Sway Control really needed ???

Terryallan wrote:

69 Avion wrote:
I think that folks need to consider the difference between "sway" and an "unstable" trailer. Sway with RVs is usually caused by cross winds or passing big rigs.

An unstable trailer can have a few causes, one of which is improper loading with a lack of sufficient tongue weight. If this occurs bad enough the trailer will be unstable.

.

In truth. the bow wave from a truck or cross winds is NOT sway.

Sway is when the trailer starts fish tailing all on it's own at ANY speed, in normal driving. Bad balance, too little tongue weight, and poor hitch setup will cause that.

A properly setup trailer will not sway.

As for the wind. Your pulling a big wide sail. The wind is gonna move it, and as for the trucks. You will always feel them go by, They even feel each other go by. It just shouldn't be enough to bother you.

I think that we may be saying the same thing, just using different terminology. The "sway control" should help with the effects of wind and sudden pressure changes against your trailer. That is why I call it "sway". The uncontollable, unstable trailer caused by too low of tongue weight or an imporperly loaded trailer (or improper manufacturing) shouldn't be masked by sway control. If the trailer is unstable, the trailer should be fixed by means other than a sway control system. Maybe some folks actually try to mask an unstable trailer with "sway control", but I would never consider that as an option since it isn't fixing the problem. Can you imagine a sway control failure at 65 mph? I have seen an unstable triple axle trailer whip a Ford Excursion around like it was a rag doll at about 45 mph. If that happened suddenly at 65 mph, I don't think a driver could recover fast enough to keep from tearing up something or causing a wreck.