Sway Bar Options

[tomahawks6667]

Does every one out there use the sway bar even if you don't need it? I just bought a 2008 Casita in Tulsa, OK and pulled it down to San Antonio, Tx without the sway bar connected because it needed to be ajusted to my truck. I was running at times up to 70 mph with no problems. It followed steady, no fishtail and the trucks didn't bouther us nor the wind. Should I use it or not? Thanks, Jesse 07 Tundra

[Don]

One important thing to note - most anti-sway devices depend upon friction in two locations. The first is the friction built into the device itself to maintain the trailer position, normally this position is inline with the tow vehicle. The second friction is between the tires and the driving surface. If the trailer overcomes the device friction and gets out of line from the tow vehicle then the device friction will tend to keep it out of line. At that point it is necessary for the tire/surface friction to overcome the device friction and move the trailer back to an inline position where the device friction will again attempt to maintain that position. If the tire/surface friction were not able to overcome the device friction your rig could travel down the road in a jack knife configuration and that's a bad thing.

For the above reason, every manufacturer's documentation for friction based anti-sway devices, that I have read, contain instructions to remove or disable the device when reduced traction conditions are encountered. Those conditions include roads that are wet, icy, covered with wet leaves and oily. The instructions posted in this thread contain this caution and I have amplifed it below.



So, in response to those who have asked - yes, there is a/some reason(s) for not using an anti-sway device. It does seems a shame that just when you might need sway prevention the most, you must stop and remove or disable the device.

As a side note, when I purchased my first Casita (1998 17' SD), I was told that the factory did not sell, nor did I need, an anti-sway device. Now that the factory sells an anti-sway device they seem to recommend it - go figure.

Don