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Friction in brackets and in head works to prevent and correct trailer sway. Chainless brackets with automotive-style friction pads hold spring bars firmly in place to help keep trailer in line with your tow vehicle. Adjustable shank included.
Features:
Specs:
| Included w/ System | Required - Sold Separately | Optional Add-Ons |
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| n/a |
Create a stable ride for your tow vehicle and trailer with a weight distribution hitch. Adding spring bars to your towing system applies leverage, which transfers the load that is pushing down on the rear of your vehicle to all the axles on both your tow vehicle and your trailer, resulting in an even distribution of weight throughout. The result is a smooth, level ride, as well as the ability to tow the maximum capacity of your hitch.
The tongue weight rating is the most important factor in determining which size weight distribution system you should use. If the bars of the system you choose are rated too high for your setup, they will create a rigid ride, which can result in a bouncing trailer. If, on the other hand, the bars are not rated high enough, the system will be unable to properly distribute the weight, rendering it virtually useless.
To determine the proper weight rating for a weight distribution system, you must first determine your trailer's tongue weight. Then add to that the weight of the cargo behind the rear axle of your tow vehicle. These two measurements make up the tongue weight rating for a weight distribution system.
Integrated Dependent Sway Control
The Steadi-Flex weight distribution system works to stop trailer sway before it begins. This is achieved in 2 ways. First, the system head is designed to firmly hold the spring bars in place to provide tight resistance and help ensure that your trailer tracks behind your vehicle. Second, the spring bar brackets that mount on your trailer's frame produce friction with the bars whenever any side-to-side motion occurs. This keeps the bars from moving, also helping to hold your trailer in a straight line.
System Head with Steel-on-Steel Friction
The head of the Steadi-Flex system firmly holds the spring bars in place at the hitch point. This tight hold helps to keep the bars from moving, which in turn helps to ensure that the trailer is held firmly in place behind your vehicle. If any sway or side-to-side movement does occur, the spring bars will move only slightly inside of the system's head. This steel-on-steel contact produces frictional resistance to limit further side-to-side motion of the bars, limiting the motion of your trailer in the process. The Steadi-Flex head is wider than most weight distribution heads. This design allows for greater surface area for the spring bars to move against. This makes it easier to produce the friction that resists sway.
Sway Control Brackets with Automotive-Grade Friction Material
The spring bars attach to the trailer frame with fixed, sturdy steel brackets. They sit on top of the brackets instead of being suspended by chains like the bars that are on traditional weight distribution systems. Chain suspensions typically allow a good deal of side-to-side play in the system. Because the Steadi-Flex has brackets in place of chains, that unwanted movement of the spring bars is eliminated. This helps to keep your trailer in line behind your vehicle. In addition, these brackets create friction to limit any side-to-side movement that may occur. When each spring bar on the Steadi-Flex system moves within the bracket, it rubs along the surface of the bracket, creating friction. This resistance limits the movement of the spring bar, thus preventing further side-to-side movement of the trailer.
Most systems with sway control brackets use bare steel brackets to create friction with the steel bars. Steel-on-steel friction typically causes a much louder ride, and it can result in wear and tear on the brackets themselves. The Steadi-Flex brackets, on the other hand, are lined with automotive-grade friction material. This material is more abrasive than bare steel, which allows more friction to build up faster and easier. The long-lasting friction material also reduces the banging noise created by the bars hitting the inside of the steel brackets. This provides a quieter ride while towing.
Fast, Easy Installation
The Steadi-Flex system is easy to install and set up. On the trailer side, simply clamp the spring bar brackets around your trailer's frame. Then prepare your vehicle by sliding the included shank into your 2" x 2" hitch receiver, and bolt on the head. The system head can be easily adjusted to achieve the proper angle and optimum leverage for your specific setup. No drilling is required to install this weight distribution system.
Head Tilt Adjustment
The head of the Steadi-Flex can be easily adjusted for the best possible angle for your towing setup. Adjusting the head lets you fine-tune the system's leverage so that you can get the best distribution of weight possible. Traditional head tilt adjustment methods require that the head be disassembled so that stackable washers inside the head can be either removed or added on. But with the Steadi-Flex, there are external, toothed washers on either side of the head that make it easy to change the tilt. Simply position the head in one of the preset angles based on your hitch's tongue weight, then bolt it in place, tightening the washers as you do so. Once the head is sitting at the correct angle, tighten the internal adjustment bolt to secure the platform in place.
