Trailer towing question: WD or sway control hitch?

[MED]

Sounds more like a tongue weight issue to me. The coil springs in the back of my 6.0L Yukon are really soft with an anemic spring rate, and I doubt the Z71s are much better. Mine can pull well, but tongue weight kills it so I use my truck for heavy (tongue weight) trailers. I would install your airbag helpers first and go from there. If you don't have a trans temp gauge, you should get one if you plan to run it In the mountains. The weight of the trailer your running isn't that big of a deal for your suburban if you fix your spring rate issue. I definitely prefer double axle trailers vs the single ones from a stability perspective so you might like the sway control on it since it looks like a single in the pic you sent; personally, it wouldn't bother me at all with that suburban/trailer as-is if you install the airbags. However, just remember that single axle boxy trailers can get a little squirrelly on a winding road if you're not careful. Does the trailer have brakes? How are the ones in your Suburban?

[hollohas]

Sounds more like a tongue weight issue to me.

^This, for sure. You should check the tongue weight. That trailer looks like it could have a tongue weight that's higher than you'd think because the axle is fairly far back.

I use a Fastway e2 WD with sway control with my 30ft, 5500lb travel trailer and have been happy with it.

Keep in mind, the chain style WD hitches are a pain, require add on's for sway control and must often be disconnected when backing. The bar style WD hitches offer WD and sway control in one and don't need to be disconnected when backing. Also, with some of the bar style WD hitches (like 4-point styles) some bars maybe harder to remove than others. With the e2 hitch (a 2 -point style), the bars can easily be removed from the hitch itself...no pins or loose parts...making it easier to handle the hitch. If you want sway control, the 2-point style should be plenty for your trailer IMO.

[Colorado Osprey]

That said, if you do go WD, I've been very happy with this 6K Fastway ....It's a near knock-off of the Equal-i-zer, but the bars are way easier to remove.

I hope they are close. They are both made by the same company. The Fastway E2 is the economy line of the Equalizer hitch.

Fastway Trailer Products – Progress Mfg. Inc.
353 South 1100 West
Provo, UT 84601

Equal-i-zer Hitch/Progress Mfg World Headquarters
353 South 1100 West
Provo, UT 84601
Phone: (800) 478-5578

Both are great. Any WD will help you with the dropping of the back of the truck. A lot of times people forget and load up the back of the truck as well greatly decreasing the rear ride height in addition to the trailer. Sounds like your are a great candidate for WD and suspension upgrade.

Have you looked at Active suspension from Roadmaster. It only works when you have a load and doesn't effect the unloaded truck ride with no air bags to leak or puncture.
I recommend looking into the Roadmaster Active Suspension instead of airbags. If you want more clarification on their system give them a call, they are great to work with.
https://activesuspension.com/

[Colorado Osprey]

... the chain style WD hitches are a pain, require add on's for sway control and must often be disconnected when backing.

Trying to figure out where this rumor started(Common in the industry and internet)... If you can tow forward in a turn you can back with any WD set up including chains.

Sorry, I've been in the trailer, towing industry for over 20 years and I get sick of that rumor. Never seen one that needed to be disconnected.

[colorider]

Fastway E2 is the way to go. The one with the square bars. Used the chain style for the past 10 yrs and just recently switched to the fastway when we got a bigger travel trailer. The fastway was highly recommended by a trailer expert in castle rock. And was not a dealer. Much much better towing and easier.

[hollohas]

Trying to figure out where this rumor started(Common in the industry and internet)... If you can tow forward in a turn you can back with any WD set up including chains.

Sorry, I've been in the trailer, towing industry for over 20 years and I get sick of that rumor. Never seen one that needed to be disconnected.

Fair enough. Some manufacturers recommend it.

[sako55]

I went with a Hensley hitch on my 28 foot travel trailer. I feel it probably saved my truck/family a few times. It is the sway and wd hitch mentioned a few post back. Pricey but is rock solid. Levels the trailer perfectly on my old f 150 without the hd tow package. Pretty amazing how it got rid of the squat.

Just watch your knees or shins when popping the bars off.

[OtterbatHellcat]

You shouldn't need a WD hitch setup for that trailer, but it wouldn't hurt.

That said, if you do go WD, I've been very happy with this 6K Fastway I used for my boat (3800#) behind my fiver. Mostly just for the sway control, so I had it loaded about as light as I could just to get friction on the bars for sway control and it helped with sway and the vertical snake. https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Dist...2-00-0600.html

It's a near knock-off of the Equal-i-zer, but the bars are way easier to remove.

I got lucky and found one on CL for $75 when I was looking.

DON'T buy anything with chains, ugh, and they're not surge brake compatible.

What's the tongue weight?
What did you have loaded in the Burb?
Do you have oversize, spongey tires?
Did you run the tire pressure up some for towing?

Brutal and others have provided great info here. I used the stabilizers with chains on a near 5K lb Terry which was much bigger than yours, and I loved them. I also don't see why you'd need them with the trailer you pictured....unless it's loaded too heavy on the tongue, or, the Burb was too ass heavy when it was all hooked up and ready to head out...or both were happening.

[OtterbatHellcat]

If you do get the bars, do not take TOO much weight off the tongue with the bars....if you're pivoted up in the hitch area, you will have a really squirrelly problem in a hurry. A messy one too.

[ruthabagah]

WD all the way. Another cause of sagging could be that your hitch is too low compare to the trailer tongue. I had this happen on my last camper, because they decided to add a lift kit and off road style tires on alk their campers wuthout changing the specs...

A wd is a great investement. Make towing a lot easier and safer.