Husky Centerline TS vs Round Bar?

[Micromm]

Hi,

Just ordered my 2306BHS!
First time to RV and trailer, TV is Nissan Armada.
The dealer has Husky Centerline TS or Husky Round Bar to choose from, charges me the same $$$ including installation.
I was told Round Bar is better for my case, I need to 90 degree from the street, back in my driveway through a slight downhill slope (not long, 10-15ft), and need to keep slight turn to back to side or the house, and it’s recommended to remove the bars before doing sharp angle backing.
I did some search, seems Centerline TS is being mentioned more and it’s more expensive than Round Bar, I’m wondering does the dealer recommends Round Bar just to make more profit? (Given that they charge me the same $$$)

Thanks

[Eagle5]

Hi Micromm,
I took a look at Amazon to see the price and rating of the "Amazon Choice" of each:
Husky 32218 Center Line TS, 4.7 Stars with 1,056 ratings, $386
Husky 30849 Round Bar, 4.6 Stars with 575 ratings, $329
I agree with your dealer in that with either system, you will need to remove the weight-distribution bars before making 90º turns. At a price difference of just $57, I would not attribute your dealers motivations to profit.
On the surface, it looks like the Center Line TS provides anti-sway control and does not have the chains where the unused loose links would rattle.
Hopefully, somebody with experience with both systems can chime-in here.
Welcome to the forum.
Eagle5.

[Micromm]

Thanks for the input.
I saw some YouTube videos about if you need to back up sharply, you need to remove the sway control bar for the round bar style.
The street in front of my house has one lane each direction, I don’t want to stop and remove the sway control bar before backing, that means blocking both direction for a period and it’s not safe.
Centerline has the built-in sway control, I do see some posts that people don’t remove the WD bar while backing, maybe it’s a better choice for me?

[Eagle5]

That makes sense to me too. I would go with the Center Line TS. It does seem to be a better design.

[creativepart]

I used a Husky Centerline WD anti-sway hitch when I towed my 5800lb Arctic Fox TT. At the time there was no TS model or even any choice but the bars shown on the TS model..

But it worked great and I never once removed the bars for a turn.

I’m not saying that it’s the same system, Husky appears to have changed the Centerline product over the past 8 or 9 years since I had mine. But looking at the two systems mine definitely looked like the current TS system. It was a very good system and did great at both weight distribution and anti-sway.

[chewie37]

I used the Centerline TS on two different TT's. Even able to use the same head unit on both, just had to go with bigger bars when we moved up to a larger TT.

Never had to take the bars off to back up, and I seem to recall that's a selling point for this particular hitch. Although don't quote me on that because I can't find anything 'official' on that part.

Two biggest challenges I had were: 1- finding level ground to do the initial setup as my driveway isn't a good candidate. 2 - pay attention to the instructions on where to mount the brackets on the trailer frame. If they're 'off' you may find the bar on the outboard side of a turn will slide right out.

[creativepart]

With the Centerline hitch, at first I had difficulty lifting the bar up and onto it's platform on the A frame. I think I struggled with that for months.

Then I learned that after dropping the hitch on the ball and locking it in place, if i used the power lift jack on the A frame to raise the entire A frame and tow vehicle the bars would raise up more than anything and I could easily slide them up and over the platform.

From that point on, hitching and unhitching was down right easy.

Here's a video that shows what I mean... I don't agree with everything this guy does (pulling the truck forward after hitching) but it illustrates the process of lifting everything pretty well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNWwerSOEbg

[Micromm]

Thanks all for your inputs, I kept asking the salesperson, and found out I don't have to purchase the two Husky they have (although they try hard to sell these to me), I can choose to bring my own hitch and pay an installation fee (to be found out).
That opens the door for other options, I'm seeing Andersen might be a good option for light weight and easy hitching/unhitching for my SUV

[Janet H]

A further note... I also tow with an Armada and mine has auto-leveling that kicks in once the engine is on. Assuming your does as well... make sure that you set up your hitch with the engine on AND the drivers door open to keep the leveling engaged (air pumps shut down when the engine is off). I use a Blue Ox Sway Pro