Thoughts on Reese Strait-Line Dual Cam WDH?

[siena04]

Let me preface by saying that I'm new to towing...

Any thoughts on the Reese Strait-Line hitches with the dual cams? Intuitively these seem like a better system then the friction WDH as there appears to be more predictable negative feedback if the trailer sways from the centerline.

I am looking to tow a Jayco 184HB - (2690 lbs dry / 270 lbs tongue ) and was considering the Reese Dual Cam.

http://www.rvwholesalers.com/catalog...b-14-0806.html

This is a heavy hitch however (107lbs) so certainly eats into the cargo capacity of the rig.

My travel plans include a summer trip to Newfoundland on the east coast where there can be very high winds - so want to make sure there is good sway control. As I have never towed a TT I am unsure how much I need to worry about sway with this size of rig.

[brian_bp]

Let me preface by saying that I'm new to towing...

... and apparently new to this forum as well - Welcome!

Any thoughts on the Reese Strait-Line hitches with the dual cams? Intuitively these seem like a better system then the friction WDH as there appears to be more predictable negative feedback if the trailer sways from the centerline.

I understand the reasoning, but the Dual-Cam scheme emphasises a spring force to restore the coupling to straight... even if you are trying to turn a corner. Any frictional scheme is at least providing damping (although poorly controlled), which makes more sense to tame an unwanted oscillation (that's what sway is). European trailers routinely use friction-based sway control, and rarely use spring devices; I think the spring features for sway control are mostly a marketing feature to distinguish one weight-distribution system from another, or compensation for the stability problem caused by any weight distribution system... but that's just my opinion.

I am looking to tow a Jayco 184HB - (2690 lbs dry / 270 lbs tongue )...

That's a 184BH right? A couple of other members have recently made a similar choice - you might want to search the forum for "184BH".

... and was considering the Reese Dual Cam.

http://www.rvwholesalers.com/catalog...b-14-0806.html

This is a heavy hitch however (107lbs) so certainly eats into the cargo capacity of the rig.

That's one of my concerns with any WD system, and especially the oversized and complex ones

My travel plans include a summer trip to Newfoundland on the east coast where there can be very high winds - so want to make sure there is good sway control. As I have never towed a TT I am unsure how much I need to worry about sway with this size of rig.

Size isn't the only factor, but since this rig will max out the Sienna's rated capacity, it seems prudent to be concerned and investigate.

I can believe that maritime winds are a concern, but they have nothing on what sweeps across southern Alberta, made more interesting by passing large trucks. Anyone from Calgary who tows south from there might have comments about this (and we do have some of those in the forum). I have had no sway or control issues with my 17' 3000 lb Boler travel trailer in that potential problem area; however, the rounded Boler and boxes such as the Jayco presumably have different responses to wind.

[siena04]

Lots to ponder.

I have been in touch with members who have the same rig - Jayco 184BH.

After more research there's not an overwhelming amount of information on direct comparison between the Dual Cam and other weight distribution hitches.

In the end, I ordered a Equal-i-zer hitch as it's much easier to set up.

I'll report back how it all works - lots of installation work ahead to get ready to tow.

[datsa noydb]

The Reese hitch is not merely a "spring-type" sway control, although it does use the spring bars to do the job.

Ordinary friction-type sway control devices will tend to stick into place. Problem is that place might not be (and ususally isn't) straight ahead, meaning that you will weave down the road in an effort to stay straight.

Hydraulic sway control devices are also rather passive, in that they actually need to have the trailer moving around before they see any relative motion and try to stop it.

The Reese Dual Cam system has a cam on the end of the spring bar that sits in a saddle mounted on the trailer. When any side motion is detected (yes, this includes turning corners), the spring bars move the cam out of the saddle, increasing the spring pressure. This creates a self-centering effect that will keep you going straight. It is actually more the spring pressure on the cam in the saddle, rather than friction that keeps you straight, as they actually recommend a bit of lube on the sliding surfaces.

I have used the dual cam system many years ago on larger trailers and would not be without one, if I start towing anything large again. My son has a GMC dually that tows a 32-foot travel trailer. On my recommendation, he got a dual cam setup and loves it. He travels all summer with a bunch of other people that have similar trucks and trailers and is amused by the comments about high winds when they stop. He doesn't even notice them because his trailer doesn't move.

.

[brian_bp]

Ordinary friction-type sway control devices will tend to stick into place. Problem is that place might not be (and ususally isn't) straight ahead, meaning that you will weave down the road in an effort to stay straight.

"Stiction"... one of the two major reasons to avoid mechanical friction as a damping mechanism.

The Reese hitch is not merely a "spring-type" sway control, although it does use the spring bars to do the job.

