RV Camping; Tips, tricks & repairs

[ExtraSlow]

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That's the normal price. It's just a "hot buy".

Good tip. I don't keep up on the prices, I just know how good these stoves are. I love my three burner.

[Tik-Tok]

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Good tip. I don't keep up on the prices, I just know how good these stoves are. I love my three burner.

I want the 2-burner, but the single fits in my trailer so well.

[nzwasp]

Learnt an important lesson tonight take the sway bars off the hitch while the trailer is still on the hitch!

Despite that got it securely parked on my front driveway.

[Thaco]

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Learnt an important lesson tonight take the sway bars off the hitch while the trailer is still on the hitch!

Despite that got it securely parked on my front driveway.

yeah you should also remove the sway bars before backing up or making tight turns.

[ExtraSlow]

Generally I remove my WD bars when I arrive at the campground or storage lot before I drive around.

[Tik-Tok]

Definitely. I broke a bar that way 2 years ago. Tight turn in a campground.

Attachment 79623

[Thaco]

that's one of the reasons i love my andersen WD setup, don't have to worry about that stuff.

[sxtasy]

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Learnt an important lesson tonight take the sway bars off the hitch while the trailer is still on the hitch!

Despite that got it securely parked on my front driveway.

You must be talking about your weight distribution bars? I jack up both my truck and trailer a few inches when coupled to set up and also remove the bars.

[nzwasp]

I had already taken my suv off the hitch ball but still had the bars attached to the trailer and I took the bars off - its a camco hitch and bars looks a bit like this:



Anyway when I removed the bars the weight of the trailer must of been shifted to my tow vehicle because the whole vehicle sprung up on me.

[Tik-Tok]

How on earth did you detach the ball, without undoing the chains first?

[Thaco]

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How on earth did you detach the ball, without undoing the chains first?

yeah there should be significant force against the latch and now allow it, but i guess its possible.

[nzwasp]

So on the chains I had them set pretty loose I guess the 2nd loosest setting. I am thinking of tightening it a bit more for tomorrow to see if that helps with the sway - but the trailer itself wasnt swaying i just could feel it while I was driving. Yesterday it wasnt windy like today and also I didnt pass anyone.

[ExtraSlow]

So, firstly, those aren't "anti-sway" bars, they are weight distributing bars. Having your weight properly distributed CAN reduce sway, but that's a side effect. There are a couple of methods of adjusting your WD bars, either with a tape measure, or scales. I like the scale system, but it takes a little longer. Tape measure system is a good first pass option. Measure the inside of the highlanders front fender before you hook up the trailer, than again when it's hooked up, and a third time when the WD bars are attached and tightened. Post results and we'll help you out. What the WD bars do is distribute weight back to your steering axle, making your tow vehicle handle much better.

[Tik-Tok]

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So on the chains I had them set pretty loose I guess the 2nd loosest setting. I am thinking of tightening it a bit more for tomorrow to see if that helps with the sway - but the trailer itself wasnt swaying i just could feel it while I was driving. Yesterday it wasnt windy like today and also I didnt pass anyone.

Watch this vid to set them up properly, it's an installation video, and it's a slightly different version from yours, but setting it up is the same. Chains should be tight, tight, TIIIIGGHHHT.

https://youtu.be/xqZ4WhQIG-0?t=520

[nzwasp]

They look very similar to the setup I have. One thing he said was you should have no less than 5 links between the sway bar and the bolt. Mine has 10 links I had it connected on link 9. Probably not tight enough. The previous owner gave me a big steel pipe to secure it but I will do the measuring tomorrow when I hitch up.

[sxtasy]

One thing to note as well, I believe Weight Distribution hitches are not recommended for use on some unibody vehicles. Might want to check your manual to make sure.

[Thaco]

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They look very similar to the setup I have. One thing he said was you should have no less than 5 links between the sway bar and the bolt. Mine has 10 links I had it connected on link 9. Probably not tight enough. The previous owner gave me a big steel pipe to secure it but I will do the measuring tomorrow when I hitch up.

you definitely should be using the big pipe, also lifting the truck with the tongue jack can make it easier to get them super tight, depending on your needs.

[ExtraSlow]

Also, don't attach everything while the trailer is on yiur driveway. Get it moved to a level spot to do your measurements and adjusting the chain tension.

[nzwasp]

I checked my manual it talks about using a wd hitch and also about doing the measurements that @ExtraSlow was talking about.

[Tik-Tok]

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They look very similar to the setup I have. One thing he said was you should have no less than 5 links between the sway bar and the bolt. Mine has 10 links I had it connected on link 9. Probably not tight enough. The previous owner gave me a big steel pipe to secure it but I will do the measuring tomorrow when I hitch up.

You'll notice a big difference once you set it up properly. The height measurement way is definitely a goid way to set it up at first, but I highly agree with Extraslow and do it the scale method too. That'll help make sure your rear axle isn't overloaded (like mine was until I did it that way, only by 200 lbs, but still...)