Weight distribution/anti-sway bars

[Thor's Son]

Just purchased a 2025 Imagine XLS, 28 ft, 7,000 lbs, and towed with a 2020 Ford F-150 6 cylinder. First, is a weight distribution/anti-sway system necessary and second, what are the better manufacturers to consider. Moved up from an 18 ft pop-up so wish to be safe and secure!

 

[DougW9876]

With a 28 foot trailer you will be much happier with a Weight dDistribution and anti sway system. I have always had good luck with Reese products. make sure you load your trailer for proper tongue weight, get a hitch that matches your tongue weight and watch 2 or 3 videos on how to set one up and you should be good to go.

 

[Riverbug]

If you look up the towing guide for your truck, or check the manual, it may require WDH. I know my old truck did, but not sure if the late models still require one. Best to check. Also, check the rating sticker on the actual truck hitch and compare that with your loaded hitch weight on the camper.

 

[txarsoncop]

I had a F150 with the 5.4l engine and a 24' travel trailer around 4500#. I used a round bar WDH with chains and separate sway control. It definitely helped level the truck out and reduce sway but was a PITA to use.

I now drive a F250 and pull a 31' TT that weighs around 8K loaded. Initially we used an EAZ-Lift WDH which worked well and was easier than the round-bar WDH. But I had a B&W Continuum hitch deal that I couldn't pass up and have used it for several trips. Mounting and setting it up was pretty easy and using it is easy too. Took me a couple of trips to get used to hitching/unhitching but after learning how to use it it's the easiest hitch I've used so far and adjustable on the fly. Just add or drop pressure as our trailer gains/loses weight depending on how we're traveling.

Oh, and no more groaning/screeching when making turns is nice too.

 

[MtnGuy]

This is a good review of many WDH hitches with integrated sway control:

I ended up with the Eaz-Lift TR 3. This may be the only hitch where the sway control can be adjusted independently from the weight distribution. It is working well for me. I really like that it has plenty of ground clearance. Regretfully, it is made in China.

The Equal-I-zer 4 point WDH also seems to be a great hitch, and is made in the USA. My daughter and son-in-law have used their Equal-I-zer on 3 different campers, and have had no problems.

 

[JPS350]

There's a good what to look for in a weight distribution hitch article in the link below. Also a very good video in it on how to set up a weight distribution hitch. Concerning your question, we'll all tell you the one we personally use is the best. I think the more people spend on their hitches the more they passionately recommend them.

I happen to use the same one mentioned in my link and I do like it a lot, but there are many other choices as well. I previously used a Fastway E2, but for some of the reasons mentioned in the article, I like the Eaz lift better. Mainly because it's much easier to adjust if needed, and it's quiet on turns, and there may be something to the tapered vs straight bar argument.

How to Set Up a Weight Distributing Hitch System - RV Lifestyle Magazine

During the pandemic, while we sheltered in place and waited for the "all clear" to get back on the road, our Hitch Hints expert, Andy Thomson, from CanAm RV Centre in London, Ontario, took the time to record what we feel is the best video describing the process of setting…

www.rvlifemag.com

 

[NB Canada]

Just purchased a 2025 Imagine XLS, 28 ft, 7,000 lbs, and towed with a 2020 Ford F-150 6 cylinder. First, is a weight distribution/anti-sway system necessary and second, what are the better manufacturers to consider. Moved up from an 18 ft pop-up so wish to be safe and secure!

Read your receiver on your truck……

Quite positive it will say you require one

 

[goducks14]

It boils down to what Ford requiers for pulling a trailer. Ford wants the front of the truck to be returned to somewhere around 25%-50% of the OEM height depending on the model year.
If your trucks front end is higher than OEM by 25%- 50% after you hitch up then you need a WDH to return some of the lost weight to the front of the truck.

If you hitch up and the front only raises less than 25% then no you don't need a WDH.

 

[JPS350]

It boils down to what Ford requiers for pulling a trailer. Ford wants the front of the truck to be returned to somewhere around 25%-50% of the OEM height depending on the model year.
If your trucks front end is higher than OEM by 25%- 50% after you hitch up then you need a WDH to return some of the lost weight to the front of the truck.

If you hitch up and the front only raises less than 25% then no you don't need a WDH.

