ProPride ?

[cwall59]

Anyone using a ProPride hitch on your Bigfoot with front storage? If so how do you like it and what modifications were done to install it ? Photos would be great if you can .

[BigDan]

I’ve looked at it, FWIW seems like overkill, heavy, expensive and not necessarily beneficial. Depending on your TV, if you have a recent one it might have anti-sway control. Either two ways, one is if the truck detects fishtailing it will selectively apply the rear brakes (left/right) to counteract. Other trucks such as the GM EV’s like the Sierra/Silverado may have rear steer which has the same effect.

I’m looking at getting the same Bigfoot, I’ve settled on the Fastway E2. Weight distributing and has a form of anti-fishtail, which is the friction between the bars and stays is a resistance to sway. I’ll be driving electric so have built in anti-sway which is a better approach IMO.

More important to my mind might be independent suspension on the Bigfoot. It has a good shock/bumper system, but I’ve heard at least tracking is much better with an independent system.

[cwall59]

Originally Posted by BigDan

I’ve looked at it, FWIW seems like overkill, heavy, expensive and not necessarily beneficial. Depending on your TV, if you have a recent one it might have anti-sway control. Either two ways, one is if the truck detects fishtailing it will selectively apply the rear brakes (left/right) to counteract. Other trucks such as the GM EV’s like the Sierra/Silverado may have rear steer which has the same effect.

I’m looking at getting the same Bigfoot, I’ve settled on the Fastway E2. Weight distributing and has a form of anti-fishtail, which is the friction between the bars and stays is a resistance to sway. I’ll be driving electric so have built in anti-sway which is a better approach IMO.

More important to my mind might be independent suspension on the Bigfoot. It has a good shock/bumper system, but I’ve heard at least tracking is much better with an independent system.

Thanks for the input. I went ahead and ordered a ProPride during the sale they have going. Price is still expensive but I think it’s the best hitch out there . My truck will be a 2025 F350 longbed that I have on order . I’m not worried about the TV . It will give me peace of mind if my wife does any of the driving knowing I have the best away control hitch available. Maybe over kill but I think I will be happy. Oh I went gas with this truck, my last truck I just sold was a 2020 F450 6.7 diesel. Best truck I’ve ever owned .

[ShelbyM]

Can't see any disadvantage. Which Bigfoot do you have?

[cwall59]

Originally Posted by ShelbyM

Can't see any disadvantage. Which Bigfoot do you have?

I have on order a 25B25RT with front storage. I like that I won’t have to take the friction bars off to back in my driveway. I have a sharp and steep backup at home .

[Perryb67]

Over the years we've had a least a couple of Equalizer WDH's, two E2s, one Andersen (that was replaced by Andersen two times), and three Blue Ox hitches. A couple of years ago I picked up another but newer Andersen in a campground where the owner got a new Equalizer hitch from his BIL and sold me the Andersen for $100. I have yet to use this Andersen WDH.

Equalizer, E2, and other bar type hitches put too much stress on the frame. I know I'm not the only one who feels this. The Andersen doesn't work with heavier trailers. In our case a 25' Cougar weighing slightly over 6,000#'s got into a sway situation with the Andersen hitch, but immediately hitting the brake controller, not the truck brakes, got the trailer running straight again.

I purchased the first Blue Ox Hitch for the same Cougar with a huge difference in feel. The second Blue Ox Hitch was for our 25' Lance. The Equalizer was for a 32' Jayco trailer and the E2 for our first 2003 25' Bigfoot, and the 2016 25' Bigfoot came with a E2. Both the E2 and Equalizer gave a poorer ride since the truck and trailer are essentially one unit. The Blue Ox uses chains connected to a spring bar on each side, with bars at an angle to the hitch that increase sway control as the trailer increases sway and just seem to work better with a much improved ride.

Food for thought,

Perry

[BigDan]

Thanks for your history Perry, good to hear real world experience

Originally Posted by Perryb67

Equalizer, E2, and other bar type hitches put too much stress on the frame. I know I'm not the only one who feels this.

FWIW as an engineer I have a hard time seeing the basis for this. Those BF frames are box beams correct? Typically of 10-12 gauge according to a search, so .1” thick. That should be at least an order of magnitude more rigid and stress handling than the simple bars providing tension. If you have a body on frame truck, also according to search those frames similar are around .125” and all that same force is transmitting through them, plus the others of tongue and carrying the truck static and dynamic forces. Finally, its just a couple feet off the tongue, that’s hardly any moment arm, that frame should just laugh at these bars tensioning a few hundred lbs off the tongue.

