A family member has recently purchased their very first caravan a 2017 Jayco 19 ft Outback Starcraft. Thankfully it's all going well for them so far.
My query is, the position Jayco have installed the jokey wheel really makes putting the sway bars (or whatever your choice of word for them is, eg weight distribution bars etc) into their correct position very difficult.
With safety in mind it was our suggestion to get the bars, and they did, but as the jokey wheel seems to suggest the sway bars arent meant to be fitted, (owners thoughts), have I caused them an unnecessary purchase?
in short the question is. ... Does an outback need sway bars?
Be kind, I was thinking of their safety! I always appreciate the advice and help I get on here so looking forward to your thoughts.
WDHs are a bit like the perennial RV arguments ... some love them & others hate them & both sides can dredge up arguments to support their preference.
I am in the yes camp.
To answer your question we would need details of the specs of both the van & the tug including any sag in the rear of the tug when the van goes onto the ball.
What are the details of the Jockey wheel clamp? problem.
Is it on the side of the A frame making it difficult/impossible to fit the spring bar with the jockey wheel clamped in position? If so, that is not really a problem. On mine I just remove the jockey wheel before fitting that side's spring bar & the reverse when unhooking. Never a problem. But it would be nice to have the clamp on a bracket between the arms of the A frame.
edit .. Peter s was a bit quicker than me. Yes, as he asked, what sort of WDH are you using. Pictures would be great.
-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 4th of October 2018 07:38:23 PM
I havent got a photo at the moment. But the set up is very straight! No sag. Towing with a 2017 BT 50. Thats what put the question in the owners head. The fact that it is so straight!
The jockey wheel is welded on the outside passenger side of the AFrame. I'm the over protective mother in law, my husband thinks moving the jokey wheel to the inside of the Aframe will solve the problem?
I'm thinking this might be one of those personal preferences like generators?
I had the same problem as Cupie, had to remove the jockey wheel before fitting the bar on one side. No a problem just a tad inconvenient, had to get the sequence right, fit one bar then remove the jockey wheel and fit the other bar, visa-versa for removal. I bought a jockey wheel clamp and U bolts and fitted it to the inside of the A frame on the opposite side and use that one. Problem solved, I can fit both torsion bars and then remove the jockey wheel. Just make sure you have room on the inside of the draw bar to fit the clamp and to operate the jockey wheel.
I have a 19.6 Outback TL and tow with a Mu-X and have no issues towing without a WDH.
I towed it out bush once with my ez-lift WHD and I found that I could easily hookup the WHD by doing the right side first and then take out the jockey wheel and then do the left.
Ball weight fully loaded to go bush for 10 days is 220 kgs.
I had a set of air bags from another vehicle doing nothing so I put them into the coils on the Mu-X and only put 10 psi in them. Need them or not I don't know, use them because I had them. Tows perfectly .
Jayco got it right with the 19.6 outback, I don't think you can get anything that will tow better. Then again if anything is loaded badly and over weight it will tow badly.
My friend has a 21' Galaxy offroad and has issues if the ball weight gets a bit light, tows with a Ranger.
When he ordered it the Spare was on the back. When delivered the spare was under the van at the front reducing the clearance to what you'll have with a touring van. Me thinks poor weight distributions and a desperate fix of the problem, so much for offroad ability.
Having said all that you'll have no problem towing with the BT50 with or without a WHD.
