BarneyS
S.E. Lower Michigan
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Joined: 10/16/2000
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kc8yhk wrote:so I should take out a washer or two to allow me to have less links under tension?
Depends on what you want to accomplish. If you want to keep the same WD as you have now, but with fewer links under tension, yes you would take out some washers.
If you want to increase your WD to the front axle, then you can either draw up a link or two, add some washers, or both. I would try taking up a link or two first. Then if your WD bars are not level, add a washer or two to make them level but keep the same number of chain links under tension. If that does not do enough, then take up another link and/or add a washer until you get it right. You should end up with around 5 (minimum) or 6 links under tension when you have the weight transfered that you want. Then you can level the WD bars by adding washers.
Remember, you have three adjustment points on a WD hitch and each does a different thing.
1. You transfer weight by changing chain links under tension.
2. You level WD bars (or change their angle) by adding/subracting washers. (some hitches have other methods of adjusting) This also changes the amount of weight transfer if you use the same number of chain links under tension.
3. You level your trailer by moving the hitch head up or down on the drawbar or shank.
Barney
2004 Sunnybrook 30FKS TT
Hensley 1400# hitch
2002 Ford F250, 7.3L PSD, SuperCab, Short bed, Auto, 3:73rear
1996 Harley Davidson FLHRI Road King
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Dirtclods
Newport Beach
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Joined: 02/19/2007
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Golden_HVAC wrote:Hi,
Congratulations on the new trailer!
With your truck, it would be possible to tow without the WD bars, but it is not recommended. Yes you do have the bars way to tight. When you use an electric jack to raise the trailer hitch to tighten the bars, you can put the bars on with hand pressure, and then lowering it will tighten the bars the correct amount.
What I would do is hitch the trailer to the truck and put on the spring bars as tight as I could with hand pressure (with all hitch weight sitting on the hitch). Then decide if you want to tighten it with 2 links (or 1 link or 3). Paint that link or color it with a perminate marker. Now you can use the hitch jack to raise the back of the truck about 4-5" and then tighten up 2 links, lower and see what you have.
It is a good thing you did not go down a long mountain road with curves in it, jackknifing the trailer comes to mind with the hitch set-up so tight!
Fred.
You said
(Paint that link) Man....that's a great idea!
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kc8yhk
Marblehead Ohio!
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Joined: 06/17/2006
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well... I have done nothing the past few days in my spare time but turn wrenches and burn fuel. I have added washers, removed washers. Put more links under tension, had less links under tension. I even went out and bought the whole reese straight line dual cam hitch setup. I'm at wits end, this TT just refuses to behave.
as a result it now sits out by the road with a "FOR SALE" sign on it. Too bad really, we liked it a lot.
Me 26, Class A CDL Freight Relocation Specialist
girlfriend 22, Nuclear power plant quality control inspector
146.52 Listening while on the move!
2002 F-350 CC SRW 7.3 Powerstroke
2008 Junker Jayco G2 31RKS 
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finalcutjoe
Detroit
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Joined: 10/21/2007
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That is a real drag… I know how you feel. I went through a reese WD and friction sway control… to an equal-i-zer, finally settling on a Hensley arrow.
From your numbers.. and somebody else mentioned this… your TV could tow that trailer without weight distribution… tongue weight ratio is just a tad bit lite at 12%... I only mention because at 10-11% my 31 footer was real squirrelly…
I would lose the torsion bars (weight distribution) components all together…
But, you mentioned you picked up a dual cam system… so anti-sway control is part of the weight distribution on that system… if you don’t have good WD, you wont get good anti-sway… but if torque any WD- you’re going to exacerbate the lite tongue weight problem
From experience, I wouldn’t recommend friction anti-sway to anybody under any circumstances…
I’d pick up a Hensley arrow…
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BarneyS
S.E. Lower Michigan
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finalcutjoe wrote:...but if torque any WD- you’re going to exacerbate the lite tongue weight problem.
Not true at all. Using a WD hitch does not change or affect the tongue weight of the trailer. The ONLY way to change tongue weight is to load something in front of or behind the axles, or to move the axles themselves. If he has 12% tongue weight before hooking up the WD, he will still have 12% after hooking it up. Using it will lighten the forces or weight carried by the trucks rear axle though.
Barney
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kc8yhk
Marblehead Ohio!
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while trying to work out the sway issue the tongue weight did come to mind, so we went out and bought 4 50# bags of sand and put them under the bed up front.
it had no effect.
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paedbo
ct
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Sounds like you ruled out most things. Might be like someone said about the trailer axle alignment.
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finalcutjoe
Detroit
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BarneyS wrote:finalcutjoe wrote:...but if torque any WD- you’re going to exacerbate the lite tongue weight problem.
Not true at all. Using a WD hitch does not change or affect the tongue weight of the trailer. The ONLY way to change tongue weight is to load something in front of or behind the axles, or to move the axles themselves. If he has 12% tongue weight before hooking up the WD, he will still have 12% after hooking it up. Using it will lighten the forces or weight carried by the trucks rear axle though.
Barney
I don't pretend to be an engineer... and I know this is a real point of contention, debated by greater minds than I... you're right, I could have been more specific when I said 'exacerbate the problem'- refering to the twitchy behavior.. not to reducing the tongue weight
i don't think there's any debate on: increasing weight transfer to steer axle, when the drive axle is already ~400lbs lighter than the steer, with a 12% TW:GTW to boot-- would have adverse handling effects
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no_bytes
Wisconsin
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Joined: 03/06/2006
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It must be a brand new rig. Have you talked to your dealer, is there a way they can check your axle alignment etc.
It seems like you are having way too much sway problems, and you've done everything you can with hitches and the trailer tongue weight. All your swaying can't be caused by improper hitching.
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kc8yhk
Marblehead Ohio!
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I was in touch with the service writer from our Jayco dealer today actually via phone and e-mail. He himself is going to come out to my house Monday and inspect my hitch setup and the condition of the TT axles ect. If he feels the hitch needs re-adjusted he will do it himself AND take my TV and TT on a test drive. If he cant correct the sway he will hitch up the TT to his truck and drag it back to the dealer for further inspection.
He is RVIA/RVDA Master Certified Service Technician
Now thats service 
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