The Reese Dual Cam system has a cam on the end of the spring bar that sits in a saddle mounted on the trailer. When any side motion is detected (yes, this includes turning corners), the spring bars move the cam out of the saddle, increasing the spring pressure. This creates a self-centering effect that will keep you going straight. It is actually more the spring pressure on the cam in the saddle, rather than friction that keeps you straight, as they actually recommend a bit of lube on the sliding surfaces.

I agree... but all of this means that it really is just a (more sophisticated than usual and probably more effective with less free play) spring loading to centre.

Hydraulic sway control devices are also rather passive, in that they actually need to have the trailer moving around before they see any relative motion and try to stop it.

All of these methods are passive, which is okay. A hydraulic damper would be nice, as it would apply greater forces in response to faster sway motions, and could thus strongly control oscillations while having little effect on deliberate turns. Unfortunately, I've never heard of a hydraulic trailer sway control device, only hydraulic dampers for the tow vehicle's steering. Is there a product that I've missed? I have wondered if it might be worth trying mounting a steering damper or two between the hitch and the trailer tongue, just like the friction sway controls. The steering dampers also routinely include a centring spring.

[datsa noydb]

It's possible that the hydraulic units are no longer available.

No problem, they weren't really all that effective, anyway.

.

[brian_bp]

It's possible that the hydraulic units are no longer available.

Likely, but I'm still curious. If a bit of sidetrack is permissible... do you remember a manufacturer, or brand name, or even an era in which they were around?

No problem, they weren't really all that effective, anyway.

Still interesting! Also, sometimes an idea is good, but just not well executed, and a better rendition would be valuable.

[GGB]

European trailers routinely use friction-based sway control, and rarely use spring devices..........I can believe that maritime winds are a concern, but they have nothing on what sweeps across southern Alberta....

In most European contries it is the law that TT must have a built in sway control right from the factory. Also their trailers are designed much differently more like NA boat trailer only requiring 5% - 10% of tongue weight but now I am getting off topic. I have not used anything but friction type sway control and have never had any issues but that is also towing pop-up trailers. A few friends that have larger TT trailers 28'-32' have tried the dual cam type set ups but did not like them and have gone back to a friction sway set up. I think that it is personal preference as both systems are out their with a lot of people using them.

As stated research well ask a lot of questions of individuals that have similar set ups and even ask to have a ride or drive their set up to see how it feels and then make your decision.

Gord

[brian_bp]

European trailers routinely use friction-based sway control, and rarely use spring devices...

In most European contries it is the law that TT must have a built in sway control right from the factory.

I don't think it is a consistent legal requirement, because the common Euro couplers are available with and without the friction sway control feature. The T@b which has been built in the U.S. and sold in Canada and the U.S. uses Euro components, including the coupler which does not have the friction feature. Because those couplers clamp onto the ball, they are not compatible with North American balls, which are typically mounted on a single threaded stud and might loosen as the trailer turns.

It is more likely that the sway control is required for towing above a certain speed, or for trailers heavier than a certain fraction of the tow vehicle mass.

[GGB]

I don't think it is a consistent legal requirement, because the common Euro couplers are available with and without the friction sway control feature. The T@b which has been built in the U.S. and sold in Canada and the U.S. uses Euro components, including the coupler which does not have the friction feature. Because those couplers clamp onto the ball, they are not compatible with North American balls, which are typically mounted on a single threaded stud and might loosen as the trailer turns.

It is more likely that the sway control is required for towing above a certain speed, or for trailers heavier than a certain fraction of the tow vehicle mass.

Can't tell you about all countries in Europe but I know the ones I lived in (UK, Germany & Finland) it was law, might have changed since? I have bought new and used trailers there and they all had them as standard. One was a camper TT and another was to haul a race car around. The race car trailer (open type trailer) I bought used in Germany and when I went to register it they had to inspect the trailer (can't do it like in Ontario sight unseen registration) for safety and one thing they looked at was that sway control was in place and operational before i could get it plated for the road. When I moved to Finland with the same trailer I had to have it safety inspected again to get new plates and they looked at the same things. Also trailers capable of towing more than 450kg (1000 lbs) had to be equipped with breaks.

[brian_bp]

About requirements for sway control devices in Europe...

Can't tell you about all countries in Europe but I know the ones I lived in (UK, Germany & Finland) it was law, might have changed since?

It's also possible that my information is out of date... thanks for the examples.

I find that there are lots of non-authoritative sources of information, so I can't believe any of them in isolation, but I have not noticed any trend to consistently listing a sway-control coupling (which companies such as Al-Ko call a "stabilizer") as a requirement. Either way, it apparently does work well enough to be common.