We purchased a used 21' travel traileryesterday. The guy I bought it from threwin one of those anti-sway/load stabilizer tongue attachements. He told me I wouldneed to use it and I said I didn't think so, but I would take it. He goes on to tell me that the travel trailer has a tendency to sway whentractor/trailer passes you on the interstate (HA! ain't no semi gonna pass me). The thing only weighs 4500-5000#'s and Iit didn't move on the highway yesterday. He was pullingwith a newer F150. Anyone who is in theknow about these things please chime in. I think I will be fine without it.

 

It might be handy in gusting cross winds.

 

The weight of the trailer will not effect you much at all, But Capt. is right ,the wind drag off of semi's and cross winds will get you squirrelly. Its much better to be safe than sorry. A goose neck or 5th wheel are copletely different, Wind doesnt bother them much. But towing on the tail end tends to get the back end loose. Use the stabilizer. I pull both ways 750 miles a week year round and believe me the stabilizer is worth its weight in gold. Good Luck!!!

 

It's not hard to hook up the stabilizer but if you don't want to and it starts to sway on you just give the brake controller a light squeeze and that will bring the trailer back in line, just make sure you don't apply the brakes with your foot or you will make it worse

 

Besides all the good advise you have gotten already. It is the law in most states (maybe fed) that you use a weight distributing hitch set up for that application. I tow a camper every weekend from March - November and my old camper was pretty stable with just the weight dist hitch, when I got the new one ( a little bigger) It got real crazy with that set up, I added a friction type antisway bar which helped some, but not enough. Now I have upgraded my weight dist hitch to use the cradle typeweight bars asmy anti sway and it ismuch better. Big coach busses will put you in the grass quick if you are not set up right.

 

better safe than sorry.

if you can beef up the tow capacity/ stability cheaply and safely, dont look a gift horse in the mouth.

 

Yeah, I kinda don't get why you're so opposed to using it. If you already have it, why don't you want to use it? I've got a friend who only has a 16' camper and he won't leave his driveway without it. I'm only pulling a 12' trailer, but if I had one of those hitches already I'd use it. Why not?

Why are you so opposed to it?

 

USE THE SWAY CONTROL. I have a 26 FT. Silver Streak and it is very easy to tow. I have towed it with and without the sway control and I can feel the difference when a truck passes from the op dir. on a two lane road. Your 21 FT. Travel Trailer will have slab sides and is much more responsive to the wind loads created by a large Bus or 18 Wheeler than my Silver Streak. It only takes an extra 5 minutes to hook up the sway control.

Just my $.02

Ralph

 

Wow, you guys get testy quick. I never said I wouldn't use it, I just said I didn't think I needed to.

I was checking it out this evening and I don't think the receiver has enough drop to it to make it ride level. The receiver has adjustments, but they are bottomed out and it seems to be about 2" to high. I read an article about axle flipping as an option. I guess I will check to see about a longer/lower receiver and go from there.I do appreciate all of the advice.

 

I hope these guys didnt run you off. . .they tend to get a bit excited[sm=alcoholic.gif][sm=partyparty.gif]