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Enclosed car trailer hitch question #2568110
10/22/18 11:44 PM
10/22/18 11:44 PM
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USA
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440mopar Offline OP
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440mopar  Offline OP
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I've been trying to find an enclosed car trailer but haven't found one yet. It came to mind though that maybe I should have a weight distributing hitch for when I do find one. My question is, if I get a weight distributing hitch, should I get one with a sway controller or is just the weight distributing hitch itself all I need?

Re: Enclosed car trailer hitch question [Re: 440mopar] #2568115
10/22/18 11:54 PM
10/22/18 11:54 PM
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Posts: 349
West Central Wisconsin
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DeMopuar Offline
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You need more information to know if you need this or not. Depends on the weight of the trailer loaded along with what the tongue weight is. Once you know the tongue weight, you'll know what you need to do. You want to be in that 10% tongue weight compared to the total weight of the loaded trailer - then you don't need any of these other things, unless you're trying to tow a trailer with a half ton pickup - which I cannot recommend. I see a lot of people trying to tow heavy things with a 1/2 ton truck - but it'll always be a loser compared to a 3/4 or 1 ton truck - you won't be happy.

Etrailer.com has a tongue weight scale that you can purchase - it'll tell you what your tongue weight is - and then you just go to a scale and measure the entire trailer on the scale by itself - so you cannot be hooked up to do this. Pain to do, but it is the safest way to really know what the deal is. Or you can weigh the whole setup, then go back and weigh just your truck and subtract - that works too.

Best of luck!!!!!

Re: Enclosed car trailer hitch question [Re: DeMopuar] #2568129
10/23/18 12:15 AM
10/23/18 12:15 AM
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Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
Rhinodart Offline
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If you use a 1500 or smaller truck then yes, you need both. I only use a weight distributing hitch with my 2500 Ram and tow up to 12K lbs with up to a 32' trailer with 5200 lb axles. Like said above, more info is needed, like how much weight you are pulling, what size trailer, and of course what tonnage of truck.


The funny thing about science is that if you change one miniscule parameter you change the entire outcome to the way you want it.

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A-Body's RULE!
Re: Enclosed car trailer hitch question [Re: 440mopar] #2568314
10/23/18 01:03 PM
10/23/18 01:03 PM
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,399
Aurora, Colorado
451Mopar Offline
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When I bought my used enclosed trailer the seller included the weight distributing hitch (no sway control.) It has worked fine. I haven't has sway issues, but have plenty of tongue weight. The hitch has the option to add the sway control which I might add in the future.

Re: Enclosed car trailer hitch question [Re: 440mopar] #2568350
10/23/18 02:01 PM
10/23/18 02:01 PM
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Motor City
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6PKRTSE Offline
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On my 2500 Ram with my 28' enclosed trailer I now use both the weight distribution bars & sway control. Does it need it, no. It still pulls fine without them but yes, it does pull even nicer using them both. Not sure how much better the sway control helps but since I have it all I use it. No issues, better safe than sorry.


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Re: Enclosed car trailer hitch question [Re: 440mopar] #2568471
10/23/18 05:42 PM
10/23/18 05:42 PM
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Clinton, NJ
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njmopar Offline
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Clinton, NJ
A lot rides on the tow vehicle and what kind of trailer. Longer the wheel base of the tow vehicle, the less susceptible to sway. The lower the center of gravity of the trailer, the less susceptible to sway as well. Tongue weight setup is also a major driver for all sorts of trailer behaviors.

I have a club cab, short bed 1500 and when I tow my 26' travel trailer, even with sway control you can feel it at times. I think it is due to the high center of gravity and how much wind it catches. It is fairly tall due to the side slideouts and leaf spring suspension. Towing in high cross wind situations, like I encountered in South Dakota with up to 50 mph gusts, if I didnt have sway control would have been dangerous.
My enclosed 24' car trailer is torsion bar suspension and sits very low. I rarely feel it do anything behind me. Both have the same Reese Dual cam hitch setup, just with different weight ratings on the load bars.

The incremental cost of sway control in a unit like the Reese Dual Cam is worth the investment. It is a proven design that is simple to setup and use. It may make some noises at times during low speed maneuvers, but thats about it.

Re: Enclosed car trailer hitch question [Re: 440mopar] #2568542
10/23/18 07:49 PM
10/23/18 07:49 PM
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Posts: 337
Colorado
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67plymouthman Offline
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Colorado
I run both. I have a 2500 mega cab ctd and 20 ft enclosed trailer. I appreciate the anti-sway on windy days especially when my trailer is empty. Might be over kill or cheap insurance.

Re: Enclosed car trailer hitch question [Re: 440mopar] #2568669
10/24/18 12:13 AM
10/24/18 12:13 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 349
West Central Wisconsin
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DeMopuar Offline
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West Central Wisconsin
This rig is a 2017 Ram Mega 3500 dually short box with a Cummins and ASIN tranny. This truck has the air ride deal on the rear axle - it'll make a believer out of you as far as ride goes - and it's a lot easier on the trailer as far as jarring goes. The trailer is a 30' aluminum trailer that all loaded up with my heaviest car weighs in at almost 12,000 pounds - but not quite. I'm in the 10% deal with my tongue weight, and at 85 miles an hour this thing is rock solid, even in a slight wind - no sway bars or anything but a tow behind hitch with a 2 5/16" ball. If it's windy I wouldn't go that fast either though.

IMG_6336.jpeg
Re: Enclosed car trailer hitch question [Re: 6PKRTSE] #2568688
10/24/18 01:07 AM
10/24/18 01:07 AM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 257
Way North Idaho
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1KoolBee Offline
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Way North Idaho
Originally Posted By 6PKRTSE
On my 2500 Ram with my 28' enclosed trailer I now use both the weight distribution bars & sway control. Does it need it, no. It still pulls fine without them but yes, it does pull even nicer using them both. Not sure how much better the sway control helps but since I have it all I use it. No issues, better safe than sorry.


Ditto here. I've pulled my 24' enclosed at 8000 lbs with both sway and no-sway on my 01 Ram 2500 and my '15 Ram 2500 4x4. Noticeable difference on the 01, subtle difference on '15, which weighs 1600 lbs more than the '01. Both are Cummins. I'd say go for it, its only a few bucks more.


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