Last weekend, our 2013 Ford 150 FX4 gave us a "sway" warning when we were hit with a big gust of wind. It was surprising, but welcome. Since then, we have done some research and learned something interesting. Our truck has "sway control". Ford has used the yaw sensors and the stability control hard and software to help control trailer sway. According to the owner's manual the truck applies braking to individual wheels to damp any trailer sway. This is very similar to stability control for vehicles not towing a trailer. I have to say that the truck definitely helped in the strong cross winds we experienced on the mountain passes.My wife read on a forum (maybe this one) that gas mileage can be improved when not towing by disabling the tow sway control. We will try it and see. Any experience with this feature?Bob

Not sure about Ford but my 2012 Silverado has the same. It's nice but it really doesn't replace a good mechanical sway control.

I have the same system on my F-150 Ecoboost. It's not really sway control for your TT. It senses sway and applies the brakes where and when it's needed to help reduce further sway on the TV. When the system is activated, you loose all acelleration as well until the system re-sets.

Here is video on the Chevy version but I believe it is the same on the Ford. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kk5TSebkV0

What type of hitch setup, and how big is your trailer Seattle? As has been mentioned, you need to have a sway control on your hitch setup. Also, you should make sure your tongue weight is at least 11-12% of the trailers weight. That will help control sway. It's my understanding that while nice to have, the factory sway control should be the last line of defense. Good luck.

Seattle Lion wrote:Last weekend, our 2013 Ford 150 FX4 gave us a "sway" warning when we were hit with a big gust of wind. It was surprising, but welcome. Since then, we have done some research and learned something interesting. Our truck has "sway control". Ford has used the yaw sensors and the stability control hard and software to help control trailer sway. According to the owner's manual the truck applies braking to individual wheels to damp any trailer sway. This is very similar to stability control for vehicles not towing a trailer. I have to say that the truck definitely helped in the strong cross winds we experienced on the mountain passes.My wife read on a forum (maybe this one) that gas mileage can be improved when not towing by disabling the tow sway control. We will try it and see. Any experience with this feature?BobI had the truck's sway control kick on once and it was a combination of factors even though I use a Reese Dual Cam High Performance Sway control system.I was pulling in very windy conditions with gusts just coming up without cause. They really surprise you. Well, a truck had just passed and a gust hit at the same time. I was already tired and went to compensate for the pull and push, and caused sway. It wasn't bad at all and very minor but apparently it was enough for the sensors to kick in.I would not disable it at all even if it does seem a bit sensitive. Better to be on the safe side.

Ford F150 Sway Control | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

Seattle_Lion
Explorer
Jul 11, 2013
Beachums wrote:
I highly doubt that the system would take trailer brakes into part of its equation. There's just too many variables to effectively tune it for all trailer applications and maintenance practices out there...

I bet if it's like my traction control on my Expedition, 9 times out of 10, it is an annoyance. But when it saves your you know what, you swear by it.

I hated my traction control until I found a bit of black ice, started to go sideways, and the truck had itself back straight before I was able to react.

I wish I had a system like that for towing as most of you do....... I guess it's just another check in the column for buying a new tv.

I've always been a sports car guy. My wife likes trucks. There have been times when I hated the stability control (on the track especially), but I have to admit when I had my new 370Z a couple of years ago (now I have a 2013 Mustang GT with the Ford Racing performance pack), I was tooling along a winding country road one below-freezing day, when I hit black ice at 70mph. The car slipped a few feet and recovered perfectly. I am a fan now!

To date my wife has done all the towing and truck driving. I know I will have to take my turn when she feels she can trust me with her new truck. I am happy to let her do it for now.

Bob
Seattle_Lion
Explorer
Jul 11, 2013
dodge guy wrote:
Not to rip on the OP, but it's amazing how many people don't know about or have any clue about the features on their truck!

Not to rip on the poster, but when we bought the truck (very recently) we had no TT and no thought of owning one. Why in the world would we care about trailer towing features? Who memorizes owners manuals? Not me.

Of course, after we bought the truck, we considered the fact that we never traveled (cost mostly is our excuse...er...reason). Here was this nice 1/2 ton truck...why not consider a camper? We did and now we do care about trailer towing features.

Life is strange.
Beachums
Explorer
Jul 10, 2013
I highly doubt that the system would take trailer brakes into part of its equation. There's just too many variables to effectively tune it for all trailer applications and maintenance practices out there...

