rexlion wrote:
Now we are getting somewhere!
I agree that a plain WD hitch provides a slight amount of anti-sway help. And I can see how the shorter chains or straps (there's a Straptek strap set available for this hitch) would increase the amount of push against sway. But, BenK, I'm surprised to hear you say you'd choose the Blue Ox over a friction type like Equal-i-zer. Do you really feel that the Blue Ox's system would provide at least an equal amount of sway protection to Equal-i-zer's 4-point friction? Or do you just find its noiseless operation advantageous enough to forego some measure of anti-sway?
The 'Swaypro' is, as you say, somewhat similar to a plain WD hitch in that the method it uses to resist sway is a "push/pull back toward straight" in both instances. However, a plain WD hitch by itself has never been considered a very effective way to control sway (and thus the use of friction bars in conjuction with it). The Swaypro sort of seems like a plain WD hitch that's been fed steroids; it exerts a stronger push/pull toward center whenever the TT goes off to either side. Yet that push/pull force has nothing to slow down the rotation on the ball as the TT returns to straight.
In comparison, the friction sway control unit provides resistance in both directions; it slows the TT's attempt to go off to one side, and then it moderates the TT's travel back toward center. The friction system never pushes the TT faster in any direction, but instead slows and dampens the undesirable motions; it provides greater control in both directions of 'away' and 'toward' center. As we all know, dangerous sway occurs when the TT misses "center" and sways to the opposite side, then continues its back and forth oscillation. Friction sway control is always working at slowing down the off-center travel no matter which direction it's going; isn't this a more effective way to control sway than merely slowing travel away from center but allowing (even hastening) travel in the opposite direction?
The proof of the pudding, as they say, is in the eating. A true test of an anti-sway system can be seen near the extremes of towing conditions (if one sway control hitch can't meet the challenge of an extreme condition but another one can, this says something about both units). At least two forum members, owners of TT's exceeding 30', have had bad experiences with the Blue Ox Sway Pro, as mentioned in this thread: goducks10 and busterbrown73 posts . See also the experience of dthfsa . Can anyone recall reading similar accounts of sway with a properly adjusted Equal-i-zer?
I'm not even going to try and understand how it works but it does. I tow a 35 footer with a GMC 2500 and live in a high wind area. One of those areas that is littered with industrial wind turbines and blow overs is not unheard of. So I have a lot of experience towing a long trailer in the wind with a Blue OX. Guess what? It works and works well. Someone smarter than me will have to explain the physics.
