Sway bar in the rain

I just took a quick gander at the Fastway E2 users manual and there is nothing in the Warnings or Cautions that advised against using it normally in inclement weather.  No mention of snow, ice, or sleet, ...or the US Postal Service.  On the other hand, out west most states require chains on the TV and the trailer when chain controls are up, i.e. 17 snowflakes were seen within 100 yards.  I can't speak for others, but there isn't a snowball's chance in hell I'm going to go through all the trouble to put chains on my truck and trailer because of chain controls.  Better to hop into the trailer, turn on the heater and have another shot of vegetable juice.

Well, thanks for all the discussion on this.  I have used the friction sway control bar in snow, rain, and sleet.  Even did that today coming home from the U.P. of Michigan.  In fact, when we drove our brand new 177 home in March 2011, the dealer installed the Curt, friction sway control bar on our hitch and told us to always use it EXCEPT when backing up, then loosen it or take it off.  When we drove it home that day we were in the midst of a whale of a U.P. snowstorm, probably a good 8" of new snow on the road with a lot of wind, at the time we towed it with our 2008 Explorer, no problems encountered.  Maybe we have just been fortunate not to have had any issues towing with our friction sway control bar on during snow, sleet, and rain towing with any of the following vehicles, '08 and '13 Explorers and '94 and '11 F-150's.  Guess I will have to re-visit this and loosen the tension during these events.  As StephenH wisely stated above, which we normally do, if road conditions are not optimal, SLOW DOWN.  This I do, I don't care if the person behind me doesn't like me creeping along, go ahead and pass, I am concerned about getting my bride and myself home safely in one piece w/o incident.

A bit more reading and thinking and I conclude the problem is limited to the friction devices. These devices cannot withstand the severe compression forces generated if the trailer breaks free and swings sideways. Equal-i-zer, E2, Andersen, Hensley? No sweat; camp on.

This may apply for a friction sway control bar, but I likewise question its validity for all situations. For example, the Equal-i-zer hitch I used to have would not have the ability to loosen the bars without affecting the WD which in turn would have made the front (steering) end of the TV lighter and would have made control more difficult. The Hensley hitch I have now also does not have the ability to lessen sway control since the way it is built, the TV must initiate turning. I think situational awareness and slowing down when conditions make traction questionable is the best way to address this.