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11-26-2013, 06:49 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Name: Terry
Trailer: Scamp 16'
Washington
Posts: 7
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antisway question
We just purchased a 2006 Scamp 16ft and tow with a 2004 Grand Cherokee and average 12mpg over hill and dale (fyi). I get a little tail wag when being pushed on the freeway at about 62 mph and am considering a antisway for a little more control.
Question-- Has any one had or know of anyone that uses Anderson Hitches new anti sway that uses chain and has a unique ball set up (the ball rotates with the trailer) It looks and sounds like a good system weighing only 60lbs. There is a video on there web site.
We would appreciate any input.
PS yes I know the speed limit, traveling with this set up is a change from traveling in a Mini (9,000 mi this summer cross country)
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11-26-2013, 08:29 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Trailer: Trillium 4500
Posts: 2,053
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I had a Trillium that wiggled every time I hit 50 mph. A cheap friction bar was all it needed and never had another problem. You can do a friction bar for $50.
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11-26-2013, 08:42 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Name: jim
Trailer: 2022 Escape19 pulled by 2014 Dodge Ram Hemi Sport
Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,710
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I have the Andersen and really like it, it does eliminate sway, but before spending $400 I'd try to address why you have the squiggle. What is your tongue weight? If too light you will have sway, is your unit improperly set up with too much weight behind the axle vs in front? Once you determine that you have adequate tongue weight (10-15%) and you are level, then we can address if there is any sway with a hitch set up. But first try the other method.
__________________
Jim
Never in doubt, often wrong
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11-26-2013, 11:26 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Name: deryk
Trailer: 2012 Parkliner 2010 V6 Nissan Frontier 4x4
New Jersey
Posts: 2,084
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and then there is wind lol.
I was on a stretch in virginia and I looked down and realized i was doing 75 and getting passed and my ParkLiner was riding nicely behind me. Coming home around baltimore it was so windy I dropped down for a stretch to 50 and tapped my break controller a bunch of times because the ParkLiner was rocking...and that's with a cheap friction anti sway bar. Its a good idea to have something as a just in case.
__________________
deryk
All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost.... J.R.R. Tolkien
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11-27-2013, 11:46 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Name: Ken
Trailer: 2015 Scamp 16' deluxe 2008 FJ Cruiser
Pennsylvania
Posts: 152
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We also have a Scamp 16 that sways. All the weights and packing are correct. Bought an Andersen and love it. Once installed and adjusted right its a breeze to use. Easy on and off and no pops bangs or sqeeks. Love it.
Ken
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11-27-2013, 04:12 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Name: Tom
Trailer: none
Minnesota
Posts: 250
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towing my Scamp with the Silverado had a draw bar that made it level, had a wiggle....went with a 2 in drop with a 1 in rise ball, no wiggle... amazed how much 1 inch made (approximately a inch)
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11-27-2013, 06:34 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Trailer: Toyota Sunrader and 16 ft Scamp
Posts: 975
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You should be able to tow your trailer at any reasonable speed without any sway.
If you use any add on to eliminate your sway you are only putting a band aid on the problem.
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11-27-2013, 06:50 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Name: deryk
Trailer: 2012 Parkliner 2010 V6 Nissan Frontier 4x4
New Jersey
Posts: 2,084
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I disagree perry....I had zero problems driving to NC last weekend... coming back when I hit Baltimore area it was so windy it flattened the brim of my fedora to my head when I got out for gas. When the wind hit me from the side while driving I felt the sway.
I think for safety sake its a good investment.
__________________
deryk
All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost.... J.R.R. Tolkien
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11-28-2013, 11:24 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Trailer: Toyota Sunrader and 16 ft Scamp
Posts: 975
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I failed to add the qualifier, under normal conditions.
Terry said nothing about high winds.
I have been towing something for more years than I care to remember and have never felt the need for a sway bar.
If the speed limit is 70 as some areas in Arizona and Utah that's what I travel.
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11-28-2013, 12:23 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Name: Bob Ruggles
Trailer: 2015 Escape
Michigan
Posts: 1,537
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I've had a multitude of trailers in a multitude of different lengths and weights and have never had any sway, with or without a wdh. I've been towing since 1962 all over the country so I have a fair amount of experience. I'd never spend the money on an anti sway device until I'd have exhausted every other possibility for eliminating sway.
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11-28-2013, 01:12 PM
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#11
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Member
Name: Tim
Trailer: Scamp 16' Deluxe side bath
Minnesota
Posts: 63
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sway bar
I use a friction type anti-sway bar also towing my 16' scamp deluxe and find it very useful in cross wind conditions. Simply stop and get out to adjust the tension when traveling in heavy winds and when the winds are over I will usually get out again and release the tension....... not so much stress when turning corners. I personally would not travel without one. Even minor hardly noticeable oscillations bother me and the sway bar will put a stop to that. $50 buys cheap security.
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11-28-2013, 02:58 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Trailer: Scamp
Posts: 7,056
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Perry J
You should be able to tow your trailer at any reasonable speed without any sway.
If you use any add on to eliminate your sway you are only putting a band aid on the problem.
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KEY WORDS Reasonable Speed = Between 50 and 60 mph.
__________________
Byron & Anne enjoying the everyday Saturday thing.
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11-28-2013, 04:27 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Name: Dave W
Trailer: Escape 19 and Escape 15B
Alberta
Posts: 523
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Byron Kinnaman
KEY WORDS Reasonable Speed = Between 50 and 60 mph.
