This is for people who wonder if this is needed. This is also for those who have so much pride in their rig that they advise newbies that a properly loaded and balanced rig doesn't need sway control. Granted, my hitch is not the latest greatest. In fact, it's old school. An Eazlift with 1400# bars and 2 friction bars. Over my life, I have logged over 200,000 miles towing. I am no novice. Last Sunday, traveling I-55 south below Jackson, MS there was a really thick thunder storm ahead. Very dark skies, a 15 degree drop in temperature over a 3 mile span, heavy wind and rain. No big deal; done it dozens of times. After crestng a hill and going past a sudden clearing of trees on both sides of the highway, I got hit by a gust of wind. It was the first time I have really been scared while towing. The 2 sway bars gave me enough time to hit the trailer brakes to pull it back into line. Without them, I am convinced I would have lost control. OTo those who wonder if they are needed, most of the time, no. But this time, they saved major damage and possible injury. Sway control is cheap. In my case, lack of them could have been devastating. My rig is well balanced and is pulled by a very capable vehicle. I just encourage you to eat your pride and spend a few dollars on some kind of sway control. Roll your eyes if you want, but I'm home safe.

Glad you are ok and are none-the-worse for the experience. My setup which includes an anti-sway WD hitch makes all of our trips relaxed and enjoyable. Worth the price to me.

Now think about how much less anxiety you would have suffered with a good integrated sway control system for just a few more dollars. My Reese HP Dual Cam has turned the journey into an enjoyable experience for many years.

Should of had a Hensley, and a 550, and a diesel, and so forth. I/we have all been hit by crosswinds and survived whether we were towing with or without sway control apparatus. Never used them on construction trailers and now everybody thinks they have to have one when pulling similar size and weight travel trailers.

I have always heard that if your TT is starting to sway, do not immediately hit the brakes, but accelerate slowly until the yawing subsides, then slowly brake.

He didn't hit his brakes. He used the trailer brakes on the brake controller.

Do I need sway control? | Good Sam Community

33 Replies

Charles2222
Explorer
Jun 25, 2015
He was the only one there,must have done something right,he went home safe.
skripo
Explorer
Jun 24, 2015
rexlion wrote:
OP, you'll always get a few replies from people who don't read your post completely. Just ignore them.

Thank you for letting us know that even a properly loaded trailer with sufficient hitch weight can sometimes sway. Applying trailer brakes (not vehicle brakes) was certainly the right reaction.

Well said.
stufarmer
Explorer
Jun 24, 2015
doesn't everyone here remember the Long Long Trailer....Trailer Brakes...! Trailer Brakes...!
Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Jun 07, 2015
Terryallan wrote:
jmtandem wrote:
The trailer..."It now is going slower than the tow vehicle. "...is that even physically possible?

Every tow up hill, starting out from a stop, etc. the trailer is dragging behind the tow vehicle and left to itself would physically be going slower than the tow vehicle. So, I guess in theory it is. It represents 'drag' up hill and starting out, and even on level towing over about 45 mph as wind resistance increases and becomes the larger factor in drag than friction from tires on the road under no wind conditions.

Down hill the trailer without brakes applied is trying to push the tow vehicle so it is trying to go faster. Obviously this represents one time when an exhaust brake on a wet or slippery road is not as good for control as using the trailer brakes. But, overall the exhaust brakes on diesels are just plain wonderful for most dowhill control.

Obviously if the tow vehicle is traveling 60 mph so is the trailer as the tow vehicle has to overcome the trailer's drag factor. Maybe it would read better to say the trailer is trying to go slower than the tow vehicle.

In the last 40 years of towing. I have NEVER been able to out run any of the trailers I have towed. I tried. but every time I look in the mirror. there it is.

ROTFLMAO, same here.

OP:

#1. What you experienced was not sway. It was a wind gust, or micro burst. Two totally different things. Much like what happened here.

#2. Sway bars did next to nothing with what you experienced. As you can see from the above video, nothing much helps. (Except what this truck driver did!!)

