Re: [SilverStreak] Tanks and Squishy - Sway Controls

[<waymark1@xxxxxxxx>]

Friction type sway controls can really mess you up on slick roads. They do 
help resist turning of the tow vehicle relative to the trailer, which is 
good when traveling straight, but if you are turning on a slick road the 
sway control "tries" to keep you from straightening up. This can cause a 
skid, even a jackknife.
Best to slow down on slick roads. 1/2 ton shorty pickups and SUVs pulling 
HUGE trailers at high speed pass me on rain, snow and even ice. On ice, slow 
WAY down and release the sway control friction. Nothing sways at 30 mph.
Al

-- "Eddie" <Eddie@Huffstetter.com> wrote:

Jason,
Those load levelers are often available used. Check trailer places, ebay, etc. 
Lot's of brands. I saw a tongue weight scale Tom Patterson showed me. 
Was a little pricey, but quality tool. Maybe when all done you can tow to 
trailer supply or rv place and they will let you use theirs for a quick check. 
Others have the tongue scale so make a rally and ask someone on the list to 
bring their scale so you can check just what you have.

Consider this when your tending to be disappointed in your tow vehicle: 
Vintage or modern, no car, suv, suburban, or truck usually can duplicate load 
capacity greater than a 1/2 ton pickup and usually less, unless of course you 
have something definite and stronger such as a 3/4 or 1 ton, truck or van. Now 
you know from experience you can't take 10, 80 pound bags of sand or concrete 
and conveniently load them into your trunk or at the end of your pick for easy 
access. It just sinks the rear and raises the front. 
So you throw a few bags up front on the floor, some in the back floor, or all 
up near the cab if loading your pick up. The tow ball is even further back. So 
don't get disappointed in the tow vehicle doing something it cannot help but do.

The pair of load leveler bars are designed to make that tail weight transfer the 
load to the whole vehicle just like when you moved the individual sacks forward. 
They adjust since every vehicle is different. They put the front wheels down. 
When finished just get back and look. If it looks right and level, front wheels 
are down, your there! They do nothing for sway. The sway bar is considerably 
less expensive so if in doubt, don't be a statistic, just get one. I saw one that 
looked good to me at the local Northern Tool. 
They are available at every rv supply and trailer supply. They are easy to adjust 
and you generally need only one. They generally install on the drivers side since 
that is the least sharp turning side. A new sway bar with the required attachment 
plate that has to go under your trailer ball should cost about $125 or less. There 
are lot's of brands. They are simply a sliding bar like a telescope that with a 
hand twist of a L shaped handle adjust pressure on what looks like front disk brake 
pads. They work really good. Load levelers put the front wheels on the ground and 
give you control. 
Sway bars take all the squishy out like if you were in a boat or all the tires were 
extremely low on air. Gives great control.
-Eddie-
Houston, TX