Sway Controller ? for longtime towers

Lynnmor wrote:


You can cause the trailer to be at a greater angle when backing up.

So? Again, how does the sway control know?

You mean an angle like these, right?

You have new Picture Mail! by gijoecam, on Flickr

You have new Picture Mail! by gijoecam, on Flickr

You have new Picture Mail! by gijoecam, on Flickr

You have new Picture Mail! by gijoecam, on Flickr

If you ever get to that extreme angle when backing the trailer in, and it's NOT a 5th wheel, you're going to have to pull forward again anyways. If the sway control is properly installed, it can neither bottom out nor hyper-extend when backing at extreme angles. On this particular popup, the only thing it could contact would be the safety chain tab on the frame, and only then if the truck was at a pretty extreme angle to the trailer.

So, I repeat the question: How does the sway control know which direction the rig is travelling? More importantly, why does it care?

The answer to both is: It doesn't.

I think this is one of those old wive's tales that many people buy into carte-blanche without giving it any consideration. Yes, it's possible to jack-knife a trailer tighter in reverse than in forward... But the device itself functions exactly the same regardless of the direction the rig is travelling. It *can* be the limiting factor if it's either not properly installed or if it contacts another component moving through its range of motion (like the chain attachment points in my photo above).

As someone mentioned earlier in the thread, every rig will be a little different. Learn your rig's limits. If it's necessary in extreme maneuvers, take it off. Otherwise, there is no need to.