Adding Torsion Bars

[joempo]

I recently assisted in moving an Airstream trailer that had torsion bars added to the tongue and hitch. Have any of you cross-country cruising Tug Nuts considered adding them to your boat trailers? Would it be feasible to do so? Any pros/cons?
Joe

 

[SGIDAVE]

I recently assisted in moving an Airstream trailer that had torsion bars added to the tongue and hitch. Have any of you cross-country cruising Tug Nuts considered adding them to your boat trailers? Would it be feasible to do so? Any pros/cons?
Joe

Hello Joe,

I've never used torsion bars on a boat trailer...only on travel trailers.

Someone more knowledgeable about towing the big tugs please correct me...my understanding is that to use torsion bars you would need to use a WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING HITCH which means abandoning your surge brakes for ELECTRIC OVER HYDRAULIC brakes (basically converts your existing hydraulic brakes to electrical activation in-cab like normal electric brakes found on a travel trailer yet still safe to back the trailer into the water).

Using a weight distributing hitch with torsion bars SEEMS like a good idea but I've not heard of it's use on this forum. Most Tugnuts describe towing 'on-the-ball' without any performance issues.

I'm sure others will respond...

/david

 

[Levitation]

Torsion bars are noisy, brute force, are a problem if you go through a dip that exceeds the range of the bars, and not that much help.
If your tow vehicle needs the weight transfer for steering you need a bigger tow vehicle.