Troubleshooting 2018 Forest River Work and Play 34WRS Sway When Using Reese Weight Distribution
Published 10/16/2019
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Question:
I have a 2018 work and play 34WRS Bumper pull, dry weight 10197lbs, being towed by a 2008 Ford F-350 Dually. I have the Reese dual cam weight distributing hitch with away bars. Roughly 1826lbs tongue weight according to specs. Empty the trailer tows okay with a heavy tongue weight using the 800lb reunion bars. When I load the garage of the toy hauler with 2000-3500lbs the tongue weight is less and the truck isn’t squatted as bad. I still use the 5th chain link as if it were empty. Theres noticeably more sway at highway speeds and down hills. My question is: would putting more tension or my 1200lb reunion bars on effectively put more tension on the sway control for better control or would it further reduce tongue weight and cause even more sway? I need some recommendations on how to set this hitch system with the load in the garage. I.e. would using heavier bars or more tension on existing bars help or would lowering the tension help more by giving it more tongue weight? Or would a complete removal of the hitch system and possibly ballast in the front of the toy hauler result in more tongue weight and less sway?
asked by: Matthew B
Expert Reply:
Thank you for all of the information!
There are a few things that need to be taken into account when loading up a trailer. The first and foremost is that a properly loaded trailer will have a tongue weight that it 10-15% of the loaded weight of the trailer. Toy haulers, like your 2018 Forest River Work and Play 34WRS, are a little difficult to achieve this just because you are putting so much weight at the back of the trailer. Ultimately you need more tongue weight on your trailer to help eliminate all of the sway you are experiencing.
Another thing you need to look at is your weight distribution (WD) system. From what you were describing I think you are using the Reese 12K Strait-Line # RP66084 but you also have 2 of the 800 lbs Trunnion Bar # RP22225. You need to make sure that the loaded tongue weight of your trailer plus the weight of any cargo behind the rear axle of your 2008 Ford F-350 added together is in about the middle of the tongue weight range for your WD system.
Since your trailer has a dry tongue weight of 1,826 lbs and has the potential of 2,100 lbs (when you use the full GVWR of 14,000 lbs of your trailer) this means that your current system isn't rated high enough and you need a WD system that has a much higher tongue weight range. Yes you can essentially put more tension on your current system but that just puts more strain on the WD system especially since it isn't rated high enough.
The best solution for you is the TorkLift SuperHitch Everest # TLWD1000 because it has a tongue weight range from 1,500 lbs - 3,000 lbs but it also requires that you to swap out the hitch receiver to your pickup. You also need a 2" # BWTS10051 or 2-5/16" # 63840 hitch ball as well. If you are very careful with how you load your trailer and F-350 you can probably get away with using 2 of the 1,700 lb Trunnion Bar # 66010.
If you do decide to use the Everest then you'll need to remove your OEM hitch and install the the TorkLift SuperHitch Magnum # TLF1002-30. You also need to use one of the special shanks found in the attached link.
