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11-24-2014, 06:54 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: CA
Posts: 16
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Passport 2650- need sway bars and weight distro?
Hi all, new to he forum and soon to be new travel trailer owner. The dealer is pitching us on buying the weight distribution kit and sway bars along with the passport 2650. We will be towing with 2012 Tahoe. Are the sway bars and weight distro absolutely necessary? Nice to have? Or just give piece of mind when towing? I don't have a problem with the investment if there is a benefit. Thanks.
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11-24-2014, 06:58 AM
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#2
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Vandenberg AFB, CA
Posts: 20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nuckledragger
Hi all, new to he forum and soon to be new travel trailer owner. The dealer is pitching us on buying the weight distribution kit and sway bars along with the passport 2650. We will be towing with 2012 Tahoe. Are the sway bars and weight distro absolutely necessary? Nice to have? Or just give piece of mind when towing? I don't have a problem with the investment if there is a benefit. Thanks.
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Yes you absolutely do. If you look closely I bet your Tahoe's manual requires a weight distro hitch to tow near its max..which you will be doing with this combo. Also sway will be a concern with this combination and you'll need some sort of sway control.
You don't have to buy the hitch from the dealer..there are a lot of different kinds on the market. What kind of hitch does the dealer want to sell you?
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11-24-2014, 07:05 AM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,985
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Welcome to the forum. The Passport 2650BHWE is essentially a 30' long trailer with an empty weight of 5000 lbs with a hitch weight of about 500 lbs. It can weigh up to 7200 lbs (loaded) and the hitch weight will then be somewhere between 720 and 1080 lbs.
I believe the receiver on the Tahoe is rated at 500 lbs MAX with conventional trailer hitches and can go up to 1100 lbs MAX with weight distribution hitches. So, if you plan to tow this trailer with the factory receiver, then yes, you'll need a weight distribution hitch (you'd want it anyway to keep the headlights pointed toward the ground). Sway control is almost always a good idea on any trailer of that length when coupled with a relatively short wheelbase like the Tahoe.
I'd say your dealer's suggestion to get a WD hitch with sway control is an appropriate suggestion. However, do some research on this forum (and other places if you wish) to determine if his pricing and type of hitch are what you want.
Remember, not all WD hitches are the same quality, nor do they all function the same. Some have "built in" sway control and some don't. Those that don't will require "add on" sway control which sometimes doesn't perform as well as a quality hitch with all the "bells and whistles".
Do some research before you discount his suggestion as "not needed". You do want a WD hitch and sway control not only for functionality, but also for the safety of your family.
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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11-24-2014, 07:08 AM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: CA
Posts: 16
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They carry 3 brands, Reese, Husky and 1 other. Thanks for the feedback.
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11-24-2014, 11:36 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: MA
Posts: 3,153
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Congrats and good luck. I was always told anything bigger than a pop up should have WD and yes, at 30 feet sway control. I have an equil-i-zer which is combined WD and sway, lover it and easy to use. No chains or anything. Connects and no time. There are better ones on the market and some not as good. Search and read here and you will find lots of info. Enjoy.
__________________
2013 Premier 31BHPR
2014 F350 6.2L
Soon to be just DW and I
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11-24-2014, 12:55 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Berkley
Posts: 751
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Pay the extra bucks for a quality hitch. It's worth it. Mine isn't terrible but if I had to do it again, I'd add it into the entire package I financed anyways. The Tahoe is a shorter wheelbase, than say a suburban, so the additional cost of a nice hitch will be money well spent.
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2022 Ford F150 3.5 Ecoboost SCrew 4x4 MaxTow
2020 Salem Hemisphere Hyper-Lyte 25RBHL
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11-24-2014, 02:42 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Lagrange OH
Posts: 446
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Agreed you definitely need a good WD hitch with sway control. Reese dual cam, Husky, Equalizer, Blue OX are all good. I towed a similar size trailer to yours with an F250 without one and it was okay but the soft rear end and short wheel base of a Tahoe would demand one IMHO. You'll amazed how much bigger the trailer looks in your driveway attached to your truck then it looks on the dealer's lot or in the showroom. Its a big load and you'll definitely know its there with a Tahoe.
__________________
2017 Ford F350
2015 Cougar 337FLS
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11-24-2014, 04:24 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: N. Illinois
Posts: 167
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I use an equalizer to tow my 2650BH & have no complaints. Go with a quality WD hitch & you will be happy.
__________________
Andy & Iacie G.
2017 Impact 361
2017 F350 4x4 6.7 Powerstroke
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11-24-2014, 05:23 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Solomons
Posts: 3,874
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I have an Equalizer brand hitch that I used to tow my 238ML. Works well and is easy to use. Your dealer is right this time.
__________________
Tom
2019 Alpine 3651RL
2016 F350 CC DRW
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