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07-21-2008, 03:34 PM
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#1
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Guest
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Hitch & Sway Control
Getting Ready To Sign The Papes For A 2008 2720, Tow Vehicles Will A 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser Or A 2003 S-10 Crewcab. (want to be able to switch back & forth)
Dealer Sells & Installs Reese Pro Series RB Style W/D Hitch (i believe, said its pro series with the chains). Will I Need A Sway Control With This? Hitch Says It's Compatible With Passanger Friction Sway Control. I Can Get A Different Hitch They Just Have To Order It. I Am Doing This Deal Over The Internet And Driving 7 Hours To Pick It Up. (woohoo road trip). Any Advice Or Help Is Appreciated.
Thanks,
Jeff
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07-21-2008, 03:56 PM
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#2
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Site Sponsor
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Southeast of Houston, Texas
Posts: 1,089
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Search on the forum and I think you'll find most folks don't use sway control. I don't but my TV's quite a bit longer than yours. I think there is information about towing with the FJ on the forum somewhere.
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07-27-2008, 03:44 PM
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#3
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Site Sponsor
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 128
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I towed with both Ford Ranger and a Ford Expedition and didn't have to use sway control with either vehicle. Because the tires are set back farther on the TM than a regular trailer, there is very little sway to worry about.
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08-14-2008, 05:59 AM
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#4
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Guest
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Just Got Back Monday With My Trailmanor. 2720 Being Pulled By A 2007 FJ Cruiser.
A Reese WDH Was Installed W/550 Lb Bars. (dealer saw no reason to use 750 Lb bars).
No Sway Control Was Installed. Drove From NE Ohio To Northern Virginia, Interstate Driving Almost All The Way. Fj Pulled It Very Nice, From 55-65 Mph, With Occasional Jumps To 70 MPH Cruising Down The Mountains. Lots Of Power Absolutly No Sway Encountered At All.
Looks Like We Have A Matched Set That Works Very Well.
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08-14-2008, 09:36 AM
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#5
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: TN
Posts: 674
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I have a friend that owns a Trucking Company so I decided to get his opinion on using a Sway control since I got one with the Hitch kit I bought anyway. He said you may never need it but if you do it is cheap insurance. He went on to say he has personally seen quite a few accidents with trailers that possibly could have been prevented if the vehicle had used a sway control. He gave me a few examples of what could happen.
Do I think you need one in most cases with the TrailManor? No but I like Insurance so I use one.
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08-14-2008, 10:36 AM
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#6
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Guest
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We have a 3326 with a WDH. The dealer sold us a sway control, but gave us credit for it as we've never experienced any sway issues even w/significant winds and passing (either direction) 18 wheelers on tight 2-lane roads.
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08-14-2008, 04:19 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The mountains of Scottsdale, AZ, and the beaches of Maine
Posts: 10,088
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McGyver/Billy -
The Land Rover Discovery has a couple properties that give me pause. As a New Car Review in 1995 stated, The Discovery has a short wheelbase, high center of mass, and a soft, very outback-capable suspension. It offers excellent handling when used within its design parameters, but fast cornering is a bad idea. That thing about fast cornering is a clue to its behavior - the short wheelbase and high center of gravity make it tend to overcorrect in tight corners, and to roll, and that will only get worse with a trailer trying to push it around. The wheelbase is indeed short at 100 inches - much shorter than I am comfortable with - and it had not changed in 2003. And I have no idea where the center of gravity is. But both of these parameters make a vehicle quite susceptible to over-correction in steering, which is a natural result of trailer sway. That's what your trucker friend was talking about.
The question of sway control comes up fairly often, and I usually advise people "TMs don't sway - don't worry about it." In the case of the Discovery, I might have to make an exception. By the way, Shandy's Suburban has a wheelbase of 131.5 inches - almost a yard more than the Discovery.
The tow rating of the Discovery, at 5500 pounds, is adequate in most situations, so that should not be an issue. So go ahead and use the sway control. As you point out, it is good insurance.
Bill
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08-14-2008, 05:03 PM
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#8
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Guest
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Because of the light weight of the TM, the TM axle can be set back a little farther than other trailers without causing the tongue weight to get too heavy. The farther back the axle is the less opportunity for sway.
I agree that the shorter the wheelbase of the TV then sway becomes a possible problem. Imagine what would happen to stability if the distance between the front axle and rear axle of your TV was only a few feet. Clearly not possible. Longer wheelbase is more stable.
My wheelbase is 153 inches. I never think about sway at all. It just never happens. Not even when the TM tire blows out at 55 mph. In fact, when the TM tire blew, we only knew it had failed because we heard the pop. If the radio had been on we would have driven many miles. The TM towed just as stable with one blown tire as it does normally.
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08-14-2008, 11:45 PM
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#9
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: TN
Posts: 674
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Bill you are correct TM don't seem to sway not even with the shorter wheelbase of a Land Rover. I have towed ours without a WDH & with a WDH & also without a sway & with a sway. It did GREAT in all scenarios accept without a WDH there was just too much squat in the rear.
It has surprised me at just how well it has towed the TM so far of course I am not sure as to what the future holds. I have also towed other trailers not RVs though with no problems.
I have been driving a Rover for quite some time & we have even been in a Roll Over wreck in one it isn't a sports car but it surprises everyone at just how well it does handle.
I am definitely as overkill type of person on safety in personal & business life though.
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