RobWNY wrote:
First, any company that makes hitch systems that utilize one or two "anti-sway" friction bars use misleading marketing techniques. "anti-Sway" friction control bars make people think that they won't experience any sway when in fact, they are reactionary pieces of equipment. They have absolutely no use whatsoever until sway occurs. Then they go to work. The problem with them is that they are really only good in minor sway instances. They try to reduce sway before it gets bad but they can only do so much. When you experience any type of sway that is worse, they won't do the job. How do I know this? Because it happened to me. I am one of the fortunate people because I was able to bring things back under control without any damage to my truck or trailer but that only happened because I knew what to do in that situation to give me the best chance of overcoming the sway and I was very lucky! When it was over, I looked at my wife and the scared look on her face was all I had to see. It wasn't until we got to our destination that she was able to relax. On the way home, she was scared the whole way thinking we would find ourselves in another dangerous situation. Fortunately that didn't happen. In fact, I towed my trailer with ease, just like I had every other time we went camping. When I got home, I ordered and installed a ProPride hitch and I would have spent twice as much as I did if that's what I had to do. The safety of my wife, others around me and myself are worth far more than what the hitch cost me. What I'm saying is this...Just because you have a well reviewed hitch system and have never experienced sway, doesn't mean you won't. Call every company that makes the hitch system you have or are considering buying that utilize an "anti-Sway" friction bar (or 2) and ask them if their systems eliminate sway completely. I feel pretty sure that not one of them will say "Yes". The only companies that I know of that will say "Yes" are ProPride and Hensley. As for hooking up and unhooking, yes the ProPride and Hensley are different than the conventional hitches but once I did it, it was easier than a conventional system. Is there a downside to the ProPride or Hensley? There are two that I've found. When I have to bring my trailer in for a repair, my dealer uses a tractor with a ball on the back to tow trailers into their bays. It's not that big of a deal really because they know they can't move my trailer with their tractor so when I've had to bring it to them, I back it into one of their bays and pull it out when the repairs have been done. I suppose if it had to be there for a while, I would have to find another solution. The second is the ProPride mounts under the trailer tongue so you have less ground clearance. If you camp at a site that isn't fairly level, you will have to use extra leveling equipment to accomplish level. This has happened to me once and I started a thread explaining what that issue was. http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28105386/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm
I am glad you made it through your sway incident without issue. Not knowing all the details, road conditions, etc. its hard to say what caused the event.
Hensley's claim to eliminate sway is also misleading though.
If you bend a strut bar (you can do this without your knowledge) then you lose some sway control. If you break your strut bar while traveling... well good luck stopping that one.
Hensley's have their own issues...just check out the
Anyone broke a Hensley thread. and see what kind of damage these things can go through.
Nevermind the Hensley Bump that can be un-nerving if experienced (not particularly dangerous though)
I'm sorry you had a sway incident with your friction bars... but to say they are useless is not correct. They are dampeners and nothing more or nothing less. Not sure if you used two or not but once the clamping force on the bars is overcome by sway then sway will occur. This is not limited to just add on friction bars either.
Equal-i-zer is a friction sway control hitch
Reese Dual Cam is a Friction sway control hitch
E2 is a friction sway control hitch.
The ONLY hitches are are not friction sway control based is the BlueOx, Hensley Twins, and the PullRite... everything else uses some kind of friction point to control the sway.
Dual Cam does a better job by design of using friction and levers (the cam arms) to mechanically hold the spring bars and try to force them back in line.
A properly set up truck, trailer, and hitch should not sway at all naturally. I recommend getting this set up 100% correct and then using the friction bars to remove the little wiggle (not sway) from the connection.
I never experienced sway after my truck, trailer, and hitch was set up. The friction bars made the connection rock solid. I tried dual cam and didn't notice a difference in seat of the pants feel.
Don't take my above reference to the Hensley as a slight.. I love the design.. owners just need to pay attention to EVERY part of the hitch.. just like everything else... it has to be maintained.
Thanks!
Jeremiah