#3. Glad you didn't get hurt and everything came out ok.
Terryallan
Explorer II
Jun 06, 2015
jmtandem wrote:
The trailer..."It now is going slower than the tow vehicle. "...is that even physically possible?

Every tow up hill, starting out from a stop, etc. the trailer is dragging behind the tow vehicle and left to itself would physically be going slower than the tow vehicle. So, I guess in theory it is. It represents 'drag' up hill and starting out, and even on level towing over about 45 mph as wind resistance increases and becomes the larger factor in drag than friction from tires on the road under no wind conditions.

Down hill the trailer without brakes applied is trying to push the tow vehicle so it is trying to go faster. Obviously this represents one time when an exhaust brake on a wet or slippery road is not as good for control as using the trailer brakes. But, overall the exhaust brakes on diesels are just plain wonderful for most dowhill control.

Obviously if the tow vehicle is traveling 60 mph so is the trailer as the tow vehicle has to overcome the trailer's drag factor. Maybe it would read better to say the trailer is trying to go slower than the tow vehicle.

In the last 40 years of towing. I have NEVER been able to out run any of the trailers I have towed. I tried. but every time I look in the mirror. there it is.
69_Avion
Explorer
Jun 05, 2015
jmtandem wrote:
To the OP, thanks for your post. I is an important message for everyone. At least for those not in the know and are experts in the field.

Interesting comment. How would anybody know if the weight distribution hitch works at all if the operator does not understand the relationships between the trailer and the tow vehicle? And, more importantly, how to recognize sway when (if) it occurs and how to counter it? Since you have an Airstream you might avail yourself of the issue(s) in the Airstream magazine publication that described how a weight distribution hitch works and what sway is and how it is countered. You might also visit the Airstream forums and since you have an Equalizer hitch learn about all the damage they can do and have often done to trailer tongues.

Some Airstreams can be damaged by just towing them with full black and gray water tanks. They aren't exactly known for structural integrity. Their supporters even claim that they can be ruined if you tow them with too heavy a TV like a 1 ton truck. LOL
jmtandem
Explorer II
Jun 04, 2015
To the OP, thanks for your post. I is an important message for everyone. At least for those not in the know and are experts in the field.

Interesting comment. How would anybody know if the weight distribution hitch works at all if the operator does not understand the relationships between the trailer and the tow vehicle? And, more importantly, how to recognize sway when (if) it occurs and how to counter it? Since you have an Airstream you might avail yourself of the issue(s) in the Airstream magazine publication that described how a weight distribution hitch works and what sway is and how it is countered. You might also visit the Airstream forums and since you have an Equalizer hitch learn about all the damage they can do and have often done to trailer tongues.
aftermath
Explorer III
Jun 04, 2015
Boy, getting deep here. Got pant legs rolled up.

To the OP, thanks for your post. I is an important message for everyone. At least for those not in the know and are experts in the field.
jmtandem
Explorer II
Jun 04, 2015
The trailer..."It now is going slower than the tow vehicle. "...is that even physically possible?

Every tow up hill, starting out from a stop, etc. the trailer is dragging behind the tow vehicle and left to itself would physically be going slower than the tow vehicle. So, I guess in theory it is. It represents 'drag' up hill and starting out, and even on level towing over about 45 mph as wind resistance increases and becomes the larger factor in drag than friction from tires on the road under no wind conditions.

Down hill the trailer without brakes applied is trying to push the tow vehicle so it is trying to go faster. Obviously this represents one time when an exhaust brake on a wet or slippery road is not as good for control as using the trailer brakes. But, overall the exhaust brakes on diesels are just plain wonderful for most dowhill control.

Obviously if the tow vehicle is traveling 60 mph so is the trailer as the tow vehicle has to overcome the trailer's drag factor. Maybe it would read better to say the trailer is trying to go slower than the tow vehicle.
wing_zealot
Explorer
Jun 04, 2015
I fear the insane are now controlling the asylum.

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Do I need sway control?

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