I'm confused by this. Do you have a link to where Ford says this? Here's my confusion. Where is this measured and 25-50% of what? For example, if you measured the height of your front fender wheel well and it was 36" from the ground up to that, then 50% would be 18". They can't mean that.

I'm just guessing, but I think they might be talking about how much adjustment you should put on your weight distribution hitch when you already have one. For example, with the hitch torsion bars not engaged and the trailer weight loading the truck, measure how much the front height of the truck has raised over the measurement when it had no load on it. Then adjust the hitch bars so it takes at least half of that amount out when the hitch is distributing weight with the bars engaged. That might even be part of the SAE J2807 towing standard, if I remember right.

 

[goducks14]

I'm confused by this. Do you have a link to where Ford says this? Here's my confusion. Where is this measured and 25-50% of what? For example, if you measured the height of your front fender wheel well and it was 36" from the ground up to that, then 50% would be 18". They can't mean that.

I'm just guessing, but I think they might be talking about how much adjustment you should put on your weight distribution hitch when you already have one. For example, with the hitch torsion bars not engaged and the trailer weight loading the truck, measure how much the front height of the truck has raised over the measurement when it had no load on it. Then adjust the hitch bars so it takes at least half of that amount out when the hitch is distributing weight with the bars engaged. That might even be part of the SAE J2807 towing standard, if I remember right.

What you want is the front of the truck to be as close as possible to OEM ride height after hitched as before hitched. It should be in the manual if not it's on Fords tow guide.

38" before hitched
39" after hitched without spring bars activated.
So somewhere around 38.5" or less but not less than 38" after the spring bars are activated.
Pretty sure it should be in the manual.

 

[huntindog]

Just purchased a 2025 Imagine XLS, 28 ft, 7,000 lbs, and towed with a 2020 Ford F-150 6 cylinder. First, is a weight distribution/anti-sway system necessary and second, what are the better manufacturers to consider. Moved up from an 18 ft pop-up so wish to be safe and secure!

There are basically two types . The first is the original WD with an add on friction bar. The patent is long expired and many brands sell them.
The weight distribution is adjusted seperatly from the sway control, which can be tightened or loosened without changing the WD.
They are great for beginers as one can miss the setup by a mile and still have the sway control functioning.

Then there are the integreated sway control hitches. Most of them rely on tounge weight for sway control function to work properly. These NEED to be setup right! Miss the setup, and you lose both the WD, and sway control functions.

For that reason, they are better for experienced users.
And this probably a reason that dealers usually send their customers down the road the original friction bar hitch

And that is the reason I recommend them as well. They are inexpesive and easy to sell when you are ready to move up to an integreated SC hitch.
Trust me on this. I started towing before the internet was invented. Info, good and bad was not so easy to get back then.
I DID have an uncontrolable sway event. I was lucky in that there were no other vehicles around, as I needed all of the road . It came on suddenly with no warning...It will make an atheist get religous real quick.

 

[Riverbug]

If you hitch up and the front only raises less than 25% then no you don't need a WDH.

Respectfully, that statement is absolutely not true. As an example, Ford's towing guide makes very clear that the max towing without WDH for a 2022 F150 with the proper tow package is 5,000 overall trailer weight and 500 tongue weight. Nothing to do with how level the truck is. With a WDH, those numbers change to 14,000/1,400. This can be verified by reading the towing guide.

Level is only a guide for how to set up the WDH. Ultimately, it's about transferring weight which means that the best way to verify the WDH setup is to use a scale before and after setup. But using height measurements get it into the right ballpark. After using height to set mine up, then weighing, I was only 200# light on the front with the WDH. Close enough for sure.

 

[goducks14]

Respectfully, that statement is absolutely not true. As an example, Ford's towing guide makes very clear that the max towing without WDH for a 2022 F150 with the proper tow package is 5,000 overall trailer weight and 500 tongue weight. Nothing to do with how level the truck is. With a WDH, those numbers change to 14,000/1,400. This can be verified by reading the towing guide.

Level is only a guide for how to set up the WDH. Ultimately, it's about transferring weight which means that the best way to verify the WDH setup is to use a scale before and after setup. But using height measurements get it into the right ballpark. After using height to set mine up, then weighing, I was only 200# light on the front with the WDH. Close enough for sure.

