[VAC] Sway Control

[Rick Davis <k8doc@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I just returned from 2 weeks on the road so am coming into this discussion
a little late.

Sway control devices are an after market add on item sold by the RV dealers.
Both the friction type and the reese dual cam are effective although they
both have a different feel.  They are often used together on long trailers.
The major disadvantage of the Dual cam sway control is that it can not be
disbled under slippery conditions with out removing the torsion bars and
the friction types can. The one circumstance where sway control is
undesirable is on slick snow and ice making it dificult to turn because the
device is always trying to keep you where you were already pointed, or in a
straight line with the Reese.

Of course you shouldn't be out there under those circumstances anyway..

All that being said, All but the smallest trailers are towed to the RV
dealer individually.  Since the sway devices are aftermarket this means
that while load equalizing hitches are used NO SWAY CONTROL is used at any
time.

In the last several years I have logged over 100,000 miles in 46 states
delivering trailers of assorted sizes and brands for a transport company
and have NEVER had a bad trailer.
There are  hundreds of drivers towing thousands of new trailers from
Elkhart each year and the number of accidents seem to be minimal and for
the most part snow and ice related.

The typical tow vehicle is a 3/4 or one ton truck.  Nothing unique in the
way of towing equipment.

The point of this is not to discourage the use of these devices , but
rather to make the point that if your trailer is a swayer there are other
areas that should be looked at first Such as the  adequacy of the tow
vehicle itself and the loading of the trailer so that adequate tongue
weight is maintained.
Keeping tires inflated to near maximum will aid stability as will good
shocks and a load equalizing hitch.Passenger car type tires will also tend
to have more flex in the sidewalls.  I subjectively feel I can detect more
movement when I put new tires on  the truck and there is more rubber to
squirm.
After the basic problems are resolved then put on the sway control.  This
way you are not masking a more serious problem.
Some wiggle should be accepted as normal, caused by trucks, wind and
grooves worn in the pavement .

Regarding the specialized hitches such as the Hensly and others , Although
they are reputed to work well, all the ones I have looked at have one major
drawback, which is the fact they are "one trailer hitches" so if you have
multiple trailers, utility trailers etc they may not work for you.
I personally feel the Hensley video is encouraging folks to use an
inadequate tow vehicle
Both my Ambassador and globetrotter are set for both dual cam and friction
control.
Due to the short tongue on the 54 it is set up for friction only.
After only 500 miles of our 13000 mile Alaskan trip I removed the sway
control because things felt too "stiff" to me. It was not used the rest of
the trip.

Once again, I am not trying to discourage the use of these devices as they
undoubtedly add to your safety, but if you feel you can't move without it
there may be a deeper problem

Rick