So that’s the whole exact point, which is to distribute that tongue weight partially forward and backward to two systems which are designed to handle thousands of lbs of static, with all the dynamic forces. It just doesn’t add up, back of the envelope we’re comparing mouses to elephants.

Both the E2 and Equalizer gave a poorer ride since the truck and trailer are essentially one unit. The Blue Ox uses chains connected to a spring bar on each side, with bars at an angle to the hitch that increase sway control as the trailer increases sway and just seem to work better with a much improved ride.

Sorry I’m not following you here - so you feel the Blue Ox is a better hitch for you then? And specifically you’re talking about the sway pro? But mechanically that’s no different from bar equalization, it provides WD plus sway just with a different way of going about it.

I have no horse in the race but just looking for the right solution for me. What was attractive about the bar systems is the apparent ease and safety of setup by jacking up, then lowering to tension. I’ve seen reviews that the BlueOx SwayPro has a caution, which is that if that tensioner gets away from you it could give a lot of hurt. Anyhow my wife would like to know how to do all this and that system wouldn’t work for her at all - similiar to the old Model T cranks which women couldn’t manage.

[CindyL]

Originally Posted by cwall59

Thanks for the input. I went ahead and ordered a ProPride during the sale they have going. Price is still expensive but I think it’s the best hitch out there . My truck will be a 2025 F350 longbed that I have on order . I’m not worried about the TV . It will give me peace of mind if my wife does any of the driving knowing I have the best away control hitch available. Maybe over kill but I think I will be happy. Oh I went gas with this truck, my last truck I just sold was a 2020 F450 6.7 diesel. Best truck I’ve ever owned .

While the front storage place of our Bigfoot Silver Cloud is different than your Bigfoot, the ProPride hitch kept us from selling our Bigfoot right after we bought it. We had so much sway coming home to Chicago from Oregon where we bought the Bigfoot that we did not think we would keep it. Then Kevin researched and found ProPride, and we were able to stop by their store on the way to Algonac that year and pick up a Propride. He installed it when we got home. No more sway.

CindyL

[cwall59]

Originally Posted by CindyL

While the front storage place of our Bigfoot Silver Cloud is different than your Bigfoot, the ProPride hitch kept us from selling our Bigfoot right after we bought it. We had so much sway coming home to Chicago from Oregon where we bought the Bigfoot that we did not think we would keep it. Then Kevin researched and found ProPride, and we were able to stop by their store on the way to Algonac that year and pick up a Propride. He installed it when we got home. No more sway.

CindyL

Thank you , I think I made a good investment.

[ShelbyM]

Originally Posted by BigDan

I have no horse in the race

Well heck, get a ProPride anyway if they are on sale. You may get a truck and trailer someday, who knows? Be prepared!

[Perryb67]

Originally Posted by BigDan

So that’s the whole exact point, which is to distribute that tongue weight partially forward and backward to two systems which are designed to handle thousands of lbs of static, with all the dynamic forces. It just doesn’t add up, back of the envelope we’re comparing mouses to elephants.

I suggest you look at the differences between the Equalizer and a Blue Ox. They both work in different ways, with bars/friction brackets being rather unforgivable. Equalizer type hitches were great in their days, but there are many improved hitches out there besides Blue Ox. We just chose Blue Ox because we were tired of the friction bars rough ride, heavy bars, and didn't want the brute force that is provided by friction bar WDH's.

OTOH, if encountering a "Perfect Storm" all hitches can sway.

Originally Posted by BigDan

Sorry I’m not following you here - so you feel the Blue Ox is a better hitch for you then? And specifically you’re talking about the sway pro? But mechanically that’s no different from bar equalization, it provides WD plus sway just with a different way of going about it.

I have no horse in the race but just looking for the right solution for me. What was attractive about the bar systems is the apparent ease and safety of setup by jacking up, then lowering to tension. I’ve seen reviews that the BlueOx SwayPro has a caution, which is that if that tensioner gets away from you it could give a lot of hurt.

Since you've obviously not looked at how the Blue Ox works you won't understand how it works differently than Equalizer/friction type hitches. When we switched from the E2 to the Blue Ox there was an immediate difference in ride. There is almost no flex in Equalizer or E2 bars, and it's that difference providing an improved ride.

There are many hitches out there besides Blue Ox that have much improved ride over the old-fashioned friction bar hitches. I just gave an example of one. Last summer I purchased a like new Blue Ox WDH for $200.

Since the tongue of any Bigfoot 25 is so heavy I only have a WDH for the "Perfect Storm". The only Bigfoot I've heard of flipping was being taken home from Bigfoot RV empty, except for items stored on the back bed. Our 25RQ has a tongue weight of 925-975#'s or 15% of total weight.

