Sway Bars

[buddy hammond]

We have a 17 ft Big Foot. Right now we have a 2000 Pontiac Montana Van. Not sure if this will be big enough to tow it. We have been looking at Blazers. This is our first yr we will be towing this trailer. We were wondering has anyone put sway bars on and if so what kind have you used???? I am thinking air shocks on the van. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!! Thankyou Bud

[Tom Trostel]

I can see from your trailer profile photo that you own an early 1500 series 17'. I would encourage you to have it weighed with everything in it that you are using when you camp. Most likely you weight will be under the 3500 lb limit for a minivan. My 1980 15B17G weighs 2400 lbs and we tow with a 2006 Toyota Sienna minivan. We use a Draw-Tite single bar WDH, Prodigy brake controller, Airlift 1000 rear spring helper air bags, McKish towing mirrors, and Haul Master friction sway control bar. With that list of equipment, the trailer tows well.

1980 Bigfoot :: NW New Mexico picture by tomNjo - Photobucket

[buddy hammond]

Originally Posted by Tom Trostel

I can see from your trailer profile photo that you own an early 1500 series 17'. I would encourage you to have it weighed with everything in it that you are using when you camp. Most likely you weight will be under the 3500 lb limit for a minivan. My 1980 15B17G weighs 2400 lbs and we tow with a 2006 Toyota Sienna minivan. We use a Draw-Tite single bar WDH, Prodigy brake controller, Airlift 1000 rear spring helper air bags, McKish towing mirrors, and Haul Master friction sway control bar. With that list of equipment, the trailer tows well.

1980 Bigfoot :: NW New Mexico picture by tomNjo - Photobucket

Thanks We are new to rving This is our first trailer so I have a lot to learn by May when we're planning a 4wk trip.

[Borden]

Welcome to FiberglassRv enjoy the ride

[Phil Underwood]

welcome to the forum and welcome to the bigfoot family

[Joe MacDonald]

I tow a 1981 trillium 5500 with a 1995 Lumina APV that's also a 17 footer.
I weigh in just under the 3500# limit, and used to use air shocks, I got rid of the air shocks because the factory ones were $400.00 pr., and the afternmarket ones , while only $100.00 pr. ,(If you watch ebay)didn't last over 2 years each . I went instead to overloader shocks, the kind with the spring over the shock, and while it rides a bit stiffer when not towing, It's excellent when I am. I also have air bag inserts in my springs (air-lift) which were installed back when I had air shocks, these are a great add-on.

I use a single side anti-sway bar, mounted between the trailer tongue and the stinger, and it has worked fine, even with a blow-out on the trailer, no sway, no jerks, nothing, just pulled over and changed the tire.
It also cuts down on sway caused by transports passing.