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"Reasonable speed" is a pretty subjective term, and I would bet that if you ask ten members on this forum what that means, you will get a multitude of answers. My definition of "reasonable speed" would include some kind of statement saying that it would depend on a variety of factors including road conditions, speed limit of road you are traveling on, condition of tow vehicle and trailer, etc. Under good driving conditions, a reasonable speed for me is something close to (slightly under to slightly over) the speed limit of the road I am traveling on. In poor driving conditions, I will adjust my "reasonable speed" accordingly.
With my trailer and tow vehicle combination, and the manner in which I load my trailer, I have never experienced any sway whatsoever, and have never required the use of a sway control device.
__________________
Dave W - 2013 Escape 19', 2013 Escape 15B and 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser
"You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there." - Yogi Berra
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11-28-2013, 04:47 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Name: Darrell
Trailer: Scamp Deluxe 16ft
Alabama
Posts: 355
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Back on the Anderson Hitch
I have one I use towing 16 ft Scamp Deluxe my TVs a 05 Wangler Unlimited. I started to install a friction swaybars and the Anderson was recommended at a RV shop by a Tec that worked there and has/ using one. I have no regrets about it, I can adjust the loading up or down with a socket wrench. It costs more than friction bars, but it added more solid connection and safety (IMHO) I have been known to be in to overkill some things... 5 fire extinguishers, first aid kits ect. ect.
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12-16-2013, 09:22 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Trailer: Bigfoot 21 ft Front Bedroom
Posts: 702
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Lengthen out the trailer tongue five feet and it will stop swaying.
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12-16-2013, 10:54 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2004 13 ft Scamp Custom Deluxe
Posts: 8,531
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hambone
towing my Scamp with the Silverado had a draw bar that made it level, had a wiggle....went with a 2 in drop with a 1 in rise ball, no wiggle... amazed how much 1 inch made (approximately a inch)
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You have hit the truth squarely. A 16 needs to be at or slightly below level and have adequate tongue weight. Done right, it tows nearly as well as a Scamp 13 which is the best towing trailer ever.
A friction sway device is no more a bandaid than a panhard bar is on a racecar. It improves the best set-up and it is cheap.
While I have never had a Scamp which required a friction bar I use one and love it for comfort and handling. 
I have though, had a couple of SOBs which required a friction sway to bring them above marginal safety standards. 
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12-17-2013, 12:39 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Name: Russ
Trailer: Scamp 16' side dinette, Airstream Safari 19'
California
Posts: 588
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People often overlook adding more air to tug tires when towing. The added trailer tongue weight and added side forces will be better handled by running the tires at higher pressures.
Also I found some improvement in my Jeep Wranglers ability to resist sway by shortening the drawbar which moved the ball about 3" closer to the rear bumper and shortened the moment arm. It better handled sway and helped with vertical loads. I originally had the long drawbar to clear the rear mounted spare tire. Now I moved the spare upward about 4" allowing the hitch to go under the tire. I switched my poor performing coupler to a Bulldog clam shell type which provides a lower profile and better clearance to the spare.
Trailer balance and level attitude are the biggies, but don't overlook the small stuff.
I can tow my trailer without a friction sway device and have no scary self perpetuating sway events, but the rig feels better with one connected. It quiets mini wags, and isn't expensive to purchase or difficult to hook up. The one thing I don't care for is the hitch pins they use to keep the thing hooked to the balls. They deform with use and can fall off. I envision the front one falling off and the device hitting the road and causing havoc. I have been using tie wraps to safety wire them in place. There's gotta be a better way...
Russ
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12-17-2013, 08:53 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Name: Arlon
Trailer: 2002 Casita Bunk Delux
Texas
Posts: 149
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Might also consider adding air bags to stiffen the rear suspension. They did wonders for towing with my truck and van. I also run E rated tires on both of them. My Astro van rides a little rough with the E tires but they don't allow much side to side movement either.
__________________
2002 Casita 17' Bunk Model Delux (replaced 28' 5th wheel)
2003 Dodge/Cummins quad cab (daily driver/tow vehicle of choice)
2005 AWD Astro Van/camper (my solo camper)
2006 Xterra MT (for sale)
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12-17-2013, 09:42 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Name: Norm and Ginny
Trailer: Scamp 16
Florida
Posts: 7,517
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We are among the lightest towers on the site, our tongue weight is between 7 to 8% of trailer weight.
As Russ suggests, we run our tow vehicle with higher than normal rear tire pressures boosting from a normal 26 to 39 lbs at the rear and to 34#s at the front. As well we have shortened our draw bar, bringing the ball closer to the rear axle, easy to do by drilling another locating hole in the draw bar.
We towed a few thousand miles without a sway bar with no issues. However we've added an anti-sway bar as inexpensive insurance.
The anti-sway bar is very easy to install and easy to use. Unlike some we never find we have to loosen it when backing up. (Definitely it should not be over tightened.)
__________________
Norm and Ginny
2014 Honda Odyssey
1991 Scamp 16
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12-17-2013, 11:17 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Trailer: 92 16 ft Scamp
Posts: 11,756
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ruscal
The one thing I don't care for is the hitch pins they use to keep the thing hooked to the balls. They deform with use and can fall off. I envision the front one falling off and the device hitting the road and causing havoc.
Russ
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Russ I am assuming the pins you are bending are on your anti sway device and not your hitch bar? as I have never had a hitch pin bend.... wonder if perhaps you need to find stronger or larger pins...
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