Do the Holes Drilled into Trailer Frame for Sway Control Affect Frame Integrity

Updated 07/03/2014 | Published 07/02/2014

Question:

I purchased this hitch to upgrade from a simple friction sway control without WD - I have already purchased it and am installing now. The trailer is a 2008 Fleetwood Niagara HW pop up which has a box frame apx. 2inch wide by 3inch high. GVWR 3950 TW 450 plus about 150+ lbs of gear in the TV behind the axle. The issue is the bolts for the cam need to attach right where the old friction sway plate is mounted. The old plate is like your item RP58062. The question is how best to install this unit with this plate in the way. Do I remove the old plate and just bolt on the new unit? If so, will the old 6 holes affect the frame integrity? Do I just bolt the new cam unit through the plate and frame leaving it in place this would require grinding down the head to one of the bolts? Is there another option I am not considering? Thanks in advance for your assistance!

asked by: Todd H

Helpful Expert Reply:

If the plate of your old sway control system interferes with the installation of the dual cam sway control of the Strait-Line Weight Distribution System # RP66087 then it will need to get removed.

The additional bolt holes should not affect the integrity of your trailer frame. The holes are far enough apart that you would be fine. Be sure you locate the bracket in the correct position on your trailer frame. I attached a picture that shows how to find the correct spot.

expert reply by: Jameson C