Do I need sway control?
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 61
Likes: 1
From: Cincinnati, OH
Do I need sway control?
I want to pull a 2500# travel trailer with my 2000 F350 SuperDuty (single rear wheel). With a tongue weight of 250 lbs, I won't need weight distributing, but will I need sway control?
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 400
Likes: 1
From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Sway bars are for when you have a long or heavy load that can put torsion forces on the tow vehicle You have lots of weight in the F-350 so the trailer will have little effect on it.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
You don't need WD hitches or Sway, but in my experience they WILL make your drive less fatiguing since you won't fight your rig as much.
Sway control is mostly for winds and when you pass a big truck. Those trucks can really suck a trailer sideways.
The WD hitch just helps make sure your rig rides level and in my experience the ride is less jouncy.
Your tongue weight BTW should be closer to 15%. 10% is a bit light and makes the trailer a bit squirrely.
Also make sure the weight of the trailer is the actual versus "stripped down" mfg rating. Accessories, toys food water etc add up fast. Your trailer may weigh more than you think. 2500 pounds is an awfull small travel trailer I think. Is it a tent or popup or is it all Aluminum or just really short?
My experience with short trailers is that they can be more squirrely than a long one. The long trailers are more prone to getting pushed by the wind or a big rig.
Like I said, No you don't need them, but they will make your rig far less "twitchy" and you won't be making constant steering corrections etc. You ain't lived until you get fishtailing, fun. A sway control drastically decreases the odds of that happening.
Good luck,
Jim Henderson
Sway control is mostly for winds and when you pass a big truck. Those trucks can really suck a trailer sideways.
The WD hitch just helps make sure your rig rides level and in my experience the ride is less jouncy.
Your tongue weight BTW should be closer to 15%. 10% is a bit light and makes the trailer a bit squirrely.
Also make sure the weight of the trailer is the actual versus "stripped down" mfg rating. Accessories, toys food water etc add up fast. Your trailer may weigh more than you think. 2500 pounds is an awfull small travel trailer I think. Is it a tent or popup or is it all Aluminum or just really short?
My experience with short trailers is that they can be more squirrely than a long one. The long trailers are more prone to getting pushed by the wind or a big rig.
Like I said, No you don't need them, but they will make your rig far less "twitchy" and you won't be making constant steering corrections etc. You ain't lived until you get fishtailing, fun. A sway control drastically decreases the odds of that happening.
Good luck,
Jim Henderson
5th Wheeling
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 40
Likes: 2
From: East central IL
I pull a 8,500 # (confirmed weight), 30' travel trailer with my F150. I do not use a sway bar nor do I think I need one. I trailer follows real good. Yes semi's have an effect, sometimes, but not enough to add a sway bar. As I understand it, you cannot back with a sway bar, but will have to remove it first. My dealer recommended a sway bar ONLY if I had problems. A friend we camp with uses a sway bar and swears by it. Personally I think he has weight distribution issues.
Trending Topics
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
Depending on the design, you can back up with a sway bar. I do it all the time. I used to have to back up for over 1000 feet up a slight hill. You can backup in a tight turn. The sway bar just makes a lot of popping and groaning noises. Probably would be easier to loosen it up before backing, but I never think of this when I am doing it.
You should not use a sway bar when the road is slick. The manual says this can cause the rig to go sideways. For reference, I have an Eaz Lift WD and sway system.
I do notice a difference in the amount of steering corrections with and without the sway bar. On long trips 500miles +, I am less tired if I use the sway bar.
Just my experience,
Jim Henderson
You should not use a sway bar when the road is slick. The manual says this can cause the rig to go sideways. For reference, I have an Eaz Lift WD and sway system.
I do notice a difference in the amount of steering corrections with and without the sway bar. On long trips 500miles +, I am less tired if I use the sway bar.
Just my experience,
Jim Henderson
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 61
Likes: 1
From: Cincinnati, OH
Thanks for the response. It's a 16' travel trailer (Fun Finder X 160). I think you all are right about the sway control. With all the junk I put in the back of the truck, I think the trailer would have a hard time wagging it. I can always turn the trailer brakes on to stop the sway.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
From: Walkersville, Maryland
There may be some kind of antisway bar you need to remove while backing, but my DrawTite (owned by Reese) has zero issues backing. Never have to remove it until I unhitch. I've had the trailer nearly 90 deg while backing without problems. I have a small 8x10 snowmobile trailer I use for general hauling that I don't use wd or antisway on, but I wouldn't leave home without it on my 26' TT.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jetjock16
All Things Towing
19
Dec 27, 2003 09:15 AM