Tapered Spring Bars
The spring bars of the Steadi-Flex system slide into the weight distribution head for quick, easy installation. With a tapered design and hot rolled steel construction, these bars offer superior flex to evenly distribute the weight between your tow vehicle and your trailer.
The bars easily pin into place inside the system head - no need to torque or re-torque any trunnion bolts to adjust the tension. With fewer parts to manage, installing and maintaining the Steadi-Flex is simple.
Adjustable, Clamp-On Brackets
The spring bar brackets simply clamp around your trailer's frame - no drilling required. These brackets are designed to be positioned 27" to 32" back from your coupler and they can fit a wide range of frame sizes and can even be used on a trailer with a bottom-mounted coupler.
While other brackets use L-pins to secure the spring bars in place on the brackets, the hinged Steadi-Flex brackets close completely around the spring bars. As a result, you can have greater piece of mind knowing that the spring bars are secure, all without the hassle of using and possibly losing L-pins and any extra hardware.
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Average Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars (225 Customer Reviews)
Friction in brackets and in head works to prevent and correct trailer sway. Chainless brackets with automotive-style friction pads hold spring bars firmly in place to help keep trailer in line with your tow vehicle. Adjustable shank included.
A friend who has towed 9000lbs+ boats, recommended you, and thankfully, I took his advice. The person who answered my call last year was very knowledgeable and gave ne excellent advice for my towing problem(front end sway) and advised me to purchase a proper sway and load hitch, which I did and installed(even made a roll-around" to store the heavy items when not in use).
Thank you for excellent service, bruce
This has a lot of potential. It really didn't help the sway enough for a 7,000# trailer and the grease on the bars made a mess. I bought a different hitch very soon after that did better. It was difficult to tighten the ball to the specified torque due to the nut being bracketed inside the steel.
I LOVE this hitch. Truly transformed my towing experience. I had a Reese distribution hitch before with separate sway bars, but I still had a ton of sway. I read a ton of reviews and this hitch seemed to meet my requirements. I have a F150 with max tow package and I pull a 27 foot travel trailer, about 7800 pounds max capacity. I had never pulled farther than about 100 miles prior to having this hitch, due to the white knuckle swaying. Now I have pulled my camper from Indiana to Panama City Beach, Florida and from Indiana to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I have almost no sway 98% of the time. If it is still a really windy day, you might get a little, but on a normal day, no sway at all, no semis sucking me into them. Pulls straight as an arrow down the road. Reminds me of when I had a 5th wheel and how great it pulled. I would 100% buy this hitch again and highly recommend it.
Brian L.
9/9/2021
One year later, still LOVE this hitch! I have put almost 4,000 miles on my camper since May 2020 and have been to Florida, Tennessee twice, etc. from Indiana. The hitch is holding up very well given the amount I use it, still love pulling with this hitch as I have almost no sway.
Purchased this Reese Stedi-Flex Weight Distribution System with Sway Control to use on our 2016 Silverado pulling our new 26' Winnebago Travel Trailer. Just returned from a 300 mile round trip and really enjoyed the way it handled as we drove both flat ;land and Arizona mountains with steep grades and curves. Really handled well. Hook up with the spring bars was a snap and feel rally safe with this system. This was the first trip with our new trailer and we were most delighted with the way that the truck and trailer worked together. Always knew Reese made good products and would happily recommend this system and etrailer. Thank you --
Victor
8/4/2019
Working good however, I get some up & down bounce in the front of the truck. Checked with customer service and determined that I needed to change the head angle to put more weight on the front of the truck. Made that change but have not yet pulled the trailer. Will in about two weeks and then will know if I helped it or not. I feel sure that I have made the right adjustment., Thanks etrailer for your help.
I'm using the steadi-flex with a 8500# trailer with 1000# tongue weight using a leveled F150. The performance has been great. When I connect the trailer the entire truck lowers with the weight. The hitch gives you control over how much weight is distributed forward on your vehicle. The sway control works good in the Columbia River Gorge which is known for high winds.
There are a few of things I don't like about this hitch. It is difficult to adjust the trailer bracket at the correct angle so the bars connect with the full friction pad. The front pad is wearing more than the rear. There are many nuts and bolts that must be monitored for safety due to the adjustments on the hitch. The lever for loading the bars is difficult to use.
