Looking into Camping Trailer

No, I quoted the guy that owned the trailer.
Zim

 

Hey guys! looking to purchase my first travel trailer. it is a 2012 Jayco Swift SLX 184BH, GVWR is 3500 lbs 20' (including tongue hitch).
would I need a sway control or a weight distribution hitch for this trailer? How is it towing this much weight? I have a 2020 tacoma trd sport premium DCLB.

 

Congrats! That trailer is 2,700 lbs dry with a hitch weight of 270 lbs.

You need a brake controller if you don't already have one.

If you travel with the water tanks nearly empty and your gear properly loaded towards the front of the trailer you shouldn't NEED either weight distributing hitch or the sway controller.. but you might want one or the other. The weight distributing hitch will reduce the rear of your truck squatting if you've got a bunch of gear in the back of the truck while towing.

I have a sway bar on my 2600 lb travel trailer and like it.. I can tell when I haven't hooked it up. I'd probably like the weight distributing hitch but I chose to install air bags on the truck which stiffened the ride.

 

I'm also in the overkill is better camp! Have a WD hitch and a sway bar on our 4200lb trailer, anything that helps keep things calm and comfortable is good with me.

 

Thanks! I installed a tekonsha p3 last night, and maybe might get a used sway control hitch just in case or maybe find a WD hitch w/ sway control.

 

Yes, you absolutely want a WDH - My experience hasn't been that you want them so much for sway, but for the weight distribution. I'm a big fan of the Andersen WDH. It uses chains, which are cleaner, lighter, quieter etc.

 

You have a weight distributing hitch on a trailer with a 160 lb tongue weight?

 

160 lb tongue weight when there's nothing in the trailer.

But it really makes a huge difference as to how stable it is. With the Andersen, you set how much weight distribution you get based on how tight you make the nuts.

 

This: $4,900 then build out the inside yourself.
It's barebones but it works for me... about 1,000 pounds.

Runaway Range Runner

 

I haven't seen them in person...but check out OffGrid Camper, Overkill Campers, and Mission Overland campers. They all look like solid products, but that could be a different story when you see it in a show room.

I'm building my own because I dont want to spend the coin, and I don't trust other people to have attention to detail when it isn't for them.

 

I was in Bend visiting family last summer and stopped by to check out Overkill Campers. Their shop was busy but they allowed us in to check out a couple campers in the various construction phases and got to see them up close. It was really telling and shows why they cost what they do. The fit, finish and quality of overall build was far superior to any mass produced unit. If the smaller table bed was slightly bigger I probably could have convinced the wife but our kids aren't to the point of wanting to sleep in a RTT. Being able to sleep 4 inside if the weather is terrible is a big bonus.

 

Here is my intech flyer.

Actually got 17MPG with ECT mode mainly highways going to the campsite and 16MPG going back with some wind. around 1650lbs with all the stuff inside. Standard ball hitch.

 

@armoured
Nice setup very similar to what I'm pulling, heck we even got the same steps -
Was wondering if I could get away with straight ECT mode you seem to be ok with it -
My rig runs about 1,000~1,200 pounds and we'll be mostly highway but out west, some
steep hills - guess I'll have to see how the truck reacts to just ECT... got a 5-day excursion
to the Grand Canyon coming up... hope to see a few more of these beauties.

 

I also have an Intech flyer, Mines a "Pursue". Great trailer that I've drug down some decent trails already and pricing isn't bad for what you get! Frame is all aluminum, independent torsion axles, all LED lighting, + many other features. Check them out! Also the company is known for making top notch race car trailers used by Nascar, Indie, F1 etc. so you know their build quality is great.

 

I built this to tow down rough roads without having to take it easy. RTT on top, Tacoma springs and shocks on the bottom. Runs Toyota wheels and tires.

 

Trying to find a weight distribution hitch, not sure what i am looking for. Is there ones for specific weight for mine? 2600 lbs dry 3500 lbs loaded?

 

Most of them (Andersen being the exception) will come with a tongue weight range. It helps if you can grab your exact tongue weight. You can get a close-enough measurement using the bathroom scale and 2x4 method. More than likely you will need a "light-duty' WDH, rated at 400, but no more than 600, pounds.

 

I see people talking about using a WDH (weight distributing hitch) on their 2000 lb off-road trailer which makes no sense imo. They reduce ground clearance and can apply too much force on steep unimproved surfaces.

 

Thats the only reason why I dont run one on mine. I don't do serious off-roading with my popup, but I do enough to need more vertical articulation than a WDH allows.

 

I don't do any offroading whatsoever. The most "offroading" I have done is packed gravel entering a national park here in alberta canada to a provincial powered campsites.