Friction sway control for 30'er?
I bought a 29'(35 overall) trailer, and can get a bit of sway, especially around big rigs. I still need to buy a wdh, but am wondering if I will be happy with a cheaper setup that uses the separate fr...
Forum Discussion
WD is a SYSTEM and each component of that system has a role to play...that added together makes the whole system in good working order
Similar to any vehicle today...TV's are a mini factory/robot these days...and each component is part of that system (not the aux stuff, but the real stuff of which a vehicle system is made up of)
On this topic of friction bars as part of the anti-sway system...have a love hate relationship with them...
They wear fast and even faster when tight...to the point that they need to be checked at each stop. Sure, if lightly tightened...not so much, but still needs to be checked/tightened
The two hates are that when wet...some don't work well, if at all....other is that when tightened for 'that' trailer...some times...most times...they do NOT allow the trailer to track back on the center line of the TV's travel...too many has the trailer dog track the TV...oh...add another...they wear out in the Z area and when tightened for that worn area...too tight off center of that Z area...maybe a good thing for when the trailer does go that far off center...
Ditto the newer trunnion bar and the friction material...older versions had no friction material and made more noise. Do not have direct experience with these and wonder if wetness affects them like the friction bars am experienced with.
Lube is a VERY BAD thing for these and have read too many threads where advisers say to lube them to reduce the noise...well it also reduces the very thing that makes them work...friction...but oh well, can only comment and folks will do whatever
As for the CAM'd system...there is no friction per say (there is a bit, but not the main anti-sway metric). The crook that the cam nestles into is the main metric....but....they too make noise when the cam/crook protest when off center line...likewise...read so many recommending lubing it to reduce noise...which likewise reduces that resistance to move out of the TV center line
Andersen uses plastic springs to provide that off center line resistance. Love their nifty architecture...but...lost is their application. Those plastic springs (compression only...they are not used to pull) are undersized and not enough travel...so constantly hear of them cracking/crumbling/etc over time
My personal preference is to use a steel spring that is used both in compression (push back towards the TV center line) and extension (pulls back towards the TV center line). The BlueOx SwayPro is my choice and am going to buy one some day (don't have a trailer now and borrow from church members and buddies)
Also, if using friction bars...use one on each side of the tongue. As they wear, switch them left to right to even out the wear.
Similar to any vehicle today...TV's are a mini factory/robot these days...and each component is part of that system (not the aux stuff, but the real stuff of which a vehicle system is made up of)
On this topic of friction bars as part of the anti-sway system...have a love hate relationship with them...
They wear fast and even faster when tight...to the point that they need to be checked at each stop. Sure, if lightly tightened...not so much, but still needs to be checked/tightened
The two hates are that when wet...some don't work well, if at all....other is that when tightened for 'that' trailer...some times...most times...they do NOT allow the trailer to track back on the center line of the TV's travel...too many has the trailer dog track the TV...oh...add another...they wear out in the Z area and when tightened for that worn area...too tight off center of that Z area...maybe a good thing for when the trailer does go that far off center...
Ditto the newer trunnion bar and the friction material...older versions had no friction material and made more noise. Do not have direct experience with these and wonder if wetness affects them like the friction bars am experienced with.
Lube is a VERY BAD thing for these and have read too many threads where advisers say to lube them to reduce the noise...well it also reduces the very thing that makes them work...friction...but oh well, can only comment and folks will do whatever
As for the CAM'd system...there is no friction per say (there is a bit, but not the main anti-sway metric). The crook that the cam nestles into is the main metric....but....they too make noise when the cam/crook protest when off center line...likewise...read so many recommending lubing it to reduce noise...which likewise reduces that resistance to move out of the TV center line
Andersen uses plastic springs to provide that off center line resistance. Love their nifty architecture...but...lost is their application. Those plastic springs (compression only...they are not used to pull) are undersized and not enough travel...so constantly hear of them cracking/crumbling/etc over time
My personal preference is to use a steel spring that is used both in compression (push back towards the TV center line) and extension (pulls back towards the TV center line). The BlueOx SwayPro is my choice and am going to buy one some day (don't have a trailer now and borrow from church members and buddies)
Also, if using friction bars...use one on each side of the tongue. As they wear, switch them left to right to even out the wear.
