Forgot to add this to my previous post about the living quarters lights-----this trailer has the apparatus on the hitch for sway bars,, but the previous owner couldn't find them. Can you buy just the bars? Or would it be better to just get the whole thing. Do I even need sway bars on a 2000 3 horse bumper pull Sooner trailer??
Posted 2012-04-15 7:47 PM (#143134 - in reply to #143132) Subject: RE: Sway bars
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
The best way to know, is to try the trailer without the bars. Try it first, pulling empty. If things work well, try a load. Where the horses are placed within a 3H BP, will directly result in how well the trailer pulls and how stable it will be.
Many trailers need no sway aids. The only way you will know for sure, is to actually try pulling the trailer without any installed. Your trials should include braking, corners and variable speeds, and especially, braking while turning.
Posted 2012-04-16 11:18 AM (#143147 - in reply to #143132) Subject: RE: Sway bars
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
That's what happens when I try to post from somebody else's computerThe vehicle you tow with will also have some effect on your need for weight distributing hitch.If you are towing your bumper pull horse trailer with a lighter vehicle, the need will become more apparent than if you are towing with a dually pick up. I pull several trailers for constructions,, Dump trailers, equipment trailers that all weigh up to 14,000lbs and have never felt the need for weight distribution on my 1 ton Ford pickup.As Gard suggest. Give it a try, if you sense an unstable load, then you can add the appropriate hitch
Posted 2012-04-16 1:25 PM (#143151 - in reply to #143132) Subject: RE: Sway bars
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 316 Location: Illinois
Depends not only on your tow vehicle, but the hitch attached to it. From your description of the trailer unless you have a class IV, that is class four, hitch on your vehicle, chances are you will be overloading your hitch, assuming it's a class III (three) without the weight distributing attachment. Can you and have people gotten away with it. Most likely, but it's up to you how safely you want to tow.
Posted 2012-04-17 8:39 PM (#143181 - in reply to #143132) Subject: RE: Sway bars
New User
Posts: 4
Thanks everyone for the input,,, It is a very helpful thing that you do,, giving advice to us newbies,,, sometimes, as "obvious" as the answer seems to those experianced,, it isn't the case for us who are new to this. I certainly appreciate the knowledge that I have gained from many discussions here!! A great website!!
Sway bars
