I have a 2019 Ram 2500 diesel. The trailer I want to buy is 6,000 unloaded. I decided on an equalizer hitch with sway control. Do I need two sway bars, one for each side, or is one sufficient.

Depends on the set-up. An Equalizer hitch for instance has arms on both sides. A sway bar attaches on only one side.Can you show a photo?

With a 3/4 ton truck and a 6000lb. trailer one should be more than enough.

Are you asking about the Equalizer brand hitch or are you calling a standard WD hitch an equalizer hitch? the Equalizer brand hitch has built in sway control and requires both WD bars for the built in sway control. If you are talking about a standard WD hitch with the add on friction sway bar then yes one should be enough. however stepping up to the Reese Dual Cam (straight line) system would be best!

The size of the truck is not a determining factor, when deciding on 1 or 2 friction sway controls. The size of the TT is. Generally 1 control is good for 6K and 26'.If your TT exceeds either one of those parameters, then 2 controls would be best.Note: While a bigger truck may be more comfortable than a 1/2 ton when exceeding the limitations of 1 control.... Those sway forces will still be present. They are cheap enough. If you need two, buy two.I have used a single then a dual friction bar setup, then needed a bigger hitch and the EQUALIZER was the best deal. I found that there is a definate difference between 1 bar and 2,,, And 2 is roughly equal to the EQUALIZER. I would not hesitate to use a friction bar setup again.In fact I think it is the best setup for newbies. The reason is simple. The integreated sway hitches rely on TW and setup for the sway control to work properly. If the setup is less than ideal, then both the WD and antisway functions are impacted.OTOH, with a friction bar, one can miss the setup by a lot and still get some benefit from it.

Greetings and grace to you, I ran 2 bars and I believe it is a very good method of sway control... my trailer was 31 ft long. It’s more the aerodynamic load on the side of the trailer than the trailer weight. However, please beware that what you are trying to prevent is the wiggle from passing vehicles, road irregularities, and wind. Sway and wiggle are not the same thing. Sway is the sever oscillation (tail wagging the dog) and should be dealt with directly. Balance the trailer and make sure you have 10-15% tongue weight with a (My Preference) sweet spot about 13%. Set up the weight distribution hitch correctly. THEN add the sway bar/s. Resist the urge to fix sway with sway bars if at all possible. You fix sway in the set up of the entire rig. WD hitches are not difficult to set up. E-Trailer has some excellent videos as does Curt and a few others on YouTube. Read your specific instructions and enjoy the ride. I personally prefer the standard WD hitch and add on sway controls. I feel it gives me more flexibility , cheaper to purchase, and more likely to get replacement parts on the road if needed. Thanks and best of luck to you!Jeremiah

Hitch requirements | Good Sam Community

ppine
Explorer II
Feb 16, 2020
Depends on the set-up. An Equalizer hitch for instance has arms on both sides. A sway bar attaches on only one side.

Can you show a photo?
Jayco254
Explorer
Feb 16, 2020
With a 3/4 ton truck and a 6000lb. trailer one should be more than enough.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Feb 16, 2020
Are you asking about the Equalizer brand hitch or are you calling a standard WD hitch an equalizer hitch? the Equalizer brand hitch has built in sway control and requires both WD bars for the built in sway control. If you are talking about a standard WD hitch with the add on friction sway bar then yes one should be enough. however stepping up to the Reese Dual Cam (straight line) system would be best!
Huntindog
Explorer
Feb 16, 2020
The size of the truck is not a determining factor, when deciding on 1 or 2 friction sway controls. The size of the TT is. Generally 1 control is good for 6K and 26'.
If your TT exceeds either one of those parameters, then 2 controls would be best.
Note: While a bigger truck may be more comfortable than a 1/2 ton when exceeding the limitations of 1 control.... Those sway forces will still be present. They are cheap enough. If you need two, buy two.

I have used a single then a dual friction bar setup, then needed a bigger hitch and the EQUALIZER was the best deal.
I found that there is a definate difference between 1 bar and 2,,, And 2 is roughly equal to the EQUALIZER. I would not hesitate to use a friction bar setup again.

In fact I think it is the best setup for newbies.
The reason is simple. The integreated sway hitches rely on TW and setup for the sway control to work properly. If the setup is less than ideal, then both the WD and antisway functions are impacted.
OTOH, with a friction bar, one can miss the setup by a lot and still get some benefit from it.
jerem0621
Explorer II
Feb 17, 2020
Greetings and grace to you,

I ran 2 bars and I believe it is a very good method of sway control... my trailer was 31 ft long. It’s more the aerodynamic load on the side of the trailer than the trailer weight.

However, please beware that what you are trying to prevent is the wiggle from passing vehicles, road irregularities, and wind. Sway and wiggle are not the same thing. Sway is the sever oscillation (tail wagging the dog) and should be dealt with directly. Balance the trailer and make sure you have 10-15% tongue weight with a (My Preference) sweet spot about 13%. Set up the weight distribution hitch correctly. THEN add the sway bar/s.

Resist the urge to fix sway with sway bars if at all possible. You fix sway in the set up of the entire rig.

WD hitches are not difficult to set up. E-Trailer has some excellent videos as does Curt and a few others on YouTube. Read your specific instructions and enjoy the ride.

I personally prefer the standard WD hitch and add on sway controls. I feel it gives me more flexibility , cheaper to purchase, and more likely to get replacement parts on the road if needed.

Thanks and best of luck to you!

Jeremiah
Huntindog
Explorer
Feb 17, 2020
deltabravo wrote:
1 is fine on that size of a trailer.
How can you say that without knowing how long it is?
With some of the lighter TTs out there now, it is wasy to be over 30' at the OPS stated weight. A TT that long has a lot more sail area to catch the wind from oncoming or passing vehicles or just a normal wind gust.

This is why there are two stated limitations for a single bar. Weight AND length.
deltabravo
Nomad
Feb 17, 2020
Huntindog wrote:
deltabravo wrote:
1 is fine on that size of a trailer.
How can you say that without knowing how long it is?

Why are you nitpicking my post suggesting one, and not other people's suggestions of 1?
Grit_dog
Navigator
Feb 17, 2020
You only need the appropriate drop tongue with proper size trailer ball.

WDH/sway on a truck with 17klb tow rating for a 7000lb trailer is ridiculous, mostly sales pitch and partly inexperience of the owner.

The only reason you might need sway control, is if the weight distribution/axle placement of the trailer is horrible and the thing just doesn't pull straight down the road. In which case that is a select problem with that model TT, not a universal call for belt suspenders and garters!
Road_Phantom
Explorer
Feb 17, 2020
It's a 29' Imagine, by Grand design.
bid_time
Nomad II
Feb 17, 2020
Try one, if it works you're good to go. If not add another. My 33-foot (overall) 7600 lbs works just fine with one. I think it's more important to get the proper amount of tongue weights and balance side to side first. Worry about sway control after the setup is right.