Anti-Sway Bars Needed?

If you're looking for rationale for not adding sway control, you've found it.

I've experienced sway once (not a TT, but towing a vehicle on a open trailer). Wasn't fun at all. Happened immediately once I started up to freeway speed. Got the vehicle under control and stopped, pulled the vehicle up closer to tongue (more tongue weight), and it towed great.

Having said that, I bought an integrated WD/Sway Control. Blue Ox Swaypro. Why not? If you say you need a new hitch, why not get as good of a setup as you can? Maybe/hopefully you will never need it. Hopefully I will never need it, or need my automotive insurance, or my life insurance... but I have it just in case.

As others have said, the "minor" movements one feels due to wind, trucks passing etc is not sway. I still feel some of that with my Blue Ox.

Mike

I agree with 4x4 Dodger that a sway bar is just another piece of hardware you don't need.

I have pulled a TT with a Drawtite WDH for 15 years and have had no problems with sway.With the WDH properly adjusted to the vehicle and trailer and using common sense when loading the trailer it is just extra baggage.

Also, I believe it would be a pain in the rear trying to adjust it to each condition and the fact that you cannot back up without releasing it.

IMHO

djgarcia wrote:

APT wrote:
I highly recommend getting a WDH with integrated sway control. Equal-i-zer 4pt, Reese Strait Line, Blueox Swaypro are three with very favorable feedback.

X1, with an integrated sway control, "you have everything to gain and nothing to loose". With out a sway control you may find when you might really need it due to winds, passing trucks, bad road conditions or just before an accident is about to occur that it is too LATE:( Give me an ounce of safety prevention any day! Cut down going out to dinner a couple of times a month:)

I agree with the above 100% and IMO its FOOL HARDY to not just DO IT. Even if the risk is small the consequences of not having it that one time you really need it are just too great. When it comes to the safety of me and my loved ones I want every positive that is reasonably available going in my favor ... there are already enough unknown and even unknown unknowns to do otherwise.

Larry

bob4470 wrote:

owenssailor wrote:
So you have an expensive new truck and a brand new trailer but you are wondering about spending another 500 to 700 dollars for a good integrated WD and sway control hitch? I don't understand that thinking at all.

On top of the value of your combined rig you have the passengers in your unit and others on the road.

a good WD will likely make towing more relaxed. It may prevent a wreck.

If you can afford the rig you have finish it off with a proper hitch.

No, it's a 5 year old truck. And no, it's not about spending another 500 to 700 dollars. It's about getting what I need, not what someone wants to sell me, to ensure safe operation and family safety. So I came here looking for advice from fellow RVers, not sarcasm. But thanks anyway.

I'm sorry that you took my comments as sarcasim. They were not meant that way at all. I was trying to make the point that a good WD hitch with anti sway control is a good investment for you driving comfort and for the safety of all concerned.

TomG2 wrote:

Hannibal wrote:
I've noticed RV delivery drivers showing up at our local RV dealerships with no WD or sway control. Often towing over 30' travel trailers. What are they doing differently?

They use a capable tow vehicle. All these band aids, from expensive hitches to suspension improvements, are attempts to make a five pound bag hold ten pounds. It can be done, with enough money and effort.

This, in my humble opinion, is the correct answer. A manufactured home delivery tractor tows a 60' mobile home on an adjustable ball. A Ford Ranger tows a 6x12 utility trailer on a standard ball. However, like myself with our soon to be 32.5' TT that I'll tow with our F250, we often improvise with less TV than we really should have to tow our TT or 5th wheel. If it turns out I need more truck, I see a 1-ton dually in our future.
That and some TT's tow well. Some shouldn't be legal.

Bob4470
You're thinking in the right direction. What's a little expense and hassle IF, only if, it might keep you out of a bad situation.
I have always carried major medical insurance too. Know what? I've never used it.

bob4470 wrote:

owenssailor wrote:
So you have an expensive new truck and a brand new trailer but you are wondering about spending another 500 to 700 dollars for a good integrated WD and sway control hitch? I don't understand that thinking at all.

On top of the value of your combined rig you have the passengers in your unit and others on the road.

a good WD will likely make towing more relaxed. It may prevent a wreck.

If you can afford the rig you have finish it off with a proper hitch.

No, it's a 5 year old truck. And no, it's not about spending another 500 to 700 dollars. It's about getting what I need, not what someone wants to sell me, to ensure safe operation and family safety. So I came here looking for advice from fellow RVers, not sarcasm. But thanks anyway.

I have a 23 foot trailer that weighs the same as yours and pull it with an F-150 reg cab and have never had a problem with sway in any situations.

Forgot to mention that I have weight distribution, but no sway control.

Hannibal wrote:
I've noticed RV delivery drivers showing up at our local RV dealerships with no WD or sway control. Often towing over 30' travel trailers. What are they doing differently?

They use a capable tow vehicle. All these band aids, from expensive hitches to suspension improvements, are attempts to make a five pound bag hold ten pounds. It can be done, with enough money and effort.

I too have towed TTs for decades. Never really needed sway control.
But then there was an incident in I55 in Mississippi. A really nasty looking storm approaching from the East. We crested a hill where the trees were clear cut on both sides of the road. We got side swiped by a huge gust of wind. It blew my 36' trailer towed by my Ram 2500 hard to the right; then the trailer bounced back left. NO ONE can tell me the sway bars didn't buy me enough time to reach down to hit the trailer brakes to jerk it back in line. Do what you want, be cheap, macho or whatever, but they are cheap safety devices. I also have never used my safety chains for their intended purpose.

Hannibal wrote:
I've noticed RV delivery drivers showing up at our local RV dealerships with no WD or sway control. Often towing over 30' travel trailers. What are they doing differently?

They don't because they don't want to scratch or damage the A-frame tubing. They're not pulling with wimpy 1/2 tons either.

We followed one delivery guy in Northern Ca. last summer and it was clear by the way he had trouble in winding & bumpy sections and slowed down, he had no WDH and sway control. He was pulling well above 65 mph on straight sections (on ST tires) and I could have easily passed him on the curvy sections with our 29' TT and DC WDH. Makes one wonder for those that buy TTs on the west coast and at some point have blowouts, how much driving over 65 did the deliver guy do and cause internal damage to the tires?