Forum Discussion

jerem0621's avatar
jerem0621
Explorer II
Mar 08, 2015

Harbor Freight Sway Control

In my relentless pursuit of our AWESOME PUP I have started to put together the hitching system. I have elected to go with a friction sway control and found what I think is a very good deal at Harbor Freight.

My previous sway controls were Valley sway controls and served me well. Valley is now consolidated with Husky.

I used a 20% off coupon and got their Haul-Master sway bar kit for $26 and change out the door.

Here are some pics

The slider bar was positioned to be used on the drivers side... I will use it on the passenger side, easy enough to flip the slider bar.



Here is the label text on the sway bar. I do not recall seeing a 6,000 lb limit on any other sway bar I looked at.



The owners manual clarified this. GTW over 6,000 lbs and Haul-Master recommends 2 bars.



Plenty of brake material



Slider bar looks great... lots of rough surface



Here is the Haul-Master weld on tab on the right compared to the Valley weld on tab on the left. The Haul-Master is a little narrower and a little longer...maybe 1/16th ish just eyeballing it. I'll be welding it on my draw bar.



Here is the trailer side mini-ball... Haul-Master on the left...Valley on the right. They look identical.



Overall... the Haul-Master looks like it came from the same factory as the Valley sway bars... I actually looked at Husky sway bars earlier in the day and they were around $60-70 each at a local dealership. I managed to buy the same thing for less than 1/2 the price..:B

Overall, if you are looking for a Sway Bar the Haul-Master should perform as well as any sway bar out there.

Thanks!

Jeremiah
  • trail-explorer's avatar
    trail-explorer
    Explorer
    Mar 10, 2015
    2112 wrote:
    It looks IDENTICAL to a Reese or Pro Series setup that cost more. I think they are ALL rebadged.


    Like most things these days, that's probably the case. One factory making them for various companies, and they get a different sticker when they get shipped. Or maybe the recipient puts the sticker on them.
  • Ron3rd's avatar
    Ron3rd
    Explorer III
    Mar 10, 2015
    Jeremiah, that sway control should work fine for you and I agree, it looks the same as the other brands. Friction sway control is not rocket science; it's merely a slide bar riding between friction material. Looks like a very good buy.
  • Community Alumni's avatar
    Community Alumni
    Mar 09, 2015
    Dan_Johnston wrote:
    their power tools are junk. I've gone through two buffers in 4 years. I first look for refurbished name brand's the go new if nothing is available. You get what you pay for at Harbor Freight.


    Not all of them. I have a corded impact gun and an angle grinder from years ago. They're still going on strong and they're used often. I buy my tools from elsewhere these days. Buying from HF can be a gamble though.
  • jerem0621's avatar
    jerem0621
    Explorer II
    Mar 08, 2015
    Yea the tab from Valley is wider but shorter they seem to be the same thickness... I would like to do a destruction test to both of them lol. The weight feels the same with both miniball, the weld isn't as pretty, that is true. But it seems to be plenty strong.

    I'll probalbly be using a Pro Series 550 lb or a 400 lb single bar Reese weight distribution kit.... The Haul Master only comes in 10,000 lb versions. Of course, depending on the pup we buy will determine what WD kit we buy.

    Thanks!

    Jeremiah
  • Tvov's avatar
    Tvov
    Explorer II
    Mar 08, 2015
    For sway control for a pup, that might be just fine. The two (Valley and Harbor Freight) do not look the same to me... the Valley weld-on tab is larger and heavier duty looking, and the Vally mini ball looks to be welded with a higher quality weld and the base material looks better. I don't know what type of steel Harbor Freight is using - I have found many discount steel products to be made of lesser quality steel.

    I have bought products from Harbor Freight and have gotten the level of quality that I paid for.

    I would be a little concerned at buying the main hitch from Harbor Freight... I just wouldn't be anywhere near the "max" ratings of the hitch.
  • 2112's avatar
    2112
    Explorer II
    Mar 08, 2015
    It looks IDENTICAL to a Reese or Pro Series setup that cost more. I think they are ALL rebadged.

    It's a sway bar. No real threat of a catastrophic failure.
  • Dan_Johnston's avatar
    Dan_Johnston
    Explorer
    Mar 08, 2015
    their power tools are junk. I've gone through two buffers in 4 years. I first look for refurbished name brand's the go new if nothing is available. You get what you pay for at Harbor Freight.
  • WyoTraveler's avatar
    WyoTraveler
    Explorer
    Mar 08, 2015
    I buy lots of things from Harbor Freight and have been happy. However, not sure I would buy a sway bar from them.
  • Calicajun's avatar
    Calicajun
    Explorer
    Mar 08, 2015
    I bought the same sway control from Harbor Freight. The only thing I found wrong with the kit was the sheet metal screws stripped out when installing. I whiched out the screws and it has been working great now.

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