Well you don't need a WDH then with just 500 lbs on the ball because the front isn't raising up enough. Ford knows that so thats why they say you'll likely need one for anything over 25%. Interesting that no truck manufacture tells you to weigh the truck for setting up an WDH. Measuring accomplishes the same thing. Same with the WDH manufactures.

 

[JPS350]

I think theres a little confusion going on in this thread.

First, all manufacturers that I've ever checked have a trailer weight restriction for towing without a weight distribution hitch. Often, it's around 5k lbs.

Second, the Ford info in this thread is the information used to set up a weight distribution hitch, not whether or not you need one. The 25% or 50% or whatever, relates to the difference loaded WITH the weight distribution hitch engaged vs loaded without the weight distribution hitch engaged (ie, the hitch takes 50% of the total rise from unloaded truck to loaded truck out when it is engaged). So there's no way you could tell if you need one unless you already had one.

Last, the 50% figure that apparently Ford uses, is also the same # mentioned by many hitch manufacurers. I know this to be true of my old Fastway E2, hitch for instance. This 50% # comes directly from the SAE J2807 tow standard that was developed.

FWIW, I personally adjust my hitch to transfer more weight than that so that all the rise is taken out of the front and a little bit more than that, if possible. The link I posted above recommends setting a hitch up that way and I found the truck is much more planted when I follow that recommendation. The link below goes into detail where that recommendation comes from for the geeks out there like me. It's an interesting read. For the op...for that size trailer and an F150 you do need to use a weight distribution hitch. It will make towing a whole lot more comfortable and safe for you. For your 7k lb trailer, you could expect to have up to 1100 lbs tongue weight.

Setting Your Torsion Bars - RV Lifestyle Magazine

Mysteries of the SAE J2807 Tow Rating Standard By Andy Thomson For RV owners, one of the most important factors in safe and enjoyable towing is the proper adjustment of the torsion bars that distribute the weight between the trailer and the tow vehicle. When properly set-up, the torsion bars…

www.rvlifemag.com

 

[Riverbug]

Well you don't need a WDH then with just 500 lbs on the ball because the front isn't raising up enough. Ford knows that so thats why they say you'll likely need one for anything over 25%. Interesting that no truck manufacture tells you to weigh the truck for setting up an WDH. Measuring accomplishes the same thing. Same with the WDH manufactures.

Fair enough. I won't argue. I guess I've never come across the 25% rule as you reference it but I don't know everything. I think we're saying the same thing regarding measuring height vs weighing. Happy travels!

 

[BewareTheLamb]

Congratulation on the new RV!

We started our RV experience in August 2021 towing a Grand Design Imagine XLS 22MLE (7000lb, 26ft) with a 2017 Toyota Tundra. That's where we are today.

Our first WDH was a BlueOx Sway Pro (SwayPro™ Weight Distribution Hitch with Sway Control | Blue Ox) sold by the dealer. The truck pulled fine but I would encounter some sway in wind and with the passing of big trucks.

In April of 2024 I switched to the B&W Continuum (B&W Trailer Hitches Continuum Weight Distribution Hitch) and haven't looked back (pun intended). I installed it myself and it was relatively easy to do.

Not only do I not get the sway any more but the hooking, unhooking, and tension adjustments are just so easy! One of my wife's online friends who is very happy with their Continuum said that it feels like "they're cheating when they hook/unhook". Another plus is that I don't have to stow the arms when I'm parked. That rectangular Continuum setup just stays in place with the tongue jack lowered and securing it.

This is what it looked like after I first did the install. I need a newer picture, though. This shows the arm wrest on the tongue jack. I've done away with that so I can keep the tongue foot on the jack now. When I had the wrest mounted on the post, the foot came too close to the arms and I had to remove it while towing.

One thing I was taught regarding the use of a WDH is when I'm going over sharp inclines like a driveway entrance (especially an up-angle), the user is supposed to relax the tension on the WDH so there isn't excessive force as the truck starts up the driveway. That was tough with the BluOx because it meant removing both arms. The beauty of the Continuum is that I just turn the knob to release some (or all) of the pressure at the pump handle.

