go get one. Don’t know. Us humans are amazingly good at justifying our decisions, good or bad, I‘ve found.

The other large factor that we typically dont discuss is driver ability or more so comfort towing some people dont like any feeling of movement and thats fine i personally know what movement is good and what is not so i am more comfortable running without a WDH hitch

 

[MEGA HO]

...
Your front wheels/tires are also still being lightened by the leverage of a bumper pull, you apply weight down at the very rear like a lever and apply lift at the opposite end, the front tires. You now have reduced steering and braking capability. The concept of a WDH is to replace the front axle weight and give back all steering and braking capability. The concept of the sway control to consume the energy of side loading that causes sway in the chassis at the ball mount that is your pivot point between the trailer and truck that this energy acts upon.

Use your WDH/Sway control system.

Not for 5000# I won't bother. As for lightening the front end / reduce steering - a big nope! Using your logic all those with HEMI trucks should be worrying way more than this guy with Cummins truck which weights 800-900# more than the HEMI and all this extra weight is sitting right on the steering axle.

 

[fuchsroehre]

I used both, a weigh safe drop hitch for my race trailer at 5,000lbs, 20ft
With too much weight at the rear it was sketchy ride. I have a ram 2500 cummins, with air suspension. I never thought that this trailer could create such a dangerous combination. I move the tires to the front of the trailer and suddenly it was a much better condition, only very little sway.

The best ride was with the travel trailer we just rented. It was a 8,000lbs 28ft travel trailer and the WDH with sway bars was part of the rental.
This was a slightly better ride than my drop hitch with the 5klbs race trailer. We never had any sway, even at strong winds and semis passing by. We had it all, snowstorms through Colorado, steep streets through UT and side winds through Nebraska. Some nights were so windy that it was tough to sleep in the camper.
There was a street from Flagstaff to Sedona which was not recommended for campers, the street was covered with snow and it was steep and winding. No problem!
I am glad we had that WDH with sway control during that trip. It was a joy to drive.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

I used both, a weigh safe drop hitch for my race trailer at 5,000lbs, 20ft
With too much weight at the rear it was sketchy ride. I have a ram 2500 cummins, with air suspension. I never thought that this trailer could create such a dangerous combination. I move the tires to the front of the trailer and suddenly it was a much better condition, only very little sway.

The best ride was with the travel trailer we just rented. It was a 8,000lbs 28ft travel trailer and the WDH with sway bars was part of the rental.
This was a slightly better ride than my drop hitch with the 5klbs race trailer. We never had any sway, even at strong winds and semis passing by. We had it all, snowstorms through Colorado, steep streets through UT and side winds through Nebraska. Some nights were so windy that it was tough to sleep in the camper.
There was a street from Flagstaff to Sedona which was not recommended for campers, the street was covered with snow and it was steep and winding. No problem!
I am glad we had that WDH with sway control during that trip. It was a joy to drive.

View attachment 32685

It would have towed nice without it too….

 

[rb92673]

Does a WDH help with porpoising? I tow a 9k enclosed trailer currently with just a drop hitch. Never felt any sway in over 3500 miles towing up and down California. I do get a lot of porpoising where the front end bounces. No loss of steering, just annoying. About 1k on the hitch as measured by a weigh safe hitch and 7700 on the trailer axles.

 

[Straightravage]

Does a WDH help with porpoising? I tow a 9k enclosed trailer currently with just a drop hitch. Never felt any sway in over 3500 miles towing up and down California. I do get a lot of porpoising where the front end bounces. No loss of steering, just annoying. About 1k on the hitch as measured by a weigh safe hitch and 7700 on the trailer axles.

Yes a WDH would work for that. Since it applies pressure back to the front/steer wheels.

I have not noticed any porpoising, but I have the air suspension.