Next spring I'll be selling the E2 hitch for $75 and the Andersen for $150.

Originally Posted by CindyL

While the front storage place of our Bigfoot Silver Cloud is different than your Bigfoot, the ProPride hitch kept us from selling our Bigfoot right after we bought it. We had so much sway coming home to Chicago from Oregon where we bought the Bigfoot that we did not think we would keep it. Then Kevin researched and found ProPride, and we were able to stop by their store on the way to Algonac that year and pick up a Propride. He installed it when we got home. No more sway.

CindyL

The ProPride was definitely an option to replace our E2 WDH, but when I found a like-new Blue Ox for $200, and had two Blue Ox hitches previously, the Blue Ox was a no-brainer for us.

Enjoy,

Perry

[cwall59]

Originally Posted by ShelbyM

Well heck, get a ProPride anyway if they are on sale. You may get a truck and trailer someday, who knows? Be prepared!

Truck and trailer are on order . Just sold my 450 and my 40’ 5thwheel.

[ShelbyM]

Originally Posted by cwall59

Truck and trailer are on order . Just sold my 450 and my 40’ 5thwheel.

Yep, speaking to Dan on the fence.

[Stevenracquel]

Check out this post for a great Propride installation.

https://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/...t-91684-2.html

I have one on my 21FB and wouldn’t ever consider towing without it. Expensive because it’s worth it. It’s hard to put a price on safety.

[cwall59]

Originally Posted by Stevenracquel

Check out this post for a great Propride installation.

https://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/...t-91684-2.html

I have one on my 21FB and wouldn’t ever consider towing without it. Expensive because it’s worth it. It’s hard to put a price on safety.

Thanks , I’ve watched several videos and think I’ve made the right decision. I personally didn’t want to buy several hitches and end up buying the ProPride . Just bite the bullet initially and be done .

[computerspook]

Originally Posted by cwall59

Thanks for the input. I went ahead and ordered a ProPride during the sale they have going. Price is still expensive but I think it’s the best hitch out there . My truck will be a 2025 F350 longbed that I have on order . I’m not worried about the TV . It will give me peace of mind if my wife does any of the driving knowing I have the best away control hitch available. Maybe over kill but I think I will be happy. Oh I went gas with this truck, my last truck I just sold was a 2020 F450 6.7 diesel. Best truck I’ve ever owned .

Well it does seem like total overkill. I will notice that their examples are all MUCH bigger than anything being discussed on this forum. Now the wife comment might be the key and might be the one thing making it worth it. Now me I have driven AND TOWED enough that I don't really even notice it. My housemate makes a joke once in a while that I will just automatically drive into turns and etc with the room and procedures to allow for a large trailer. But I also have observed and understand that if you do not have that experience you really can be MUCH less comfortable with the trailer back there. And making your wife comfortable driving when on your trips AND making you comfortable with her driving on those trips might be worth the price right there.


Do feel a bit jealous over the ease of connecting up. I can see how that method would be much more convenient. Even more so if the weather is horrible.



Also was thinking that this might be one form of an anti-theft device. Really easy to get a hitch ball and many vehicles actually have one. So it is easy for the thief to hook up. You can do things like ball locks to make that harder. But it is the key to the theft. It looks like a thief would have to either have to have the matching front half, or have to remove the whole thing to steal the trailer. (Or have a flat bed to haul it on)


One place I worked someone tried to steal a HUGE boat from the business next door. Big cabin cruiser that the owner of that business owned and used the simi tractor with a hitch ball to get it to and from the water. Some idiots decided to get a clamp on hitch ball and put it on the bumper of a VW bug and tow it away. That business was up the hill from the one I worked at. I arrived one day to find the boat had driven itself into the front door of the business. Smashing the front of the boat and demolishing the door, door frame, and part of the reception area. By the way the reason am able to identify the make and model of the car was that the hitch ball AND BUMPER and license plate were still attached to the front of the boat, pretty mush sitting where the reception desk had been.


Don't know the details about the money changing hands with regards to owners and insurance companies, but know the boat ended up being unrepairable and the owner got a claim against him for the damaged done by the boat. So thieves can rack you up a large bill.

On the other hand that does also leave you some lack of flexibility. My camper still exists because where my place burned (Failed CFL bulb in a fixture designed before anyone thought of that idea) I barely got out. They took me to the hospital and hooked me up to IVs and O2 and I was there for a couple days. In the mean time my camper was close enough to the fire it could have burnt but a friend had a hatch ball with him for his TV and talked the firemen into allowing him to back up to it and tow it away. They might have saved it. ----- They might not have. But he could do that because of the universal nature of hitch balls.