...Mike

 

[gthomas]

While expensive, you may want to consider one of the two companies producing Hensley designed hitches:

The Original Sway Elimination Hensley Hitch & TrailerSaver 5th Wheels

Hensley is the leader in towing safety. Whether you are looking for complete sway elimination from the original Hensley Arrow to the most comfortable TrailerSaver 5th-wheel ride, we have you covered.

hensleymfg.com

ProPride, Inc. | Leading Jim Hensley Anti-Sway Hitch

The ProPride 3P® Jim Hensley Hitch. Towing stability and safety unmatched by any other hitch available. The upgrade from the Hensley Arrow®

www.propridehitch.com

 

[huntindog]

Congratulation on the new RV!

We started our RV experience in August 2021 towing a Grand Design Imagine XLS 22MLE (7000lb, 26ft) with a 2017 Toyota Tundra. That's where we are today.

Our first WDH was a BlueOx Sway Pro (SwayPro™ Weight Distribution Hitch with Sway Control | Blue Ox) sold by the dealer. The truck pulled fine but I would encounter some sway in wind and with the passing of big trucks.

In April of 2024 I switched to the B&W Continuum (B&W Trailer Hitches Continuum Weight Distribution Hitch) and haven't looked back (pun intended). I installed it myself and it was relatively easy to do.

Not only do I not get the sway any more but the hooking, unhooking, and tension adjustments are just so easy! One of my wife's online friends who is very happy with their Continuum said that it feels like "they're cheating when they hook/unhook". Another plus is that I don't have to stow the arms when I'm parked. That rectangular Continuum setup just stays in place with the tongue jack lowered and securing it.

View attachment 494203

This is what it looked like after I first did the install. I need a newer picture, though. This shows the arm wrest on the tongue jack. I've done away with that so I can keep the tongue foot on the jack now. When I had the wrest mounted on the post, the foot came too close to the arms and I had to remove it while towing.

One thing I was taught regarding the use of a WDH is when I'm going over sharp inclines like a driveway entrance (especially an up-angle), the user is supposed to relax the tension on the WDH so there isn't excessive force as the truck starts up the driveway. That was tough with the BluOx because it meant removing both arms. The beauty of the Continuum is that I just turn the knob to release some (or all) of the pressure at the pump handle.

...Mike

I have never heard that bit about loosening the arms for a driveway If this is true, I have been doing it wrong since 1992 with no ill effects.
This is good, as it just isn't practicle when traveling...When one needs fuel, and the station has a sharp incline..... What do you do? stop traffic to adjust the WD? Pass that station up, and hope you can make it to the next one? Pass it up, try to find a good place to park the rig, adjust the WD, then try to double back ? Many lashups limit the u turns one can do.....etc.

 

[mbergthold]

Just purchased a 2025 Imagine XLS, 28 ft, 7,000 lbs, and towed with a 2020 Ford F-150 6 cylinder. First, is a weight distribution/anti-sway system necessary and second, what are the better manufacturers to consider. Moved up from an 18 ft pop-up so wish to be safe and secure!

Yes, IMO a WDH is a must, and with your F150 I would recommend air bags. The only hitch we will use is a Hensley Arrow, have had awesome results with zero sway in wind that blew the drivers mirror back into the window. It makes towing so much easier. A little pricey, but they frequently have reconditioned units that work just fine. I foolishly let a previous bumper pull trailer go with the Hensley Arrow, so we bought a refurb'd hitch this time.

I towed our 2021 2500RL w/our 2020 F150 4x once, calculated the payload, and had 20# to spare. We immediately ordered a 2021 F350.

 

[straightshooter]

Respectfully, that statement is absolutely not true. As an example, Ford's towing guide makes very clear that the max towing without WDH for a 2022 F150 with the proper tow package is 5,000 overall trailer weight and 500 tongue weight. Nothing to do with how level the truck is. With a WDH, those numbers change to 14,000/1,400. This can be verified by reading the towing guide.

Level is only a guide for how to set up the WDH. Ultimately, it's about transferring weight which means that the best way to verify the WDH setup is to use a scale before and after setup. But using height measurements get it into the right ballpark. After using height to set mine up, then weighing, I was only 200# light on the front with the WDH. Close enough for sure.

14,000 lb. trailer weight behind a Ford F150 is just asking for trouble.