I had a 10K hitch prior to this with the adjustable friction sway bar on the side of the trailer frame which did not work well no matter on tight I got it. It also made loads of screeching. I had to watch myself when passing semi trucks because of the sway. That is all but eliminated with the Reese Steadi-flex! No more white knuckles.
Mike V.
8/19/2021
Update: After one year I am still happy with the performance of this hitch. The only downside is the friction pads are flaking off on the edges. I will have to replace them soon to maintain the anti sway function.
Outstanding Job to the etrailer team on communication, all the way from receiving my payment to hitting my doorstep they let me know where my order was. I was impressed with the hitch setup the way it’s designed. Now the only thing I was disappointed about was the way the Ball nut sets up into a cavity and if you don’t have a socket to get to it , you better round one up before it gets delivered. I think that information needs to be added to the description.
Heather A.
2/16/2018
Joe, A 1-78” socket and torque wrench capable of manufacturers specified torque is needed for assembly. If needed, your nearest body shop or RV dealer will have tools necessary for hitch ball assembly. A fee may be applicable.
Works extremely well on a 20' enclosed trailer pulled with a 2007 GMC short bed half ton. I have never owned a trailer where one of these was needed, so this was a first experience.
Read the instructions before I picked up the trailer and did the measurements carefully before and after hook-up at the dealer. After hook-up, truck and trailer sat perfectly level. Now for a 2-hour (empty) road test.
Almost felt like the trailer wasn't back there. Normal creaking around slow, 90 degree turns in town; no noticeable sway on the highway.
At home, after unhooking, I noticed the bars were only touching the back edge of the brake pads and starting to chip the edge slightly. Loosened the frame brackets and tilted them bottom-forward as far as the bolts would allow. Didn't need much. Another test run, and the bars lay perfectly parallel to the brake pads.
Made two trips at highway/freeway speeds last summer, not quite fully loaded. Still, absolutely no unnecessary sway to speak of, even while passing or being passed by tractor trailers. Quite stable and never felt dangerous or unsafe at all. Brake pads are no longer chipping at the rear; appear to be wearing evenly as they should.
My trailer dealer was impressed with it enough he asked for the model number so he could consider stocking them himself.
This hitch is awesome. I haul a 24' enclosed aluminum trailer to tow a race car. Total loaded weight is about 7800#. I pull it with a new 2019 Ram 1500 5.7 now. Prior was with a 1500 Sierra with 6.2 motor and also a F150 3.5 EB.
I almost forget the trailer is there when I am towing. Sway is very controlled in windy conditions.
It is a little noisy when turning in a parking lot, but that is the only downside I can think of. One other may be the weight of the hitch itself. It is pretty stout and heavy.
Love this hitch... have towed well over 1000 miles with it on 3 different trucks (all 1/2 tons).
I installed this hitch while my trailer was in winter storage. The instructions were very good, and it was not difficult to install. A few weeks ago I got the trailer out of storage and was able to verify the measurements of the setup were exactly correct. I then towed my 25 foot travel trailer more than 2000 miles and could not be happier with the ease of hookup, unhooking and towing. The weight distribution was perfect and sway control was much better than with the old pro-style chain and torsion bar system I had used for about 30 years. I wanted a hitch that required less physical exertion to hookup and unhook, and I wanted better sway control. This hitch is the answer. It makes some noise at slow speeds, sometimes sounding almost like a horn or a low-pitched squeal, but I believe it is less noisy than other similar products, and it less noisy than my old system. I bought this hitch after doing considerable research, then talking with a very helpful salesperson at etrailer. When I called back with a followup question a couple of hours after I placed the order, I talked with a different salesperson who was equally as helpful. I received the hitch within days of the order. I then sent an email to etrailer with a question. Within about a day, they replied with a message from the manufacturer that answered my question. Over the years, I have purchased several items from etrailer and have always been pleased with their service. I strongly recommend this Reese Steadi-Flex hitch and etrailer.
When I upgraded my trailer, I was told the Pro-Series #800 hitch, with a separate sway control would be fine. I apparently don't set the sway control tightness the same everytime, so I experienced various levels of sway and bouncing with that hitch. So, I did some research and I bought the Reese Steadi-Flex 1000# w 6 point sway control. It was a night and day difference. No more anxious moments and my confidence even grew when the trailer behaved in gusty cross-winds and when the big trucks would pass. I had to do some running around to complete the assembly, since I didn't have all of the right sized tools; But, so happy with the results.
really nice system. I use it to tow a Micro Minnie 2306BHS with a 2009 Nissan Frontier. very beefy and no issues with installation or setup. the only thing I'd say is that the bars wear into the steel where they move within the hitch carrier. I grease these points regularly, but seems like abnormal wear on the bars. Pads are holding up just fine; had to tighten them down after a year of use. overall, a good product and I'm satisfied with the shift to the Frontier's front suspension and overall sway and distribution control. Very easy to set up before our camping trips.