I bet if it's like my traction control on my Expedition, 9 times out of 10, it is an annoyance. But when it saves your you know what, you swear by it.

I hated my traction control until I found a bit of black ice, started to go sideways, and the truck had itself back straight before I was able to react.

I wish I had a system like that for towing as most of you do....... I guess it's just another check in the column for buying a new tv.
Mike_Up
Explorer
Jul 10, 2013
gmw photos wrote:
Question: are we sure that the Ford integrated sway control applies the trailer brakes in a sway event ? The following is taken from the 2011 Ford manual:

"When the system detects the trailer yawing in one direction, it applies selective brake pressure on the tow vehicle’s opposite side – called asymmetric braking. This creates counter-moments to the forces applied on the vehicle from the trailer, dampens the yaw motion and helps to reduce the sway"

Sounds to me like it is only using the truck brakes. The document goes on to mention that it reduces engine power as well.

http://media.ford.com/images/10031/Trailer_Sway_Control_SuperDuty.pdf

That's the way I took it. I didn't see my trailer brake voltage go up at all. What did happen is that some loud relays (ABS?) under the hood activated making a lot of noise. The wife asked who was using a jake brake?? I said that was us. :E
gmw_photos
Explorer
Jul 10, 2013
Question: are we sure that the Ford integrated sway control applies the trailer brakes in a sway event ? The following is taken from the 2011 Ford manual:

"When the system detects the trailer yawing in one direction, it applies selective brake pressure on the tow vehicle’s opposite side – called asymmetric braking. This creates counter-moments to the forces applied on the vehicle from the trailer, dampens the yaw motion and helps to reduce the sway"

Sounds to me like it is only using the truck brakes. The document goes on to mention that it reduces engine power as well.

http://media.ford.com/images/10031/Trailer_Sway_Control_SuperDuty.pdf
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Jul 10, 2013
Not to rip on the OP, but it's amazing how many people don't know about or have any clue about the features on their truck!

And i believe on the Ford the sway control system will also actuate the trailer to stop sway. I also believe when the truck goes into an ABS stop it will pulse the trailer brakes! I'm not sure as it was a few years ago i read up on the integrated trailer brake control on the Ford.
Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Jul 10, 2013
Hi,

Normally the sway control will turn on the trailer brakes when the truck rear sensor is feeling it move sideways. It is part of the electric brake system. I did not know it also activated the truck brakes too, but it is possible with today's electronics.

Fuel mileage can suffer on some trucks that have frequent application of the trailer brakes when there is really not that much sway, but the trailer brakes are applied anyway. It does not happen to each F-150, but only a few out of a hundred of them. I guess the sway control is extra sensitive in some.

Fred.
Mike_Up
Explorer
Jul 10, 2013
Seattle Lion wrote:
Last weekend, our 2013 Ford 150 FX4 gave us a "sway" warning when we were hit with a big gust of wind. It was surprising, but welcome. Since then, we have done some research and learned something interesting. Our truck has "sway control". Ford has used the yaw sensors and the stability control hard and software to help control trailer sway. According to the owner's manual the truck applies braking to individual wheels to damp any trailer sway. This is very similar to stability control for vehicles not towing a trailer.

I have to say that the truck definitely helped in the strong cross winds we experienced on the mountain passes.

My wife read on a forum (maybe this one) that gas mileage can be improved when not towing by disabling the tow sway control. We will try it and see. Any experience with this feature?

Bob

I had the truck's sway control kick on once and it was a combination of factors even though I use a Reese Dual Cam High Performance Sway control system.

I was pulling in very windy conditions with gusts just coming up without cause. They really surprise you. Well, a truck had just passed and a gust hit at the same time. I was already tired and went to compensate for the pull and push, and caused sway. It wasn't bad at all and very minor but apparently it was enough for the sensors to kick in.

I would not disable it at all even if it does seem a bit sensitive. Better to be on the safe side.
nohurry
Explorer
Jul 10, 2013
What type of hitch setup, and how big is your trailer Seattle? As has been mentioned, you need to have a sway control on your hitch setup. Also, you should make sure your tongue weight is at least 11-12% of the trailers weight. That will help control sway. It's my understanding that while nice to have, the factory sway control should be the last line of defense. Good luck.
CWSWine
Explorer
Jul 10, 2013
Here is video on the Chevy version but I believe it is the same on the Ford.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kk5TSebkV0