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| | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,215 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,215 | My truck is a 1986 C10, stock, 305 V8, TH350 3 speed. My new camping trailer weighs 3400 pounds, single axle. I would prefer a 3/4 ton truck, but this is what I have. I already have the electric brake controller. Would a rear anti sway bar be necessary? Anything else? | | | | | Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 2,062 Big Bolt Forum Moderator | | Big Bolt Forum Moderator Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 2,062 | use weight distribution and anti-sway on your hitch setup, that will help a lot more than a sway bar on your truck. | | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 10,997 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 10,997 | As long as your tongue weight is within spec (~10% of trailer weight), there's no reason that a half ton won't handle that trailer. When you start getting into trouble with sway is when the trailer isn't level when hitched up or the tongue weight is out of spec. Give it a test run and see if you need an anti-sway bar (I'm envisioning a shock absorber type connected between truck and trailer.) An anti-sway bar on the truck's rear suspension isn't needed and won't help much with trailer sway.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,215 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,215 | Thanks, two helpful responses. I am getting the anti sway hitch setup when I pick up the trailer next month. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,746 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,746 | I routinely tow 8K+ pounds on a 16 foot dual axle utility trailer, with an 04 RAM 1500 pickup (1/2 ton). That has included two 6K+ crankshaft grinders, one from North Carolina to Tennessee, and a similar machine from Texas, plus the weight of the trailer. The trick is to load the trailer correctly, use a weight equalizing hitch such as a Reese or Valley Tow-Rite, and having a healthy respect for the load. Stopping distance and handling in turns needs to be your primary concern. Getting the load moving isn't much of a problem- - - - -stopping and steering safely needs to be your first priority. A sway control is nice to have, but I haven't used one in over 20 years, back when I was towing a 22 foot camp trailer pretty regularly. Something with a lot of square footage on the sides, such as a camp trailer, tends to "weathervane" in a cross wind a lot more than a utility trailer. That's where a sway control comes in handy.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 2,062 Big Bolt Forum Moderator | | Big Bolt Forum Moderator Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 2,062 | Leo, the weight distribution hitch will help with "porpoising" and make it ride smoother (less up and down movement at the actual hitch ball) The anti-sway part of the hitch helps it track straight. I tow a 35' vintage travel trailer with my 58 viking 2 ton and have both weight distribution and anti-sway on the hitch and can tell a big difference if I don't have them both on. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 Crusing in the Passing Lane | | Crusing in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 | No negative tongue weight!
Ed
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires.
'47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle.
'54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed.
'55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,587 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,587 |
1967 GMC 9500 Fire Ladder Truck"The Flag Pole"In the Stovebolt Gallery1946 2-Ton grain truck 1946 3/4-ton pickup, 1953 1-ton pickup 1957 1-ton flatbed dually, 1954 Pontiac Straight Eight Of all the things I've lost in my life, I miss my mind the most! | | |
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