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Happy Tripping
Senior Member
Joined: 27 May 2014
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Posts: 473
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Topic: Sway bar in the rain Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 7:45am |
Ok, there is potential danger when driving on 'wet', 'gravel', 'icy' or 'snowy' conditions due to loss of traction.
Ice or snow of course are bad in themselves, with or without a sway control.
On wet or gravel roads, we should just slow down out of prudence, anyway, and especially on turns.
I'm curious, doesn't slowing down then take care of any sway problem by itself, and therefore the necessity for the sway control bar?
Also, is this potential hazard true for weight distribution hitches too, which aren't so easy to remove.?
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mcarter
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 07 Apr 2016
Location: Greenbrier, TN
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Posts: 3419
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Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 7:10am |
Kind of a judgement call. Really about conditions where the trailer can lose traction, if that makes sense. If it does the sway bar can have a negative effect, by allowing the trailer to not follow directly behind the TV. For the same reasons, it is why it's recommended you don't back up with sway bar enabled.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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offgrid
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Jul 2018
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Posts: 5290
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Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 6:51am |
mcarter, great information. Thanks for clarifying. Just drove back home from the WV mountains monday in the rain from Florence with the sway system engaged, makes me cringe now....
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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mcarter
podders Helping podders - pHp
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Location: Greenbrier, TN
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Posted: 20 Sep 2018 at 6:11am |
CharlieM,
Here is quote from etailer, and when I installed my friction sway bar it came with the mentioned warning to disconnect or disable in slick conditions. I admit I have traveled in the rain with mine connected and functioning.
"The instructions included with the Curt Friction Style Sway Control System, part # 17200 state that when you are towing in wet, icy, gravel, or snow-covered roads, the sway control MUST be removed. I am only passing on the information included with the products we offer.
The reason is that the sway control can make the system too stiff when you face road conditions like those mentioned, and if traction was lost for the trailer it would push the towing vehicle and be very dangerous. It may be an inconvenience to disconnect the sway control when driving on wet roads, but this is what the manufacturer states in the warning section of the instructions."
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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CharlieM
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Joined: 23 Nov 2012
Location: N. Colorado
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Posted: 19 Sep 2018 at 9:17pm |
I've never heard of such concern. I would think you would certainly want maximum sway control on wet slick roads. The trailer tires are most likely to slip, allowing sway. The swaying trailer would try to influence the TV which is already at a traction disadvantage. I don't understand that warning.
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Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD
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Kup-Pod
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Joined: 08 Jun 2017
Location: Guelph, Ontario
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Posted: 19 Sep 2018 at 7:02pm |
Fair enough Mike, I'll loosen it the next time it's raining. I'm typically taking it easy in the rain anyhow. I was just surprised that I had never heard that before. Thanks for the response.
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2017 RP-178
2021 F150 5.0l
"Lead me on a level path"
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mcarter
podders Helping podders - pHp
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Location: Greenbrier, TN
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Posted: 19 Sep 2018 at 5:35pm |
If worried and you want to follow that advice, when it starts to get wet, loosen the tension on it or disconnect it. When it gets dry connect or tighten tension again.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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mcarter
podders Helping podders - pHp
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Location: Greenbrier, TN
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Posted: 19 Sep 2018 at 5:20pm |
Got it, friction sway bar on the trailer.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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Kup-Pod
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Location: Guelph, Ontario
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Posted: 19 Sep 2018 at 5:18pm |
Sorry, yes I meant anti-sway bar... to prevent sway in the trailer
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2017 RP-178
2021 F150 5.0l
"Lead me on a level path"
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Kup-Pod
Senior Member
Joined: 08 Jun 2017
Location: Guelph, Ontario
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Posts: 153
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Posted: 19 Sep 2018 at 5:17pm |
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2017 RP-178
2021 F150 5.0l
"Lead me on a level path"
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