2 sway bars on a pull behind trailer

ScottG wrote:

LarryJM wrote:

It appears you really do not understand these sway systems since the Reese DOES NOT RESIST SWAY and DOES NOT PUSH the combination back in line nor is it what could be called "ACTIVE SWAY CONTROL". The friction type sway bar sytems and the Reese and Equal-i-zer all are "FRICTION TYPE" sway systems .... they just perform the same function in slightly different ways.

Larry

No Larry, it's you that doesn't understand and I've seen you argue this way in the past.
In Reese's own literature it explains that friction plays no part in its function. And it IS active. The more sideways the trailer gets, the stronger the spring bar pushes back because the cam is climbing the bar and making it stiffer. Friction doesn't limit movement like on the system your familiar with. In fact, you can lubricate every part of it without having any impact on its function.
But this has already been explained in detail to you but you either refuse to learn or simply cannot understand it. If you had the system you would probably understand it better.

But for now, you and I and Reese will just have to have different opinions.

Well it's really not just me vs. you and Reese, but actually me and such folks as Ron Gratz vs. JUST YOU since you haven't provided any direct info from Reese supporting your position.
I agree with what our resident mechanical expert thinks such as his post at 4/12/12 at 7:13PM HERE

Ron Gratz wrote:

jerem0621 wrote:

However, my preference is for an integrated sway control system, specifically, Reese Dual Cam sway control.

What this system does is work to force the trailer into a straight line with your tow vehicle and takes a proactive approach to preventing trailer sway.

Equal-i-zer also has integrated sway control, but I have no experience with this hitch. My minds eye says it is reactive like a friction sway control and not proactive, but I may be speaking out of turn.

I have no idea what you mean by "proactive" and "reactive" as regards sway control.

However, you do seem to imply that a Dual Cam is better than an Equal-i-zer because the DC is "proactive" and the EQ is "reactive".

Both the DC and EQ utilize friction forces to "stiffen" the yaw-axis connection between TV and TT.
Both generate a yaw-axis torque which opposes changes in the yaw angle between TV and TT. That is how they work to resist sway.

The effective difference between the DC and the EQ is that the EQ produces basically the same yaw-resisting torque
regardless of whether the TT is swinging away from centered or back toward centered,
while the DC produces more when swinging away and less when swinging back.
You could say that the DC "turns on" its sway control when the TT tries to swing away from centered,
and "turns off" its sway control when the TT tries to swing back.
IMO, that is not necessarily a good thing as regards sway control.

The DC does not work to force the TT into a straight line with the TV.
It simply decreases its yaw-resisting torque when the TT is swinging back toward centered.

The DC and the EQ both rely on friction forces to resist sway. IMO, neither is more "reactive" or "proactive" than the other.

Ron

and as far as being "reactive" or "proactive" I agree with Ron's assessment and opinion HERE in his post on 03/02/12 at 10:03AM

Ron Gratz wrote:

Skipnchar wrote:

stephs2125 wrote:


The centerline uses a different technology to prevent trailer sway but both types will do the job about equally well. My personal opinion is that the centerline is slightly better because it is proactive rather than reactive as the Equalizer is but in use there will be very little difference in how they perform.

Does anyone know of a good site where I can research the differences in how a reactive vs. proactive system functions?

I doubt such a site exists.

I don't know how Skip defines "proactive" and "reactive". My understading of the two terms would lead me to characterize the two hitches opposite to how Skip does.

IMO, the Equal-i-zer is proactive because it uses friction forces to stiffen the yaw-axis connection between TV and trailer. The yaw-resisting torque is present even when there is zero yaw angle between TV and TT.

IMO, the Center Line is reactive because it relies on spring compression to generate a yaw-resisting torque. When there is zero yaw angle, there is zero yaw-resisting torque. The trailer must develope a non-zero yaw angle before the yaw-resisting torque begins to build.

Ron

Finally if you have something supporting your opinion from Reese, please post a verifiable link to such information confirming what you have stated as what at this point I can only say is you personal opinion and worth no more than anyone else's.