Bill,
Don't misunderstand. My "bumper hitch" starts with a 8" channel iron, bolted
directly onto the ends of the frame rails. It has a little sub-frame below it that
carries the hitch itself. Both the bumper and the hitch have substantial braces
that run forward to a cross-member just behind the rear axle. Loading my old
'dozer or forklift puts FAR more strain on that bumper than the Airstream ever
would and it held that. Believe me, the loads I've subjected that bumper to would
probably tear the average hitch installation clean off the truck.

The ball is about 19" from top to the ground, and it just about doesn't move at
all when we drop the tounge of the Airstream onto it. I'm unsure of the official
rating of the J-300 Jeep, but it's sprung like a 3/4 ton. IE: *heavy*. With the
way it's geared (4.88 axles) it isn't going to go very fast anyway, even
considering the 16" tires. The speedo doesn't work, but I doubt that crusing speed
is over 55 MPH.

My trailer doesn't have A/C, at least not yet, so that's not an issue. However,
you say that you've heard negative things about sway controls: could you
elaborate? I figured that it's a PITA to connect, but one of those things that
"can't hurt". You're telling me something different.....?? Maybe as long as I make
certain that there's enough tounge weight I don't need to be concerned?

My trailer has a fresh water and a black water tank, no gray water holding tank.
Former in front, latter in rear; I don't yet know the capacities. I'm thinking
about weighing the tounge with both tanks empty, then fill one, the other, then
both to get the tounge weight under all possible conditions. The biggest concern
would be coming home with an empty fresh water and a full black water tank, of
course.

Whaddya think? <<Jim>>
 

Bill Scott wrote:

> Jim, at minimum you need a class III receiver with 2" square. Frame
> mounted for strength and safety. Bumper hitches are not strong enough.
> A good trunnion style weight distribution hitch will give you the
> adjustability needed for good balance . The right height and angle of
> the hitch bar and ball mount are also important. Shop around. My RV
> repair friend always has 4 or 5 of these used systems laying around for
> a good price. Usually any RV trailer shop will have these systems for
> sale.
> I've heard positive and negative about sway controls, mostly negatve.
> Your call, personally I don't use them. I like to keep it simple ( KIS
> ).
> Less weight fore and aft and topside, No AC or antennas or other junk
> cleans up the air-flow.
> Always helpful in a high-speed chase. :-)
>
> Bill
> Lo-profile Bambi
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Subject: Re: [VAC] anti-sway device
> Date: Mon, 01 Mar 1999 15:48:07 -0500
> From: Jim Dunmyer <jdunmyer@toltbbs.com>
> Reply-To: vintage@airstream.net
> Organization: DFD Technology
> To: vintage@airstream.net
> References: <2616-36DAEC92-2268@mailtod-231.iap.bryant.webtv.net>
>
> Bill,
> I've looked at pictures of others' rigs and noted that many don't seem to
> have any sort of anti-sway device. My hitch on the Jeep P/U is pretty rugged
> (I've hauled a small 'dozer behind it, albeit slowly!), and has no provisions
> for load levelers or even the anti-sway friction gadget. I know that 10% (or
> more) tounge weight is recommended for stability, but haven't yet weighed the
> tounge. The trailer weighed 2940# when I brought it home, MINUS the tounge
> weight, as it was connected to the truck.
>
> My wife used to pull her horse trailer with another Jeep P/U with the same
> bumper/hitch (my construction, in 1971) and used no anti-sway or leveler
> devices. Of course, it was a tandem axle trailer.
>
> Maybe I don't need that thing at all, but it's still a bit worrisome. Like any
> other insurance, you don't really know that you need it until it's too late.
> <<grin>>
>
> <<Jim>>
>
> Bill Scott wrote:
>
> > Hey Jim, just remember as the trailer sways to the left or right, the
> > friction sway device restrains the movement, by the same token, it also
> > restrains the return to home position. Some people like them and some
> > hate them. Ive never needed one. The weight distribution devices seem
> > to work just fine. The key ingredients to this mix are Load, speed, and
> > proper balance. Plus watch out for the "Bow Wave" that those 18 weelers
> > push along at 80 plus mph. Your little globetrotter properly loaded,
> > and with a strong chevy 350 conversion in that big square Jeep. That
> > would be a hefty and easy to fix combination.
>
> --
>
> <<http://www.oldengine.org/members/jdunmyer>>
> <<jdunmyer@toltbbs.com>>
> <<lower SE Michigan, USA>>
> <<mailto:jdunmyer@toltbbs.com>>

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<<jdunmyer@toltbbs.com>>
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