Haven't had a single issue with it . Install wasn't that tough, but you need a special thin wall deep well socket to mount the ball. You can back the trailer up with this setup somewhat but if you need to make any sharp turns in reverse than just remove the friction bars before hand. Pulling a 23 ft living quarters.......26 ft total length Sonic Venture with a 2014 Tacoma and Firestone air bags.
This hitch worked amazing! Not the easiest to install, but worked really well!!! Definitely leveled the truck and made the load easy to tow!
I bought this using reviews on its simple design. I have never had a trailer that needed this type of hitch. After viewing the video install guidelines I went to work and the install went flawless. I did have to go to a garage and have them torque the one nut for me since I did not have a big enough socket. I would recommend this product highly. My trailer travels well and keeps my truck level.
Package arrived on time and intact.
Instructions adequate.
Installation w/o problems, good quality hardware.
Hooking up took 1/2 hour the first time, now down to about 15".
My 28ft TT pulled by a 2016 F150 ext. cab w/ 3.5l eco engine was much more stable than with my old wt distributing hitch and one friction bar sway control. Felt passing trucks and crosswinds a lot less. Can actually use the cruise control. Glad I bought it, highly recommend it.
Easy to install. No sway. Easy hookup and disconnect . Love being able to back up without unhooking the bars. I get positive impressions from fellow campers. You need to lmprove packaging. It arrived in a jumble of torn up cardboard and parts. Fortunately all the parts were thier.
I have driven across the country 4 times with this system and it has worked like a dream. Set up takes a little while and adjustments as you drive and stop to make these adjustments, but when your done it works flawlessly! It took me four stops to make these adjustments and I have not touched it since. 20,000 miles plus and counting!!!
Great quality. Fit and finish excellen t.
I purchased the Reese Steadi-Flex WD w/ sway control system about a year ago. I towed my 6500# 31ft camper on 18 trips covering over 3200 miles. The hitch performs flawlessly, its easy to install, and easy on/off. The connection process only takes a few minutes and a few people that have helped me hitch or unhitch the camper have commented on the hitch about how easy it is to use.
The brake pad material has flaked off a bit, but I don't see this as a flaw, rather as a function of the design.
Again, the hitch is fantastic and allows the camper to tow like a dream with my 2013 F150 Super Cab.
I would recommend this hitch to anyone.
Installed items below and loaded car according to instructions, drove three hundred miles on three different occasions with tractor trailers going by and 30 mph wind without any sway, hardly felt like trailer was not even hooked up. awesome products!
RP66559 10K Reese Steadi-Flex Weight Distribution System
19286 12K 2-5/16 Hitch Ball
Absolutely great been using friction bar for years and this product is so much better no bounce or sway pulling 30ft travel trailer with 2011 f150 thanks kaylyn for recommending
With this hitch I now feel safe towing my 6k lb, 26' travel trailer with my 1500 pickup truck. Just finished a 2200 mile trip. Also I like the fact the new hitch puts the trailer a little further behind the truck because I can open my tailgate fully when hitched. Like another fellow, I had to drill out the hole for the spring bar cover pin.
Chrissy at etrailer had the foresight to advise me correctly on my choice of weight distribution hitch. It was perfect for my Rubicon set-up, and now it's still perfect for my new tow vehicle and travel trailer weight increase. I've saved hundreds of dollars!
I Read the manual twice and was able to install the hitch without any problems. All the parts went together great. The hitch grip carrying tool came in handy. Im 74 years old and weigh only 150lb. so I would highly recommend
the hitch grip if you plan to buy a hitch for WD with sway correction. In the future if I need a truck or camper item I will check first to see if E-trailer has the part, if they have it that's who I wii purchase it from. E-trailer shipped my parts to me fast-had a great savings in cost and provided me with more information about the items than any other company ever did. I also give E-trailer 5 stars. I hope this review helps you decide on your items.
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Bruce
12/24/2022
This has been a savior for my previous front end sway, and stores nicely after I made a compact roll-around for it.