Right and Left sway control a myth?
Soooooooo.......just got off the phone with the " sway control experts " Etrailer.com. I've wondered and also because I need to purchase one , why people are telling me there is a right and left sway ...
Forum Discussion
Everyone please remember that 'sway control' isn't just a bandaid for trailer wagging due to improper trailer balance, loading, etc.
It is either an active or a passive resistance to left/right movement of the hitch point.
Sure, trailer sway while under way is one cause. So is recovering from a sudden maneuver, beit swerving, road defect, hydroplaning, emergency braking, sudden cross wind, or tire blowout. MOST of these cannot be foreseen or avoided.
The potential outcome of uncontrolled hitch swing (avoiding term 'sway' for clarity) includes jack-knifing, increased stopping distance, alteration of travel path (ie into oncoming traffic or off the road), catastrophic loss of control resulting in trailer roll, or even trailer AND TV roll.
In other words, even a basic $29 sway control system can provide the extra control while towing that can prevent additional damage, up to and including saving your life, the lives of your family, and those of others traveling around you.
When asked, I say, "You absolutely should have a sway control. It makes a huge difference that could save your life and it's pretty cheap."
As always, the choice is up to the individual, but understand you are definitely increasing the risk to yourself and others. That fact is undeniable.
Now, the term is "should" not "must" have sway control. If you don't want to, it's your choice. But any implication that sway control is not beneficial and a "properly loaded" trailer will not sway or lose control is simply untrue and misleading.
Bottom line: You SHOULD be using some kind of sway control when towing a camper.
Just because some do not doesn't mean that is a wise choice. There are people out there without working brakes on their large trailers, bald tires on their vehicles, and leaking propane lines and they couldn't care less. Doesn't mean they are going to all crash and burst into flames, but the increased risk is a certainty.
It is either an active or a passive resistance to left/right movement of the hitch point.
Sure, trailer sway while under way is one cause. So is recovering from a sudden maneuver, beit swerving, road defect, hydroplaning, emergency braking, sudden cross wind, or tire blowout. MOST of these cannot be foreseen or avoided.
The potential outcome of uncontrolled hitch swing (avoiding term 'sway' for clarity) includes jack-knifing, increased stopping distance, alteration of travel path (ie into oncoming traffic or off the road), catastrophic loss of control resulting in trailer roll, or even trailer AND TV roll.
In other words, even a basic $29 sway control system can provide the extra control while towing that can prevent additional damage, up to and including saving your life, the lives of your family, and those of others traveling around you.
When asked, I say, "You absolutely should have a sway control. It makes a huge difference that could save your life and it's pretty cheap."
As always, the choice is up to the individual, but understand you are definitely increasing the risk to yourself and others. That fact is undeniable.
Now, the term is "should" not "must" have sway control. If you don't want to, it's your choice. But any implication that sway control is not beneficial and a "properly loaded" trailer will not sway or lose control is simply untrue and misleading.
Bottom line: You SHOULD be using some kind of sway control when towing a camper.
Just because some do not doesn't mean that is a wise choice. There are people out there without working brakes on their large trailers, bald tires on their vehicles, and leaking propane lines and they couldn't care less. Doesn't mean they are going to all crash and burst into flames, but the increased risk is a certainty.
