Casita 17ft using Blue OX Sway Pro WDH?

[Retxaj]

Hi all,
Anyone using the Blue Ox Sway Pro WDH with their 17 foot Casita? If so, any tips or tricks? Thanks

[Defenestrator]

Are you looking at getting one?

I like mine on my Bigfoot 25RQ, but the various sizes of hitch all use the same very heavy stinger/ball assembly. For a Casita you could probably get away with something much lighter.

The rest is pretty standard WDH stuff. Lift the tongue up high if you're having trouble rotating the chain cam.

[Retxaj]

Thanks. Good thought. Now leaning towards Anderson WDH

[New Orleans John]

Originally Posted by Jaxter

Now leaning towards Anderson WDH

Right ! That Blue Ox is good for heavier trailer. A favorite of Airstreamers.
The Andersen is the 'standard' WDH installed by Casita on their trailers at the factory. They will not install any others.
What are you towing with ?

[mtnuts]

I'm wondering if these units such as Anderson will fit on a Bigfoot with the fiberglass bonnet over the hitch. Do I toss the bonnet cover to install the weight distribution and sway bar unit.

[Defenestrator]

For the Andersen or pretty much any other WDH, people generally cut a notch in the fiberglass cover.

[Perryb67]

We've owned two Blue Ox hitches. One for our 25' Bigfoot and one for our Lance. It's overkill for a Casita, but will work just fine. We've also had a Andersen for our 26' Cougar. The Andersen is a poor choice for a larger camper but a perfect choice for a smaller camper, such as most campers on this forum.

OTOH, I found it easier to hook up the Blue Ox than the Andersen, but my advice is to go with the Andersen.

Enjoy,

Perry

[mtnuts]

Thanks Perry! There are so many choices out there. I have read tons of reviews on them and have narrowed in down to EZ lift, Anderson or Equalizer. My trailer is only 17 ft.

[mtnuts]

Thanks!

[RGill]

You will need to get the 350# or 500# bars for a casita.

[Eggnog]

Hi all Eggnog here… I just replaced the Curt bar from a previous trailer Made the mistake of leaving it in the weather on tongue It got hard to adjust and eventually the guts fell out. Replaced with a $30 harbor freight haul master. Working great on casita 17’

[johnlochbuie]

You don't need a wdh on casita just a sway bar is all you need.

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by johnlochbuie

You don't need a wdh on casita just a sway bar is all you need.

It depends on the tow vehicle, which hasn’t been identified. Many FWD-based crossovers and even some smaller trucks can benefit from a light-duty WDH.

I saw a Honda Passport pulling a 17’ Casita using the Anderson recently. Nice rig.

[Eggnog]

The tow vehicle making the difference totally makes sense. I’m towing with F150 4x4 with sway control in tow/haul mode. Also using a Shocker hitch.

[Mr Lynn]

I have the Curt sway bar that came with the 2013 Casita 17. Not sure what it does, as I've never towed without it. My Ford Expedition is pretty much the same as an F150.

Would there be any advantage to a newer and/or different brand?

I recently bent the ball-mount tab for the sway bar, apparently by turning too sharp while backing up. So now I know to take it off when backing up.

[Eggnog]

Hi all, As long as the curt sway is working stay with it. The bent ball mount is caused by have the adjustment way to tight. I ripped one almost off in some hairpin turns a few years back. The Harbor freight sway comes as a kit with mini ball for hitch, ball mount for tongue. The mounting bolts are junk, one would need to get four quality self tapping ones. Eggnog out and about.

[Defenestrator]

There's some advantages, but not necessarily worth throwing the Curt out for. Easier to hook up and unhook, fewer squealing noises when turning, and no need to disconnect things to reverse. I went from an Escape with a similar normal/basic hitch to a Blue Ox for the Bigfoot 25RQ. I'm glad I got the Blue Ox, but I probably wouldn't have gone back and gotten one to replace the one that came with the Escape.

[CharlesinGA]

Originally Posted by mtnuts

I'm wondering if these units such as Anderson will fit on a Bigfoot with the fiberglass bonnet over the hitch. Do I toss the bonnet cover to install the weight distribution and sway bar unit.

Here is a side view of my BOSP hitch on my 25B21RB Bigfoot with the extended tongue and cargo pod/parrots beak. You just trim the fiberglass a little. Lot of work doing a nice job however, using dremel, round files, flat files, etc, numerous test fits, still was not right after I tightened it down, had to take it loose and cut some more.

Charles

[Cynthia in Montana]

We love the ease of the Curt anti sway bar, but never know how much to tighten it. We use F150 & Explorer & share the same receiver with the little side ball. The 17’ Casita rides a hair nose low. Do we need a ball with a taller shaft?
Would one of those straight hitch extenders change safety in any way? PlayPak guy had a 12” male/female square one so he could open his tailgate while hitched up. Wouldn’t backing up be easier, too? (with Curt off, of course).
Sort of lots of thoughts & questions here. May as well throw in how often does everyone use a ball lube goop?