Safe Travels with Blue Ox Weight Distribution Hitches

According to RVIA, an impressive 482,389 RVs were manufactured in the U.S. last year. And despite the growing popularity of camper vans, Euro vans, and just, well, vans, a whopping 88% of those RV shipments consisted of towable vehicles. (That is, options like travel trailers, toy haulers, and fifth wheels.) And while it’s vital that you understand your vehicle’s tow capacity before you hit the road, it’s also important to remember that those tow ratings are set under the assumption that you have the proper hitch setup installed on your vehicle.

Now, if you’re tugging along a small trailer well below the max capabilities of your vehicle, you’re safe to stick with that traditional ball mount setup. But if you’re towing a camper that is as heavy as or heavier than your tow vehicle, or has any kind of significant height to it—it’s time to invest in a weight distribution hitch. Luckily, Blue Ox offers a number of towing solutions, including innovative weight distribution hitches.

Why Blue Ox?

Serving a variety of markets, from agricultural and industrial to national defense and the automotive aftermarket, the Blue Ox brand is synonymous with reliable products that perform well under pressure. The company is nuts about safety—which is a pretty great quality to have when you’re manufacturing load-bearing equipment that has to stand up to bad weather, highway speeds, and the questionable driving habits of the human race. In fact, Blue Ox hosts educational seminars all across the U.S., introducing new products, answering user questions, and inspecting and servicing equipment. They even have their own RV park in northeast Nebraska!

Rest assured, that same level of safe design and user-friendly application is applied to Blue Ox weight distribution hitches.

Blue Ox Weight Distribution Hitches

Round Bar

Ready for safe towing right out of the box, is the Blue Ox Round Bar Weight Distributing Hitch. This entry-level specialized towing system provides improved vehicle and trailer control to help you safely tow. Crafted of black powder-coated steel, the unit is rust and corrosion resistant. And it features a simple, open design for easy hook-up, installing in roughly 15-20 minutes.

The hitch is rated for trailers with up to 1,200-lb tongue weight and has weight distribution built into the hitch head—meaning you don’t have to fuss with making adjustments or fine tunings. It also offers a raised ball platform for better coupler clearance and up to 8-inch total height adjustment. Plus, the unit comes backed by the company’s limited lifetime warranty.

If you’re interested in maximizing ease of towing (and safety!), we suggest you check out the Blue Ox SwayPro™. This revolutionary hitch not only tackles weight distribution, but sway prevention as well.

Sway-Pro™

Trailer sway is incredibly dangerous! Even if you carefully load your trailer and vehicle, uneven roads or even strong wind from a passing tractor trailer can be enough to send your load swaying from side to side. And if you start fishtailing, you can lose control—leading to an accident or worse.

That’s why the Blue Ox SwayPro™ uses a combination of loaded spring bars, rotating latches, and integrated hitch head to provide a centering force that stops sway before it happens. “As the trailer tries to sway, it puts a heavier load on one side of the bars,” explains the company. “As this happens, the spring bars will pivot on the hitch head and balance each other, preventing the trailer from swaying. The SwayPro™ will also conquer weight distribution at the same time, putting more weight on the towing vehicle’s front tires, which increases steering control and braking, giving you a safer and easier driving experience.”

Easy to Install, Easy to Use

And if you’re concerned that something this innovative will be difficult to install—don’t be. “SwayPro™ is designed with the user in mind, making it the most user-friendly trailer sway prevention system on the market today,” assures Blue Ox. Hook-up is easy, thanks to an open-head design, rotating latches, and self-locking spring bars. And you don’t have to disconnect to back up!

Plus, “the SwayPro™ hitch is compatible with a variety of towing vehicles, from minivans to large ¾ ton pickups,” says the company. “Simply determine what type of vehicle and hitch head you will be using, the type of trailer coupler your travel trailer is equipped with, and select the appropriate tongue weight. Join the other 65% of vehicles on the road who trust the safety, quality, and durability of Blue Ox products.”

“The Blue Ox Sway Pro is the most user-friendly of any weight distribution hitch I’ve used. No loose parts and zero sway. There’s also no noise while backing up and no greasy mess. Powder coating, infinitely adjustable, and built like a tank! -RV.net forum user

The Sway Pro™ prevents sway in all weather conditions and sports a black powder-coated steel construction to ensure longevity. Backed by limited lifetime warranty, this is a worthy investment for anyone serious about safe towing.

Roughly 25 million Americans go RVing every year. And the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration estimates that about 75,000 people are hospitalized every year because of an RV accident. Join the crowd without becoming a statistic. Check out Blue Ox weight distribution hitches and invest in some quality safety upgrades to your towing setup.

New From Blue Ox

Speaking of upgrades… Check out the new Patriot 3 Braking System—also from Blue Ox. After all, safe braking is essential to safe towing. And, the Patriot 3 offers superior mobile stopping power.

This all-electric, in-coach brake controller allows drivers to monitor and adjust proportional braking response from within the tow vehicle. Compatible with all vehicles, including hybrids, it is completely self-contained. (That means, no tanks to drain or hoses to connect.) Plus, it’s lightweight and easy-to-install, with a corresponding controller remote that mounts simply and securely to any dash. It also automatically checks brake pressure during setup and will continually monitor it throughout towing for added safety and convenience. Consider it as a set-it-and-forget-it kind of peace of mind.