I found this topic of a few years ago. I'm going to be getting my Scamp 16, layout 4 in about 3 weeks. I'm taking my truck, a 1998 Toyota Tacoma SR5, 4 cyl, extended cab, to a camper shop to get the wiring installed for the towing. The camper shop thought I really needed sway control, something to be added to my truck, and he recommended something adjustable, said single axle travel trailers were the worst for sway. I initially discounted what he said, because I'd asked Scamp about the need for sway control and was told I probably didn't need it. Just read the forum about sway control when using bikes, and I will sometimes travel with one bike on a bike rack using the rear receiver.
So, other than load balancing, what are people currently using for sway control? And, is it indeed a big problem with a single axle travel trailer?
The dealer had to weld on another small ball for the brake type anti sway that rode along side the frame of the trailer. It had disc brake pad inside and worked extremely well to eliminate sway. The type we bought is like $40.00 to $50.00 and again, a small ball must be welded onto the main hitch. Dealer must do this.
The reason you need sway control on the Escape is because it has very soft springs. Ford wants the Escape to ride as smooth as possible. They are not concerned with towing. With the Tacoma which has much harder springs you shouldn't need any extra sway control stuff AS LONG YOUR TRAILER HAS OVER A MINIMUM OF 100 lbs TONGUE WEIGHT. 200 lbs would be great. Our 13 Scamp has 250 lbs tongue weight. We tow with a Nissan Frontier (very much like the Tacoma) and have no problem with sway.
We have a 2017 Scamp 16 Std, Layout 4 and although I installed a Sway Control bar kit (not a Weight Distribution system; much too much overkill), I have not really used it. The sway bar was a "kit" from E-trailer ( around $50) and I got the bar and mounting brackets to bolt it on the Scamp tongue. I got a heavy flat, bolt-on adapter for the hitch on the tow vehicle. It went over the existing hitch bracket and had the hole for the second small ball, so that was also easy to add. I did have to replace the larger hitch ball with a longer thread length as the flat steel is over a 1/4" thick and the nut wouldn't fit back on the bolt. None of this was welded by the dealer or other. What I've found is that I haven't had any sway problem, so while I always have this equipment with me, I've literally never found the need to use it. Our Scamp usually weighs in around 2800lbs and the tongue weight is around 12-13% of that. Seems to be balanced good enough to avoid sway. Note that we haven't carried anything on the trailers rear receiver, and we haven't been "out West" yet to experience the higher winds et al, so maybe then I'd feel more comfortable with the sway bar.
I tow a 16' Std with a 2015 Tacoma extended cab (not four door) 4WD 4.0L . I have never used a WDH nor have I ever encountered a time needing it. It rolls down the road like I'm on rails! Unlike a small SUV with a shorter wheel base, the truck is much more stable than a car. Of course I'm always considering the weight of the trailer as loaded and only travel with a couple of gallons of water in the holding tank. Tacoma's have weak leaf springs to make a smooth ride and tongue weight can cause the back end to droop and bounce when on a bumpy road, so I added Sumosprings to prevent both. Now I can add bikes and wood in the bed and it stays level.
I found this topic of a few years ago. I'm going to be getting my Scamp 16, layout 4 in about 3 weeks. I'm taking my truck, a 1998 Toyota Tacoma SR5, 4 cyl, extended cab, to a camper shop to get the wiring installed for the towing. The camper shop thought I really needed sway control, something to be added to my truck, and he recommended something adjustable, said single axle travel trailers were the worst for sway. I initially discounted what he said, because I'd asked Scamp about the need for sway control and was told I probably didn't need it. Just read the forum about sway control when using bikes, and I will sometimes travel with one bike on a bike rack using the rear receiver.
So, other than load balancing, what are people currently using for sway control? And, is it indeed a big problem with a single axle travel trailer?
Thanks.
You WILL need a sway control bar. We towed a 16 ft. Scamp with a Ford \Escape and YES and small brake type control bar is needed.
<p>Doug Allen 2016 Ford F-150 2018 Lance 1575</p>
Can you tell me, please, what you used and did you install it on the Scamp or on your Ford Escape. Thank you.
The dealer had to weld on another small ball for the brake type anti sway that rode along side the frame of the trailer. It had disc brake pad inside and worked extremely well to eliminate sway. The type we bought is like $40.00 to $50.00 and again, a small ball must be welded onto the main hitch. Dealer must do this.
<p>Doug Allen 2016 Ford F-150 2018 Lance 1575</p>
Actually, you don't need a welder:
https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Reese/RP26003.html
The reason you need sway control on the Escape is because it has very soft springs. Ford wants the Escape to ride as smooth as possible. They are not concerned with towing. With the Tacoma which has much harder springs you shouldn't need any extra sway control stuff AS LONG YOUR TRAILER HAS OVER A MINIMUM OF 100 lbs TONGUE WEIGHT. 200 lbs would be great. Our 13 Scamp has 250 lbs tongue weight. We tow with a Nissan Frontier (very much like the Tacoma) and have no problem with sway.
We have a 2017 Scamp 16 Std, Layout 4 and although I installed a Sway Control bar kit (not a Weight Distribution system; much too much overkill), I have not really used it. The sway bar was a "kit" from E-trailer ( around $50) and I got the bar and mounting brackets to bolt it on the Scamp tongue. I got a heavy flat, bolt-on adapter for the hitch on the tow vehicle. It went over the existing hitch bracket and had the hole for the second small ball, so that was also easy to add. I did have to replace the larger hitch ball with a longer thread length as the flat steel is over a 1/4" thick and the nut wouldn't fit back on the bolt. None of this was welded by the dealer or other. What I've found is that I haven't had any sway problem, so while I always have this equipment with me, I've literally never found the need to use it. Our Scamp usually weighs in around 2800lbs and the tongue weight is around 12-13% of that. Seems to be balanced good enough to avoid sway. Note that we haven't carried anything on the trailers rear receiver, and we haven't been "out West" yet to experience the higher winds et al, so maybe then I'd feel more comfortable with the sway bar.
I tow a 16' Std with a 2015 Tacoma extended cab (not four door) 4WD 4.0L . I have never used a WDH nor have I ever encountered a time needing it. It rolls down the road like I'm on rails! Unlike a small SUV with a shorter wheel base, the truck is much more stable than a car. Of course I'm always considering the weight of the trailer as loaded and only travel with a couple of gallons of water in the holding tank. Tacoma's have weak leaf springs to make a smooth ride and tongue weight can cause the back end to droop and bounce when on a bumpy road, so I added Sumosprings to prevent both. Now I can add bikes and wood in the bed and it stays level.
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