Weight distribution/anti-sway hitch for 16' Airstream

I have a 2017 Tacoma SR5 3.5L V6 with the factory tow package. I am awaiting delivery of an Airstream Bambi 16RB with a GTW of 3,500 lbs. I was told that I would benefit greatly from a weight distribution hitch and, on a recommendation, ordered and received a Reese RE34FR from etrailer.com. This offers weight distribution only, with no actual sway control.

I understand that the factory tow package includes some form of sway control through trailer brake activation (I don't understand it), but I have no idea how well this works. I have now run across a Husky HT32215 with similar (identical) load capacity to the Reese but with advertised sway control. They look darn similar to me.

Desperately (well, anxiously) looking for knowledge/opinions/experiences/advice WRT the Reese hitch vs. the Husky, or on hitch setups in general. Sorry if this has been asked before (or discussed to death). I'm new to the forum. Thanks

 

Hi Roger, welcome to TW. We have the same trailer so hopefully I can help you out a bit. First things first you're looking at the wrong part #. You need Husky HT32216 for the correct ball size.

There's a huge reason I prefer the HT32216 over the RE34FR and it's got nothing to do with sway. You're correct that the Tacoma has built in sway control & any WDH will stabilize your rig quite a bit so I want to focus on something else. The HT32216 is back up compatible but the RE34FR does not look to be.

Our trailer is so small and maneuverable that you have to get good at reversing. You're never going to book a pull-thru campsite with a 16' trailer. Hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions!

 

Thank you so much. Do you find it to be noisy? That's the only complaint I've heard about the Husky's, but I expect it's common to all WD hitches. And what is the problem with backing up with WD hitches?

 

I don't actually own the husky WDH so I'm not going to comment on noise but I think noise in general is just something you get used to when towing. Like driving slower. Some WDHs can't reverse because of the way the bars are tensioned, they basically only can travel forward. I'd be lying if I said I totally understood the engineering behind it all. I have seen it's often the WDHs with chains that are the ones that can't back up which kind of makes sense that they can only pull and not push/pull.

 

So what do you use? Thanks again

 

I use an e2 Fastway round bar for my NoBo 16.5 which is 20 feet tail-to-tongue and is 3000lbs empty and 1700lb carrying capacity (supposedly?) and it's treated me really well. Pretty easy to set up/break down when hitching, can take tight turns just fine, and back up without any changes. It definitely makes some noise but a little grease can quiet things down decently.

 

+1 on the Fastway E2. I have a Jayco 195RBW. Reversing into my storage area is challenging but doable, and the hitch allows angled reversing on an incline. Mine doesn't make noise either.

 

be certain ALL tyre pressures are correct

be careful to avoid drop offs

remain focused adjust & adapt to traffic weather & wind

Air Stream make a very good product

 

Thank you for your replies. I have spoken with a tech at the Airstream dealer and he also recommends the Fastway E2. Thanks again

 

Curious, did Airstream recommend part number 92-00-0450 or 94-00-0600?

 

All. Is the Airstream truly easier to tow than box trailers?

 

In regards to aerodynamic effects, absolutely. It's much closer to an "airfoil" shape than most other designs.

Some other trailer designs are shaped such a way to help with aerodynamic effects, but basically none of them have sloped sides like the Airstreams so they're going to be more prone to crosswinds, etc.

Of course there's other factors that are good to mitigate in addition to aerodynamics that help stability and what not (dual axle, weight distribution, tongue weight).

 

ive found that to be true

they dont Push as much air

they dont have as much drag

look at some of the setsups posted recently

bigger.......taller........wider than the Taco

 

He said either will work. If you think you might be moving up, the 0450 might need to be replaced, whereas the 0600 might not.

 

Fastway E2 here also. A little noisy on sharp turns but some grease on ball works.

 

I'll cast my vote for the blue ox (

$724 Blue Ox BXW0550 SwayPro Weight Distribution Hitch - 550lb Tounge Weight, 7 Hole Shank for 2" Recievers, 2-5/16" Ball, Textured Bronze

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DMFO6O)

Silent, no pops, backs up perfectly, and needs no adjustments other than ball height.

 

I looked at several options, and for pulling our R-Pod 192, decided on an Eaz-Lift ReCurve. Easy to hitch/un-hitch, very quiet, and the bars are not below the trailer hitch so zero clearance impact.

We pulled our trailer up Highway 35 from Austin to Waco Friday afternoon and it was very stable and confidence inspiring even with all the other truck traffic.

 

Casitas and Scamps are also very aerodynamic.

 

A WDH isn't normally recommended until you start towing 5000 lbs +. I've pulled a lot of 3000-3500 lb loads without one. Not sure it's worth the effort on such a light trailer

 

A WDH is all about hitch (tongue) weight. If you’re pulling 5000 lbs with 300 on the tongue it’s going to be a lot different than pulling 2000 lbs with 700 on the tongue.