[giro53]

Originally Posted by cwall59

Anyone using a ProPride hitch on your Bigfoot with front storage? If so how do you like it and what modifications were done to install it ? Photos would be great if you can .

We use the Propride system on our Bigfoot. Did the install a few years back and very happy with it. A few points though. To install the crossmember we had to modify the battery box. Battery still fits in the same place but had to cut out part of it. Also we do not use the weight equalizing jacks as install8ng them would mean cutting out a fair section of the storage box for 5hem to go thru. We stuck with using Proprides equalizer bars and kept the chain system.
As far as performance it works great. As advertised, no sway even in cross winds. Hitching is a learning experience. Without the jack system installed it is more diffecult especially if you are not straight on. Also be aware that the system will add about 18” to yout total length.
We recently installed a Hensley cub on my sons rig. Although not a Bigfoot I feel the install was much easier and woukd have been easier on the Bigfoot as well. The jacks sit further out making their install less of an issue with the storage box. Would compare the two very closely. Both result in a great towing experience since they use the same theory.
Best of luck. Happy towing.

[cwall59]

Originally Posted by giro53

We use the Propride system on our Bigfoot. Did the install a few years back and very happy with it. A few points though. To install the crossmember we had to modify the battery box. Battery still fits in the same place but had to cut out part of it. Also we do not use the weight equalizing jacks as install8ng them would mean cutting out a fair section of the storage box for 5hem to go thru. We stuck with using Proprides equalizer bars and kept the chain system.
As far as performance it works great. As advertised, no sway even in cross winds. Hitching is a learning experience. Without the jack system installed it is more diffecult especially if you are not straight on. Also be aware that the system will add about 18” to yout total length.
We recently installed a Hensley cub on my sons rig. Although not a Bigfoot I feel the install was much easier and woukd have been easier on the Bigfoot as well. The jacks sit further out making their install less of an issue with the storage box. Would compare the two very closely. Both result in a great towing experience since they use the same theory.
Best of luck. Happy towing.

Thanks for the information. When talking to Brent he mentioned new style jacks fit a little different than older version and thought not as much trimming would be needed. Hopefully that is the case . We will have lithium batteries so front battery box will most likely be empty.

[cwall59]

Originally Posted by computerspook

Well it does seem like total overkill. I will notice that their examples are all MUCH bigger than anything being discussed on this forum. Now the wife comment might be the key and might be the one thing making it worth it. Now me I have driven AND TOWED enough that I don't really even notice it. My housemate makes a joke once in a while that I will just automatically drive into turns and etc with the room and procedures to allow for a large trailer. But I also have observed and understand that if you do not have that experience you really can be MUCH less comfortable with the trailer back there. And making your wife comfortable driving when on your trips AND making you comfortable with her driving on those trips might be worth the price right there.


Do feel a bit jealous over the ease of connecting up. I can see how that method would be much more convenient. Even more so if the weather is horrible.



Also was thinking that this might be one form of an anti-theft device. Really easy to get a hitch ball and many vehicles actually have one. So it is easy for the thief to hook up. You can do things like ball locks to make that harder. But it is the key to the theft. It looks like a thief would have to either have to have the matching front half, or have to remove the whole thing to steal the trailer. (Or have a flat bed to haul it on)


One place I worked someone tried to steal a HUGE boat from the business next door. Big cabin cruiser that the owner of that business owned and used the simi tractor with a hitch ball to get it to and from the water. Some idiots decided to get a clamp on hitch ball and put it on the bumper of a VW bug and tow it away. That business was up the hill from the one I worked at. I arrived one day to find the boat had driven itself into the front door of the business. Smashing the front of the boat and demolishing the door, door frame, and part of the reception area. By the way the reason am able to identify the make and model of the car was that the hitch ball AND BUMPER and license plate were still attached to the front of the boat, pretty mush sitting where the reception desk had been.


Don't know the details about the money changing hands with regards to owners and insurance companies, but know the boat ended up being unrepairable and the owner got a claim against him for the damaged done by the boat. So thieves can rack you up a large bill.

On the other hand that does also leave you some lack of flexibility. My camper still exists because where my place burned (Failed CFL bulb in a fixture designed before anyone thought of that idea) I barely got out. They took me to the hospital and hooked me up to IVs and O2 and I was there for a couple days. In the mean time my camper was close enough to the fire it could have burnt but a friend had a hatch ball with him for his TV and talked the firemen into allowing him to back up to it and tow it away. They might have saved it. ----- They might not have. But he could do that because of the universal nature of hitch balls.

Thanks for your input .

[computerspook]

Originally Posted by cwall59

Thanks for your input .

Hopefully you got a little bit of a laugh about the VW bug too.