Hello! I have been reading my new truck manual (yeah, I know!) and in the towing section it mentions that the Traction Control System and Stabilitrak system "sense" trailer sway and selectively apply trailer and truck brakes (and may even reduce engine torque) if they sense your trailer is swaying. Does this mean I can do away with my sway bar? Or is this just sounding great on paper but not in practice? I would not mind doing away with the sway bar but on the other hand it is a "hardware device" that needs no computers and is really not subject to any failure and needs nothing to operate. Thanks!

stabilitrac can only do so much, IMHO the short answer to your question is NO.

Lol, it will help after you start swaying. I would rather have a sway bar that prevents sway from happening in the first place. Its cheap insurance.

Sjm9911 wrote:Lol, it will help after you start swaying. I would rather have a sway bar that prevents sway from happening in the first place. Its cheap insurance.I have a sway bar and I have a WD hitch but the hitch is like, 50 lbs and the WD arms reduce my turning radius (my flatbed/hitch is low in the back and comes up against the WD arms). It is a pain in the arse to set up as well, every time I need to hook up. I was hoping I could do away with the whole thing.

Why do you need it? If the answer is because your trailer tows poorly and is all over the road, then absolutely you cannot get rid of it. Why would you want your vehicle trying to compensate for a schitty handling trailer with its own brakes ALL the time?However, if the answer is you do not know why you need it, perhaps only because someone said it was required, then you most likely dont need it nor did you ever need it, regardless of what fancy features the truck has.

Is your tongue weight in the 13-15% range? That’s the number one sway preventative. Check by weighing at a scale. So far my 2020 is doing fine without the sway bar.

Traction control systems and trailer sway bars | Good Sam Community

ktmrfs
Explorer II
Aug 29, 2021
stabilitrac can only do so much, IMHO the short answer to your question is NO.
Sjm9911
Explorer
Aug 29, 2021
Lol, it will help after you start swaying. I would rather have a sway bar that prevents sway from happening in the first place. Its cheap insurance.
ognend
Explorer
Aug 29, 2021
Sjm9911 wrote:
Lol, it will help after you start swaying. I would rather have a sway bar that prevents sway from happening in the first place. Its cheap insurance.

I have a sway bar and I have a WD hitch but the hitch is like, 50 lbs and the WD arms reduce my turning radius (my flatbed/hitch is low in the back and comes up against the WD arms). It is a pain in the arse to set up as well, every time I need to hook up. I was hoping I could do away with the whole thing.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Aug 29, 2021
Why do you need it? If the answer is because your trailer tows poorly and is all over the road, then absolutely you cannot get rid of it. Why would you want your vehicle trying to compensate for a schitty handling trailer with its own brakes ALL the time?

However, if the answer is you do not know why you need it, perhaps only because someone said it was required, then you most likely dont need it nor did you ever need it, regardless of what fancy features the truck has.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Aug 29, 2021
Is your tongue weight in the 13-15% range? That’s the number one sway preventative. Check by weighing at a scale. So far my 2020 is doing fine without the sway bar.
goducks10
Explorer
Aug 29, 2021
The factory built in sway control is a reactive vs proactive system. It only activates after the trailer has excessive sway. To stop the trailer from having excessive sway in the 1st place is to have the correct tongue weight and or a good WDH with built in sway control. Your tow vehicle must be set up correctly as well with the front end returned to OEM requirements.
NamMedevac_70
Explorer II
Aug 29, 2021
I have had excellent results with the Equalizer Weight Distribution system and their square sway bars allowed me tight but not extreme tight turns. The bars are easy and quick to remove. The system is easy to use and set up with no da chains. I love it and its simplicity.

Due to my short block list I cannot see some comments. Too bad GD. Cheers
ognend
Explorer
Aug 29, 2021
Grit dog wrote:
Why do you need it? If the answer is because your trailer tows poorly and is all over the road, then absolutely you cannot get rid of it. Why would you want your vehicle trying to compensate for a schitty handling trailer with its own brakes ALL the time?

However, if the answer is you do not know why you need it, perhaps only because someone said it was required, then you most likely dont need it nor did you ever need it, regardless of what fancy features the truck has.

I am not sure why these angry tones - it was a simple question. I put on weight distribution/anti sway hitch on my trailer because it is cheap insurance but this was back in 2007 when I had a 1500 truck (1/2 ton). Now I have a truck that weighs more than the trailer and a truck that has all this fancy new stuff like traction control, stabilitrak etc. So, I thought I ask. Excuse me for ruining your day up there on the pedestal of towing Gods. Jeez.
Mike134
Explorer
Aug 29, 2021
ognend wrote:

Excuse me for ruining your day up there on the pedestal of towing Gods. Jeez.

Have to excuse him, he's got over 15,000 posts (average 5 a day) so he's "that guy" at the campground bar.
time2roll
Nomad
Aug 29, 2021
I agree with Grit. Will depend on the combo and how it tows without. Also read the complete towing section of the owners' manual as there could be more details than the marketing brochure. Some truck hitches want the weight distribution etc. to go over 5,000 pounds trailer weight. Plenty of larger trailers tow just fine with just a pintle hook.

Give it a go and post the results.